You have to give Bruce Pearl credit
Alabama stole all the Preseason press. Auburn is stealing the season. Like it or not, we have to acknowledge Auburn's play. Yes, Bruce Pearl can coach. He can also recruit. Unless you keep up with basketball recruiting Auburn's success might seem like a surprise. No surprise to me. The Tigers have won 14 consecutive games. Tonight, Alabama is a 2.5 dog on their own home floor. Granted, Don'ta Hall will not play if what newspapers around the State have reported is correct. Guess which team has the four-game winning streak? 'Bama has had their share of injuries. The Tigers are currently 16-1. Alabama isn't. And the Tigers have done this without the two best players.
By any stretch of the imagination, the Tide has disappointed their fans so far. It seems downright bizarre that Auburn University seems to be a basketball "power". I think the AD needs to pay close attention to how that happened. There are two reasons. First, Auburn took a chance on a disgraced head coach. Before that, they built a great basketball facility. You can add the shady recruiting, FBI investigations, and whatever you believe is true. Throw in the sweat hog frivolity. Pearl thrives on such descriptions. The truth is that Alabama hasn't made the same commitment as Auburn. The Tide hired the coach but hasn't built a proper modern day facility. The worst school in SEC hoops made a decision to become a better program. Alabama, which had a great program, accepted the status quo. In a sense, the powers in the boardroom said: "Alabama is a football power and we collectively think that will propel the basketball program." It just doesn't work that way in my opinion. A program like Duke made its playing floor a cherished part of their tradition. Auburn had little history of success but built a showcase facility. Alabama built the worlds biggest Quonset hut and proclaimed that the hoops program would play where Elton John once performed. Kudos the Johnson for being able to put the five-star players on the floor along with three four-star players.
I don't think Pearl is a better coach than Johnson. He has more collegiate experience and that gives him an edge right now. Johnson is struggling with finding a steady number two scorer. Auburn has players in double figures. The Tigers have found the ability to share the wealth. Alabama is still looking. I think the Tide will get there. Getting there is different from being there. Can 'Bama win tonight? You betcha. A full house in the hut will help. 'Bama seems to have solved their free throw shooting problem. The Tide is rebounding better. The Crimson and White have even shown hints of shooting better. I'd even dare to pick Bama without Hall. Buckle up. Tonight could be a doozy. But don't bet the ranch.
By any stretch of the imagination, the Tide has disappointed their fans so far. It seems downright bizarre that Auburn University seems to be a basketball "power". I think the AD needs to pay close attention to how that happened. There are two reasons. First, Auburn took a chance on a disgraced head coach. Before that, they built a great basketball facility. You can add the shady recruiting, FBI investigations, and whatever you believe is true. Throw in the sweat hog frivolity. Pearl thrives on such descriptions. The truth is that Alabama hasn't made the same commitment as Auburn. The Tide hired the coach but hasn't built a proper modern day facility. The worst school in SEC hoops made a decision to become a better program. Alabama, which had a great program, accepted the status quo. In a sense, the powers in the boardroom said: "Alabama is a football power and we collectively think that will propel the basketball program." It just doesn't work that way in my opinion. A program like Duke made its playing floor a cherished part of their tradition. Auburn had little history of success but built a showcase facility. Alabama built the worlds biggest Quonset hut and proclaimed that the hoops program would play where Elton John once performed. Kudos the Johnson for being able to put the five-star players on the floor along with three four-star players.
I don't think Pearl is a better coach than Johnson. He has more collegiate experience and that gives him an edge right now. Johnson is struggling with finding a steady number two scorer. Auburn has players in double figures. The Tigers have found the ability to share the wealth. Alabama is still looking. I think the Tide will get there. Getting there is different from being there. Can 'Bama win tonight? You betcha. A full house in the hut will help. 'Bama seems to have solved their free throw shooting problem. The Tide is rebounding better. The Crimson and White have even shown hints of shooting better. I'd even dare to pick Bama without Hall. Buckle up. Tonight could be a doozy. But don't bet the ranch.
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