Tide enters SEC race this week  

 Tide ends 10-3 in Pre-SEC

        Alabama played a good game in the second half against a pretty gritty Norfolk team. The Spartans have played in the postseason the last four seasons. Time for some objectivity here. Alabama is not a great basketball team, but they are getting better. I don't see how Avery Johnson could have done any better with his team up to this point. The only thing surprising to me is that the scoring remains low. I think the Tides average shooting is the culprit. Lack of inside scoring is not nearly where we hoped it would be, but maybe it's all it is going to be. I'll give credit to Jimmie Taylor. He's getting better. I'll give a knock to Michael Kessens, who should be able to score more but has not done so. You can't dismiss Kessens rebounding has been excellent.

        The players have impressed me so far. Retin Obasahan may not make many all-conference teams but he should. Riley Norris is a good player. He brings all he can, and is a surprisingly good rebounder. Arthur Edwards isn't a great all-around floor man. The man can shoot. The man can shoot the three ball. He's isn't afraid to pull the trigger

      Those three have played well and have made significant contributions. The improvement of Justin Coleman has been fun to watch. The little guard has the game and seems to be finding the confidence to match. His shooting is up and down. It always was as a high school player. It will get better with playing time and better coaching. 

      I think the Tide has the toughest opening SEC schedule of any team in the league. It is entirely possible that Alabama will lose it's first five or six SEC games. That's not going to be fun to read, but the SEC office did the Tide no favors when they drafted the league schedule. The Tide needs to win another  12-14 games to get an NCAA game. No one wants to see that happen than me, but Johnson will get the Tide to the field next season. 

      And to all the misinthropss oin cyber-space, I count TR.NAZ as a win. I understand the NCAA does not. And please, if you don't like what I write, just don't read. My late father used to tell me, "their is only two letters of difference between class and ass". Pick the one you think you should be.