TIDE HOLDS ON TO BEAT MSU 68-62
Key leading scorer for 'Bama


   

Key grabs key rebound late

      Alabama played the best half I have seen from a Tide basketball team in a long time. Roaring out of the gate, the Tie looked like a fine-tuned Maserati. The ball movement impressive. The rebounding was dominant, and the defense was overwhelming. All that added up to a dominant 19 point lead over the Bulldogs. It seemed as though Avery Johnson had finally put on the floor what he was teaching in practice. The cherries on the top? How about Brandon Key being the leading scorer and pulling down big time rebounds? How about Collin Sexton sitting on the bench and the Tide playing it's best half? How about John throwing MeadowLark Lemons passes? Finally, how about the Tide never giving up its lead even when it appeared they might lose?

    There was a ton of good things about what the Tide did on Saturday night. They won when they might have lost. Johnson told his team to relax and have confidence when the wheels were coming off the wagon.  When it mattered most, the Crimson Tide show the courage of a champion. The team is now 13-6. that could easily be a lot better, but perhaps Alabama is about to make a move to greatness. The remaining schedule will give them a chance to show the basketball world they are back.

TIDE FACES A BRUTAL SCHEDULE

   

Alabama hits Oxford for a road game with Ole Miss on the 23rd. A road win is big time stuff in the SEC. Huge game for 'Bama no doubt. Then it's Trae Young and the Oklahoma Sooners in T-Town. No need for me to explain the importance of the Big 12 Bully Boy. Alabama returns to Coleman for a matchup with Missouri. I think I'd take the two season wins over a win against Oklahoma. I think the Tide wins 2 of the last 3 games. If 'Bama wins at Ole Miss, I'm picking the Tide to win all 3 of the remaining January games.That would move 'Bama to 16-6. The RPI is likely to be in the top 20. Happy days are here again, at least for a while.  Then it's February, the time of finality for a lot of hopeful NCAA teams and the Big Dance. Alabama has games with Florida (2), Kentucky, Auburn, Tennessee, State, and Mississippi State.  Bama isn't likely to win all of those games. How about winning half those games? Tide fans will likely see an NCAA that way. Bama finishes the season with a road game in College Station. That is a total of 12 games. Seven wins should get us in the Big Dance. A couple of wins in the SEC Tournament would give us a better seed in the field of 64. 

PROJECTED FINISH TO REGULAR SEASON:  20-12

NCAA PROJECTED SEED: 7

PROJECTED FINISH PRIOR TO NCAA BIDS: 22-13