'BAMA OPENS SEASON WITH MATCH-UP WITH McGILL UNIVERSITY

Next up for Avery Johnson and company is a three-game exhibition schedule against Canadian teams. Game #1 will see 'Bama play McGill University. What about McGill? How good are they and what will the team be facing. By the time you read this post, the Alabama Crimson Tide will have departed Atlanta's Hartsfield International Airport. 
   
The squad will fly to Montreal, Quebec, Canada for game one. The tide is scheduled to stay at the Omni International-Montreal Hotel which isn't exactly a dump. Keeping in line with the first class accommodations the University provides players and staff, the players will check in this afternoon, have dinner and will practice later this afternoon. Our Northern Neighbor is very excited about hosting an NCAA team. Banners abound stating "The NCAA comes to Canada"


McGill University:
Where: Montreal, Quebec,  Canada
Time:  7:00 PM (6:00 PM in Tuscaloosa)
TV: live streaming (https://portal.stretchinternet.com/mcgill/)
tune in 15 minutes before tipoff
Teams:  McGill University vs. University of Alabama
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    The Alabama Crimson Tide opens the 2017-18 season by traveling north to Montreal, Canada. Their opponent will be McGill. This historic North American University is one of the finest academic centers in our hemisphere. They also play a nasty form of basketball. Maybe it is the hockey background. The Redmen were 23-9 last season and a stellar 13-3 in league play. They are coached by David Deaveiro. Coach "D", as he is nicknamed, has led the Redmen to several Final Eight performances, and last season guided his team to the coveted 'gold' place in their league. The Redmen have been playing basketball for 116 years, and this marks the starting of season number 117.

     McGill University has a storied tradition in Canadian college sports. The Redmen, named because of their jersey colors, has been a fixture in Montreal for over a decade. In preparing to write this article I was asked to convey the name Redmen in no way is a stereotypical attempt to describe native indigenous people.  I promised to do so.  How good is McGill? Pretty darn good. 

     Are the Redmen good enough to beat Alabama? Sure they are. The main thing the Canadians have is the experience. They have at least 10 players who have experience and can play in their rotation. Keep in my that playing in the Love arena is a big plus for the home team. Will they beat 'Bama? I don't think so. I'll have more from Montreal over the next three days. The best team in Canada is Carleton. They have won 7 straight national championships.  Bonne nuit au beau Quebec. Bama by 25?