IT'S THE SEASON TO BELIEVE IN THE IMPOSSIBLE

Tide faces home stretch for post season play…

Commodores bring strong inside game and shooting

Tarrant and Obasahan are still up in the air...

            

Rollie Massamino was one of a kind

If Saturday night was a horse race, I think the announcer would say “and down the stretch they come.” For the Alabama Crimson Tide any loss at home is a fatal blow for whatever slim hopes they have to make the NCAA and perhaps save the head coaching job for Anthony Grant. As we have talked about on this blog before, a home loss would be the kiss of death for Bama’s hopes for the NCAA. So what if Alabama wins all their home games (4) and beat Auburn and Texas A&M on the road. That would make the Tide a solid 21-9  heading into the SEC Tournament. Okay, I’m saying that is going to happen. But what if it does? And then let’s throw a cherry on the top and say Bama wins a couple in the SEC. That’s 23-10 and would be a remarkable finish, Let’s just say that Tarrant gets well, Obasahan gets his infection under control, Michael Kessens is 100%, and Shannon Hale keeps it up. Throw in the play of Cooper and Randolph continue. Just for a little mustard on the dream let’s also say that Coleman and the Norris start to make some outside shots. Taylor controls some of the glass, scores a couple of baskets and keeps hitting free throws? Then what would you think?

    

Jimmy V

   These games are played one at a time, and each game is an NCAA elimination tilt for the Tide. One thing this little band of rag muffins has is this belief that is possible and you won’t find one single atom of quit in any of them. There was absolutely no way that Rollie Massamino and Villanova would ever beat Georgetown for the National Championship. It happened. Strange things happened to basketball teams in February and March of each year. I’m not saying it will happen to Alabama, but it could. I am no predicting that Alabama will win the NCAA. I am hopeful that we can finish well and play in the NCAA or NIT. That could happen. Wins over Georgia and TAM would certainly shake up things wouldn’t they? Beyond the wishes and hopes of Alabama fans, for the Tide to do either of those would be a fitting end to a bunch of guys who just won’t quit. Don’t think for one minute that someone is going to say, “look at all those close losses, throw out Kentucky because they beat everyone, and what a finish for Alabama.” That is exactly how they will think. I personally know four of those guys. That is exactly how they think. Getting beat by Kentucky means absolutely nothing to the Selection Committee. To them, the Tournament is to decide who the second best team in the NCAA might be. If the Cats get beat then that is just icing on the cake for them.

  

   

Bama needs Tarrant on the floor

  The beauty or the stupidity of the NCAA Tournament is allowing low major teams, and teams from leagues that can never win a game to participate. I like those teams playing. Just add a lot more of the teams that are actually better. Another thing I’d add. If you are a one bid league and somehow you win your tournament you can’t go to the NCAA. Maybe you get to go to Disneyland or something. Or maybe one day the NCAA will acknowledge that we need a field of major schools and a few others like Gonzaga who play big time basketball. So bring on your seven footers. Maybe Ricky and Retin recover.

    I think any true hoops junkie, regardless of how bad his or her team might be, has hope that a little of the impossible somehow finds their respective teams. Same for me and Alabama. Some say that's the exact definition of insanity. Might be. I think it's just that small part of our hearts that leaves room for the impossible to come true.

Midcourt says Tide by 6

KEYS TO BAMA WIN AGAINST VANDY:

• Taylor needs to stay out of foul trouble to offset Jones
• Randolph needs 20+ points
• Cooper needs to hit the glass to help Taylor and Kessens
• Hale just needs to keep up his great play of late
• Keep turnovers below 10 once more
• Shoot 20+ free throws and make 75%
• Bama needs points from Norris and Coleman (Norris needs some boards)
• Hopefully 8-10K loud fans show up. 
• Bama needs to defend the three and double down on Jones
• Keep Vandy off the free throw line as much as possible

POST OF THE DAY BY J.D. SHELNUT: Click on link

• And now, just for grins, how Bama's RPI can be improved today J.D Shelnut 2015-02-12 11:23:44
Currently 60How the Crimson Tide Can Boost Their RPI Today
North Florida needs to beat South Carolina Upstate
Game Info: 6:00 PM | TV: ESP3
Western Carolina needs to beat Mercer
Game Info: 6:00 PM | TV: ESP3
Appalachian State needs to beat Arkansas-Little Rock
Game Info: 6:30 PM
Tennessee Tech needs to beat Tennessee State
Game Info: 7:00 PM
Southern Miss needs to beat Florida International
Game Info: 8:00 PM | TV: FSN