CRIMSON HOOPS - ALABAMA MAKES IT RAIN

RANDOLPH, RELEFORD, AND TAYLOR SPARK WIN...

  

Releford walks off the after the big win

The Alabama Crimson Tide laced 'em up and went out and crushed the Auburn Tigers. Once again Alabama retains its position as the best team in the State of Alabama, even in a bad season.  Any time Alabama beats Auburn it's a good day, but. for a beleaguered Tide team with a losing record this one is especially sweet.  When you can beat you arch rival in horrible year it says a lot about your team.  It says a lot about your team when they  have been battered and beaten time and time again. This team hasn't quit, and they made it loud and clear they will not go out with a whimper. They want to go out with a bang. The final score was 'Bama 73 - AU 57. It wasn't that close. Behind strong offensive performances by Levi Randolph and Trevor Releford the Tide opened up  a double digit first half lead. A great deal of that lead  was due to Jimmy Taylor's shot blocking and altering in the first half. The freshman had 3 clean blocked shots in the first half and caused the Tigers avoid the middle. That took what should have been  a big advantage for the Tigers and switched it over to the Tide. It was Taylor's finest play of the year. 

     

Levi Randolph poured in a team high 23 points. The junior kept the Auburn Tigers off balance all night with a combination of long range bombs, and hard nosed drives to the basket.  Trevor Releford put on show to the crowd with some dazzling passes, key three point baskets, his usual array of moves around the basket. When Auburn made a brief run to cut the Tide's lead it was Releford who nailed a three ball from the corner to end the comeback. Retin Obasahan chipped in 13 points including a rare three pointer. But his best play was blocking an Auburn dunk. Carl Engstrom scored on a dunk in the second half and got an ovation from the fans. 

      It has been a hard year, but yesterday was just fun for Tide fans.  I don't think the win over Auburn will necessarily save Anthony Grant's job, but there is no doubt his team has started playing better basketball down the stretch. It's also unlikely that Alabama can escape the bottom four seed bracket in the SEC Tournament at this point. I wouldn't want to be the team who has to play the Tide if Alabama wins their first game.In a crazy conference race the Tide would face Ole Miss in the second round if the event was played today. That could change in a week.

     I doubt seriously that that Tide fans will give Grant much of a break after yesterday's win. One win or loss shouldn't be determinative  of Grant's future. It was nice to see a genuine smile on our Coaches face. One thing we can agree upon  is that exacting some revenge on the Tigers sure felt good didn't it?

Why did the Tide win?

1. Better offense from additional players and not just Releford

2. A stingy defense that played with intensity

3. The progression of Jimmy Taylor and Shannon Hale 

4.  Bama made 10 three point baskets.

What could have cost the Tide a win?

1. poor free throw shooting.

2. Poor rebounding again. Auburn got more offensive rebounds than defensive ones.That statistic kept the Tide from winning by 30;