Kentucky shuts down the Tide Offense
Woeful rebounding has to improve
Obasahan and Norris play well

   

Retin played like a Lion

       It's not my intention in shooting a dead horse. We didn't play defense, we can't score, and we can't rebound.  Winning basketball has always been about three things. It's the same three things since James Naismith nails the first peach basket on the wall. It's all about shooting, it's about taking care of the ball, and it's about rebounding. 

      Alabama was forced to attempt poor shots because that's all the Kentucky defense allowed. The Cats contested ever shot that Bama tried.  Kentucky kept the Tide from running anything resembling an offense. Time after time the Tide was down to less than ten seconds before taking a shot. 

         On the positive side, the Tide committed only seven turnovers. I'm not sure that that the Tide improved in that area since the Mississippi game, or Tide players just couldn't find anyone to pass the ball to on offense. That kept the game from being totally embarrassing. Kentucky beat the Tide on boards. Kentucky pulled down 40 and the Tide a mere 23. The Alabama starting lineup managed only 11 rebounds. Unbelievable.  Despite all the problems the Crimson has on offense, they held Kentucky to 77 when it could have been worse.

     I am lucky to have been around a lot of great coaches in the SEC. I remember Dale Brown telling his team that rebounding is about two things. The first was proper fundamentals and the second is manhood. "Men will rebound when nothing else you are doing is going well." I wrote that down. 

Alabama has what I characterize four big men. None of them are proving they want to rebound. I think rebounding is about pride and effort, and courage. If Riley Norris were 6-10, he'd pull down 15 rebounds a game. Why? He has great fundamentals, especially under his basket, and he is a warrior. Donta Hall hasn't learned proper fundaments yet. He has the heart.  Jimmie Taylor and Shannon Hale have all the skills to be great rebounders. If you have to sit on the bench because of fouls, you can't rebound. If all you do is think about shooting three-pointers, you are not in a position to rebound. Until these four players man up and decide to compete the season is going to long and hard.

     You can fix the turnovers by explaining to your players about choosing good passes vs. questionable passes. I think that Johnson got that through to his players. Jimmie just doesn't seem able to hang on to the ball. He can learn to hang on to the ball. Or can sit and watch Donta Hall learn to hang on to the ball.  The most disappointing player under the boards is Michael Kessens. He has the tools, but he seems to have the attitude of a kitten and not a lion. I think Coach Johnson needs to sit him down and explain the laws of what being a 6-9 power forward is all about.  I'd take him in the coaches office and say words to the effect - 'Son, go in there, pick out a man on the other side and introduce yourself to him by knocking him down. Big men live in a land where only the strong play. Michael, be a man, or sit down and watch.'

     Let's be clear on one thing Kentucky is a good team. They are not a great team. They are going to lose some more games.  If I was a 'Bama big man I'd be embarrassed with the sissy type effort I saw today. I know that one day we will have better players, but you don't have to be better to put forth the effort to rebound. Honestly, it takes more effort when you are a better player. 

           It speaks well that the Tide managed to cut the 16 point Kentucky lead to 4 in the second half. I think the TV crew was correctly stating that the road game in Oxford, coupled with a short turnaround wore down the Tide. The inability to rebound is the ultimate killer in college basketball.  It requires the desire to rebound. I think all of our players have the ability to do what is required. They don't seem to have the will. It is time for Bama's big men to man up. You are embarrassing yourselves.