Tide stuns A&M 61-60
Obasahan runs off 12 straight points to mount comeback...
Tide seniors play big role in the win...
Retin's strong drive to basket was the winner...



 

The captain and game's hero

  If there is a bible for basketball, there must be a verse which reads, “Oh, we of little faith.” That pretty much sums up what a number Alabama basketball “fans” should be thinking right about now. These young men got in a last laugh, and who knows we might have another one left. 0h yeah, we did it with two starters, and a lame power forward.  A seldom used swing player made some big baskets, including 3 pointer when we needed it most. The joys of a game that the faint of heart have no idea what it took to make it all happened.

Packed House in Reed is stunned

     Today, in the full capacity basketball field house in College Station, the Alabama Crimson Tide put together a second half for the ages. The first half that saw a lot Crimson players were struggling.  I’m not sure (yet) what Coach Grant told his players at halftime. If it’s something they drink I’ll order a gallon.  From the opening of the second half the Tide took the floor looking like a different team. The team started the second half with more energy and effort. It was clear that Alabama was not going away, and the beat down that TAM had hoped for was just not going to happen. TAM’s confidence quickly wilted in the face of the Tide’s in your grill defense. It happened so quickly it was difficult believe what has happening.

Gritty determination and energy

      That effort brought the Tide down from 14 down and ultimately a 61-60 victory. The Tide systematically and steadily cut into the Aggie lead.  This time it was the Crimson Tide that made the plays and hung tough in a nail-biter. The Tide took a four point lead in the second half only to see Texas A&M take a three point lead with the clock running down. The Tide came firing and fighting back. The stunned silence in the A&M house was palpable when the final .02 seconds were over. I saw Anthony Grant smile. He smiled a lot. Grant left for Texas dog sick. He may come back dog tired, but he’ll be happy. Nothing is better for sickness than some good medicine. Today was the medicine TAM.

The Seniors have a good game   

Cooper, Randolph, and Slaughter

Bama’s seniors all played a huge role in the win.  Dakota Slaughter, Rodney Cooper, and Levi Randolph finished the end of regular season careers with a huge win. It’s kind of ironic but the play of Slaughter may be remembered for saving the Anthony Grant era. He has a contract through 2019, and Bill Battle has already made his decision. He’ll let the rest of us, the uniformed, know a week from Monday. Or maybe he doesn’t have to say a word to anyone. All I can say was this was brilliantly coached game. Grant milked every last molecule of whatever was required to win the game.

    Retin Obasahan scored the first 12 point for Alabama to begin the second half. His outburst seemed to rock the Aggies. After making runs of 10 and 9 in the first half, the Aggies had built a 22 point lead. It seemed like the massacre was well underway. Alabama made a late run in the first half and cut the lead to 14. Overall, the Tide managed at 23 point turnaround. Not bad for a team with two starters unable to play. Michael Kessens gutted out 21 minutes despite a serious knee bruise. TAM's impressive start was without their leading scorer. 

     Jimmy Taylor had another strong game. It was his first half play that caused Billy Kennedy, coach at TAM, to alter his defense.  The Aggies were getting pounded by Taylor.  In the last twenty-minutes Taylor was a marked man. Grant changed his offense to allow his players to crease the zone, and the Tide was killing TAM on ball reversal. Levi Randolph was splitting the Aggie zone and found wide open teammates around the perimeter. The Tide used a full court press in the second half, and it seemed to stun the Aggies. It took a full ten minutes for Kennedy to figure out a way to beat the press. By that time the Tide was back in the game. It was clear that A&M was playing on their heels.

      Four key three-point shots put the final nail in the Aggies coffin. Randolph gave the Tide its first lead with his long range bomb. Slaughter kicked in another with time almost gone on the shot clock. Justine Coleman broke a shooting slump when made his three-point shot. That one let the crowd know that the Tide was not going to go away. Cooper nailed a great three after getting a pass from Randolph as he passed through the Aggie zone.  It was a great showing by any team.  It is hard to win on the road in the SEC. I bet TAM will be playing in the NCAA tournament.  To do that with the diminished line-up and lack of a bench is a combination of great coaching and playing. I was particularly impressed with Grant’s substitution pattern. He stuck to his plan. I could almost hear Tide fans pulling out their hair when Grant pulled

Randolph in the middle of a Tide run. It was a great move. Tide subs kept up the play, and Randolph was able to return well rested for the climax of the game. I don’t care about any argument going on about Anthony Grant. This weekend is going to be one where I kick back and watch the game again. Great win. 

The reason why Alabama needed

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a win...

Most experts felt that Bama needed a win over a high ranked team to make the NIT field. Bama also showed that the Tide can win a big game without Hale and Tarrant. The Tide did both. 

OF NOTE: The Tide won the game in the paint 34-20. Taylor is getting better. I wonder why Slaughter hasn't been getting more minutes? Bama hits 3's in 2nd half

Alabama ends the regular season at 18-13.