BAMA NEEDS TO PLAY SOMEWHERE 

NIT NEWS,  LSU DOGS IT UP, AND SHOULD GEORGIA MAKE THE NCAA AHEAD OF VANDERBILT?

    I have to say that LSU just put on the worst performance in the history of basketball. I'm joking, kinda. The Tigers scored 13 points in their first half humiliation loss to Texas A&M. The final score was 71-38, and the man once said, "it wasn't that close".  Remember Stephan Moody dropped in 39 against Alabama earlier in the Tournament. LSU got some bad news when Hornsby was out with a sports hernia. Still, Johnny Jones might well lose his job after that one. The Cajuns have become restless in Baton Rouge after seeing a poor season, despite the signing of Ben Simmons. Simmons is the best talent I've seen in years, but he needs to be less selfish. He led the nation in double-doubles. He is so fundamentally sound it makes me recall the way basketball was once played. Simmons might find one more season in the NCAA to help him define which position he should play. It isn't likely he'll stick around for another Titanic ending. 

      Regardless, look for LSU to make the NIT. I think Vanderbilt will be taken over Georgia. Georgia hurt themselves by lack of quality wins. That doesn't mean they aren't a quality team. So it looks like TAM, Kentucky, SC (may fall to play in game) and Vandy will make the NCAA. I'm still confused if a team can count making the NCAA if they lose a play in game. 

     Kentucky handled Georgia, but it was a much closer game their game with the Tide. If I were on the Selection Committee, I'd take Georgia over South Carolina or Vanderbilt. South Carolina had a miserable end to a terrific start; they may not have Carrera as well. He didn't play in the last game and will game to game with a hamstring injury. Vandy, as is their habit, took a very talented team and managed to stink it up near the end. Take away their unique playing arena and they not have won 12 games this season. I see where Tyler Eulis is going to the NBA at the end of the season. He might stick due to the NBA's elimination of the Detroit Piston Bad Boys type defense. Otherwise, a 5-9 player would make an NBA roster. 

 .   I've talked three times today with my guy in NYC who is close to the NIT Selection Committee. He says Alabama is in, and there is a lot of debate as where to place them. The win over Ole Miss convinced some members they are at least a four seed. The substantial loss to Kentucky hurt the Tide. Right now it appears that Bama will:

A. play an away game somewhere near NYC.

B. Be a four seed and play a game at home to their belief that Bama will sell out Coleman Coliseum.

C. Strong consideration is a Bama vs. UAB match up is possible. It is also possible that the Tide may play Princeton in New Jersey.

   BIG APPLE BUCKETS.COM CURRENTLY  BELIEVES BAMA WILL REMAIN IN THE SOUTH AND BE IN THE SAME BRACKET AS GEORGIA SHOULD GEORGIA NOT MAKE THE NCAA. 

    Would Bama ever consider an invitation to the CIT or a similar Tournament? I don't know. The Tide needs all the games they can play to help their younger players.