TIDE LOSES TARRANT FOR THE REMAINDER OF THE YEAR...

Grant makes a selfless decision ...
Hale out for Vandy game
Kessens might play
The Captain is now an All-American


     

 I'm not sure exactly 'Bama basketball are given at the start of season to put in their lockers. I hoped someone had the foresight to give the players a snake bite kite. Today the Tide was rocked with more bad news. Ricky Tarrant the gifted guard is finished for this season. His injury would allow him to play but pain would be insufferable; the chance of permanent injury would be just to great. A great young man could have seen his playing career ruined. Sound familiar? His coach told him to sit down and get ready for surgery. We need you for next season. With his job on the line, Anthony Grant showed every coach in America what true character really should be. He's the kind of man that if you praised him for doing so he'd probably respond,  I was just doing the thing, and that doesn't deserve praise. We've seen the opposite of that. Where a coach runs a player into the ground, and ruining an NBA career. It's happened before and we will see it again, but it won't be under Anthony Grant's watch.

   

Ricky is done for this season

   Shannon Hale is unlikely to play. Same with Michael Kessens, although there is a better chance he can play. Alabama will need him to help absorb some of the fouls inside to help Jimmie Taylor stay on the floor. Bama is going to need all the help they can find. Hale is playing his best game right now. Kessen's injury was slowing him down. But it didn't shut him down. He keeps plugging away, learning the game, and trying to get better. He's a finesse player right now. Look for him to get more physical when he's well and hits the weight room over the summer. Unfortunately, the game is Saturday. 

     I have no idea what the Coach Grant is planning except burn some time. The Tide knows how to do that. Depth was already a problem. The lack of depth is going to be a nightmare for the coaches. Common sense says that you've got to play zone against the 'dores. That can help cut down on fouls. But it is almost impossible to zone Vandy. They have deadly shooters. The can get the ball down low and try to get Taylor in foul trouble. They can also pitch it out when Tide guards come in to help, or rip it over to the weakside if the Tide sends help. Did we talk about the fact that Alabama rarely plays well in Nashville? 

Alabama's first academic All American

    Let's give some well earned attention to the Captain. He just made a Academic All-American. He's Bama's first. This team is just for Mensa society members. You also have to be a good player. Honestly, this group of young men exemplify what college sports used to be. These are not your one and done group. We should be proud of Levi on so many levels. We should also recognize we have a coach who has his priorities in order. How many games would I be willing to see us lose for that character? I don't have an exact number. I guess it would be around a bunch. More about the game later this week, but thought it important to get the important stuff up first. Thank you Coach, Rickey, Levi, and we'll be pulling for Shannon and Michael to have miracle recoveries.