Tide goes into Lee County a one-point favorite...

Tarrant highly unlikely

Grant says the Tide is ready after poor showing against Vandy

 

      I'm sure a lot of you have read my blog about the importance of tonight's game. I wake up this morning and see Alabama is a one point favorite. Maybe Ricky Tarrant is going to play after all, but that would contrary to what Grant said a couple of days ago. Maybe Leon Douglas has been through a time machine and got one year additional eligibility. Or maybe snowballs are not melting in hell today. That's about as much hope that the Tide beats AU without Tarrant. I will be yelling and screaming for the Tide to win. I will not be engaged in prolong breath holding however.

     Let me get this straight - Auburn just went on the road and beat a decent Georgia team, and we got beat a bunch of kids that don't even shave. It's not like the Crimson Tide is a road warrior. Perhaps Mel Gibson is coaching the defense now. That Vegas line means something I can't figure out. My honest opinion is we get beat by more than 10. I can see images of last years game dancing in my head, and Auburn is a lot better this season. So is the Tide, but our floor leader is hurt. Obasahan has done a credible job at the point. Justin Coleman is having a hard time. Both will need to do better tonight.

 

Tide must play as a team tonight

   Tonight the Tide will not face a more hostile crowd all season, and I'd throw Kentucky in that conversation without hesitation. This home crowd senses blood. Not just any blood however; it's Bama blood, and they are going to act like deranged passengers on the ship of fools. This is going to be something that Freddie Kruger might conjure up in his spare time.

     Auburn has two of the best guards in the SEC. They have the best two scoring guards I've ever seen at Auburn. Antoine Mason is the nation's highest scoring player who returned. H.T. Harrell is 6-4 inches of deadly shooting. Mason is both a shooter and a scorer. I'd give the edge to the AU guards even if Tarrant comes back 100%. Then there is Cinmeon Bowers, the dainty little 6-7 275 lb. post player, who is going to give Bama's inside game fits.  Bowers was the JUCO Player of the Year in a couple of polls. He can positive push Jimmie Taylor and Michael Kessens around. He is quick, mobile, strong, and is a good shooter. We didn't offer him. How could you not offer the JUCO PLAYER OF THE YEAR when you needed power forward, or post player. Harrell is 142-305 shot attempts. Levi Randolph has

Retin stopped Auburn's last shot in T-Town

 shot the ball an amazing (by Alabama offensive standards) 256 times and has made almost 50% of his shots. If Alabama is going to beat AU Levi needs to shoot the ball at least 20 times. Here's an odd stat. The has improved their rebound enough to break dead even with their opponents. The Tide needs to out board Auburn by at least 10 and give up so few offensive rebounds we can count them on one hand. You know all those free throws we missed in the Vandy game? A repeat will be fatal. Less than 10 turnovers would be nice. I think the first 10 minutes is going to let us know about the Tide in this game. Weather the emotional storm in Auburn and we have just enough talent to perhaps win. I wouldn't bet on it thought.

       This is Alabama at Auburn. This is the most hated rivalry in America in football. In basketball a win over Alabama is a big deal but webeat the Tigers so often you'd think the domestic abuse laws have been eliminated. Bruce Pearl is betting the shoe is on the other foot tonight. This game is going to tell us a lot about the near future of in state recruiting and who's the big dog.  Tonight a growl won't beat the Tigers. Bama needs a snarling defense and a biting to the bone offense. I hope we can do it, but I have this pending feeling of dread (aka the David Hobbs game) in my stomach. This is the biggest game Anthony Grant has ever coached whether he knows it or not. I hope our team makes we look so wrong it's embarrassing.