TIDE BEATS TWO TOP TWENTY TEAMS IN THE ADVOCARE...

        
Bama shows they are better than predicted...







    

OBASAHAN HITS THE WINNER

   Alabama knocked off another top 25 team in the Advocare Invitational while no one was looking. Seriously, the game was not televised, and live-streaming was the only way to see the game. That's a shame for the fans because Avery Johnson’s gallant little band of warriors beat #17 Notre Dame 74-73. With ten seconds on the game clock, Retin Obasahan took the ball and magically wove his way through heavy traffic to make a lay-up. It was quite a play. It was the second time this week that ‘Bama has beaten a top 25 team. Wichita State was victim number one, and the fighting Irish of Notre Dame were number two.  I wonder who is next? The Tide moved to 4-2. Significantly, Alabama has 2 quality wins and 2 “quality losses”. The Tide got thumped by Dayton and beaten by Xavier. In both games, the Tide hung around in the first half only to fall on its face in the second half.

HALE HAS 19 IN BIG WIN

        On Sunday afternoon, Alabama put together one of those gutsy performances we all love. It is amazing to this writer that Avery Johnson beat two ranked teams with the lineup he has. That’s not to be disrespectful to the players. They are playing to the utmost of their ability. They have become a team. And a team is better sometimes that five guys with more talent.

 

        One the good things coming out of Sunday’s game was a strong performance by 6-9 Michael Kessens. Kessens banged with the big boys inside to pull down 9 rebounds. The improvement of Michael is another key to the Tide’s future. Shannon Hale had another strong game. The Junior seems to be finding a groove. Hale is so versatile. He loves to shoot the long ball, but he’s not hesitant about going inside the in the paint. That inside-out game is something that a lot of players can’t do. His foot injury seems to be well. His stamina is obviously better, and he is taking on a leadership role. Leadership is big in basketball. When you start a freshman point guard who is learning his role, someone has to step up and lead the team. Give Hale credit for doing so.

 

       Retin Obasahan played his best game of the year. He did it in several ways. He scored 19 points, hit the winning basket, and played like the devil on defense. He is Alabama’s best player in my opinion. He has unlimited physical skill. He learned a lot from Anthony Grant about defense, and now is learning a lot more about what he should do on offense from Coach Johnson. Obasahan gave us some insight about Johnson's coaching as well. "In time outs, it seems that Coach knows exactly where the other players (opposition) are going to be."

 

       You might have noticed that Riley Norris got hurt and did not return to the floor after the injury. He got jabbed in the eye. He is fine now. Norris is a deadly shooter and has a lot of basketball floor sense. I love to watch his square up to shoot, but it is all around game that is most impressive. A lot of players can shoot. Not a lot of players can shoot and have a good floor game. Johnson uses him perfectly. Kudos to the coach and the team for a great weekend at the Advocare. The Tide didn’t win the tournament but they come home as the biggest winner in the eight team field.