The game went about as expected. I thought the Tide would win by 14, and the final score was 7xxxxx It was a very competitive, but not a game you thought the Tide might end up losing. Had the Tide made a decent number of their free throws, it was a 20+ win. What can you say about a game that looked like a pick game at you gym than a college game at times? It was sloppy, hard-fought, fun at times, and thankfully came to an end. It was a night when more important things put things in a better perspective. 
 

     None of that is to say that Alabama fans were not happy with some things they watched. Dazon Ingram made some spectacular plays showing everyone why he was Mr. Basketball last season. Retin Obasahan will make some level of All-SEC, although he'd rather be an academic All-American. The very athletic guard made some great baskets and his quick hands caused KSU a lot of problem. Edwards made a couple threes on a night when it was brick city for Bama.

      We told you the Yolan Jones was a spectacular player. He played a great game. I just wish it was against someone else. A one star player was brightest of all on Friday the 13th. Someone needs to put his hands in ice water to cool them off. One thing I didn't like was that Bama could never defend him. Most of his points were uncontested. It would be nice if one of the players stepped up to be a defensive star. 

Nothing is better than the tip-off of a new season. Tonight 'Bama hosts Kennesaw State in game one of the Avery Johnson era. I've never seen fans more excited about Hoops since I've watched Alabama basketball. The 'Bama fans are united in giving Johnson the support and time it will take rebuild Alabama Bama basketball. I'll always remember Anthony Johnson for his integrity and effort at Alabama. However; the decision to let him go and bring in our own Tasmanian Devil was necessary. And boy, is Avery Johnson just that. I have it on good source that the Energizer Bunny has relinquished his crown to Avery.  So let's give the staff and players our full lung capacity at every game. 

I think that Johnson will start Taylor, Hale, Coleman, Obasahann and Norris will all get starts but the Coach isn't announcing it until game time. Ingram, Kessens, and Edwards will get plenty of playing time.

1. The Pace of play: It' going to be the tortoise and the hare. And we not the tortoise.

2. The Style of play: Bama will take the first really good shot they have. That doesn't mean that our players are going to be "trying one" as Dan Jenkins so wonderfully put it in book.

3. There is going to be a lot of hard aggressive man to man play, and players will rotate in and out because of the offensive and defensive style of play

4. Bama is going to rebound like demons to start the fast break. 

5. There are going to be tons of turnovers by each team. Early season games account for that, but with tonight's game our players are still adjusting on offense. We'll make plenty of errors, but they'll make the at breakneck speed.

Bama by 14

TIDE'S OPENING GAME IS A GOOD ONE...

TIDE FACES KENNESAW STATE ...

Yonel Brown runs the floor for the Owls

 Anyone who believes that Alabama's opening game is going to be a walk over better re-think that position. I'm not saying that Kennesaw State is going to waltz in Coleman Coliseum and beat 'Bama. That's not likely. Kennesaw State is not a big name opponent. We can all remember teams that have come to Coleman in the early season and beat the Tide. When you have a new coach, new staff, and loads of players unfamiliar with each other, it might not be pretty. Don't be surprised if this turns into a pretty good game. Kennesaw State is not without some talent.

      The Owls have a great little point guard named Yonel Brown. He is a pre-season Atlantic Sun Conference. He was the Gwinnett Georgia Tip-Off Club Player of the Year after his junior and senior seasons in high school. You are going to enjoy watching him play. It might be the only time that Justin Coleman may actually be taller than his opponent in a man defense. Yonel is liberally listed at 5-9 by his school. If you are unfamiliar with the Atlantic Sun Conference here are the other members: Florida Gulf Coast, Jacksonville, Lipscomb, South Carolina Upstate, Stetson, New Jersey Institute of Technology, North Florida, and Kennesaw State.

JUST TAKING CARE OF BUSINESS IS KEY...   

   'Bama needs just to take care of their own business. One of the most remarkable things I've read regarding basketball was that John Wooden never scouted an opponent. All he did was concentrate on his team. I'm sure that Avery Johnson is doing just that. He needs to spend his time building cohesion in his program. Based on what happened in the first game it appears that Jimmie Taylor, Shannon Hale, Justine Coleman, and Retin Obasahan have earned starting position. That last position seems to be up for grabs, or perhaps a better way of looking at it is who needs to play in a particular match-up. i think an overlooked fact from the exhibition game was the 11 steals the Tide snared. The is extremely important for Avery Johnson's style of play. The team scored a lot of points with wide open play. I don't think the Tide ever took more than 17 or 18 seconds. 

ODDS AND ENDS...

         

Ingram showed a lot of talent

For Bama to run at the frenetic pace, it is necessary to rebound on the defensive end. Michael Kessens had a big night pulling down missed shots, and Jimmie Taylor did the same as well. The Tide is going to have to work on ball screen switches to not give up layups as they did in game one. You have to be impressed with Dazon Ingram in his first game.  His court sense and talent are evident. Arthur Edwards is perfect for the Johnson style of play. Riley Norris is just a good player, and he'd be a starter on most teams. He is not just a good shooter or a role player. His play compliments those around him. He's a good all all-rounder who is going to be a good one.

This is going to be a team that is exciting and fun to watch. They are not going to be world beaters, but I think they are certainly better than the 13th best team in the SEC. That's where our learned media voted. 

CRIMSON HOOPS UNDER AVERY JOHNSON BEGINS FRIDAY

              Alabama has an exhibition tomorrow night. If there are ten players, three officials, and a ball, it is game. Exhibition or not, a lot of impressions will be made. Trying to get information out of Avery Johnson’s staff isn’t easy. I have no idea who starts.  Seriously,  I’m not sure if Coach Johnson has made his mind up about starters. Jimmie Taylor is the only Tider named by the staff as a starter. There are a lot of new faces to sort out. I’d guess that Hale, Kessens, Retin, and Coleman would start. Still, don’t be surprised if Dazon Ingram works his way into the starting lineup for the exhibition game.

           

         Word out of Tuscaloosa is the Taylor has “significantly” improved on both ends of the Court. If that’s true, it is great news for the Tide. Alabama’s need for some scoring from the post is obvious. Defensively, Taylor was good, headed toward great, by the end of last season. Based on his play last year it is going hard to keep Riley Norris out of the starting lineup. Perhaps his role is to be a 6th man coming in off the bench. The value of a great 6th man cannot be forgotten. Norris is a great shooter who was thrown in the fire last year.  With the exception of Levi Randolph, Riley Norris has the best court sense on the team last season. The forward is a walking example of where good fundamental basketball habits can take a player.  I expect a large crowd to turn out for the game. Basketball fans and tailgaters will be there and will be loud. They will also be curious. 

TIDE BASKETBALL TURNING SOME HEADS IN RECRUITING

BAMA CLOSING TO ANOTHER HUGE COMMITTMENT?

BOLDEN IS TOP 15 PLAYER

 The national period for basketball recruits to sign is just around the corner. Tide fans should be proud of the efforts of Avery Johnson and his staff. They should also offer a pat on the back to T-Ferg, who is doing is best to get the five-star center, Marquis Bolden, to ink with the Tide. Two weeks ago I would have bet my last dollar it wouldn’t happen. After talking with several people who know Bolden, and seem to be in a position to know what’s going on with him, it seems possible that Bolden has put Bama on his consideration list.  At least one national recruiting guru, Jerry Meyers, who is the Director of Basketball Recruiting for 247Sports, picks Alabama as his final choice.

KEY IS A PLAYER AT HIGH AAU LEVELS

    I don’t think that should give Tide fans a sense of security. T-Ferg talks with MB frequently. Whether or not that means anything is hard to determine, but it doesn’t hurt. I think what that tells us is that Avery Johnson is using his basketball capital to convince young men he can help them get to the pros. After playing and coaching in the league for a couple of decades, it is probably true. Alabama is chasing Duke, Kentucky, and Kansas to get him in Tuscaloosa. That seems impossible doesn’t it? Well, that is what ‘Bama did with Terrance Ferguson. Then the Tide turned their sights toward Braxton Key. He was going to Vandy after he eliminated Duke, Kentucky, and Ohio State. Those are some schools who reside in high cotton. Key is likely to receive that 5th star soon.

       

T-FERG IS A SHOOTER

    So how is Bama doing this?  They are convincing you men to come to Tuscaloosa and be a part of something very special You take returning players (are good players by the way) and add Ferguson, Bolden, and Key to the mix and Tide fans can start to think about bigger and better teams. All three are top 100 players. Depending on which services you choose to believe they are all top 40 players. It would be fair to say that the Tide is a top 10 class. Add Bolden to the mix and it is a top 5. Some would argue that Bama would be a top 3. I don't know, and neither does anyone else. I will say it is a high class now, and could end up being better than great.


Jerry Meyer serves as a national scout and recruiting analyst for Rivals.com. He played at Lipscomb University where be became college basketball's all-time career assist leader. Meyer earned Mr. Basketball honors in the state of Tennessee as a high school junior and senior. He has served as an assistant coach at Vanderbilt and also co-authored the book, "Basketball Skills and Drills."

JOHNSON ROLLS OUT ALABAMA BASKETALLL

TIDE BASKETBALL IS HERE...

   

        Alabama just had their version of midnight madness. It was remarkable. It was just what Tide fans needed. Look, I just picked the Tide to finish 10th in the SEC. I’m not getting my head caught up in the hoopla except to say it was just what the doctor ordered for Bama. It also shows the pent up desire that Tide fans have to see their basketball program to return to relevancy.  If this is the vision that Avery Johnson has for Tide basketball we should all feel a little better. That’s not to say the blast off phase of his coaching won’t have some pratfalls. The Tide has some decent players, but no first round draft picks are lurking in the rafters of Coleman Coliseum.  It’s going to take a couple of those type players to elevate the program back to days of Wimp Sanderson. It is going to take a very special coach to do that. I think that Alabama may have found that person in Avery Johnson.

        The coach has already set the stage in recruiting by getting a couple of four stars and a five-star player to commit to ‘Bama. Not all of them can play this season, but they’ll be in Tuscaloosa one day. Give this man three good years of recruiting and the Tide will be making some national noise in the world of hoops.  And dare I say, another big name will soon be on campus?

       I really believe that. Johnson has a clear vision of how he can use the brand of Alabama football to help make the basketball team better. He isn't running from football, he has embraced the sport. He has also cannily started to raise his own persona as the man who stands with Nick Saban. Smart move on his part. Smart move by Saban to help him do so. I think that finally everyone sees that football and basketball can be compatible and  each can help the other. 

          I've been watching Tide basketball for a long time. Honestly, my belief that Alabama could reach the upper echelons of NCAA hoops had faded. Will Alabama ever be a Duke or UCLA in hoops? I doubt it, but it would be unfair to discount it entirely. I'll say this - give us a couple of years and we'll be really good. We'll be so good that teams will not take the Tide lightly. That's a good first step.

PART III - SEC PREVIEW

11.  Florida Gators - who ever thought that the Florida Gators might be picked as one of the four bottom teams in the SEC? Billy Donovan has been replaced by Mike White who turned around the LA. Tech program. He is a good coach, but has his work cut out this season. The wealth of basketball talent is seemingly bottomless in the Sunshine State. White will be able to tap into that in the coming seasons, but for this year he may have a tough time. The Florida front court is substantial. Start with John Egbunu is a great post player who checks in at almost 7 feet. If White can find a backcourt to help his front Court the Gators could surprise. In 2013, Florida won 36 games. Last year that number dropped to 16. Donovan gave the Gators 19 years at the helm, but you can't wonder if he saw the writing on the wall. White starred at Ole Miss, and worked as an Ole Miss Assistant before resurrecting the La. Tech program.  Although White never took LaTech to the NCAA he won 28 games in his last season.  Dorian Finney Smith, 6-8 223, the SEC's 6th Man of the Year will know step into a starting role. He will give the Gators a strong Front Court along with Egbunu. Throw in Devin Robinson, who is 6-8, and the Gators have some decent size. 


12.  Tennessee Vols - have fallen a long way from back in the day. Robert Hubbs, III is the Volunteers best returning starter. He is 6-4 junior guard. But real story in Knoxville is the hiring of Rick Barnes. Barnes led Texas from mediocrity into one of the top programs in the NCAA before he was canned.  How anyone can accumulate the record that Barnes had at Texas and be fired is an example of just how dysfunctional things had become in the Texas AD office. The Tennessee jumped at the chance to hire Barnes. Rick hasn't had an opportunity to put his considerable recruiting skills to work yet. He was greeted in Knoxville in much the same manner as Avery Johnson was at Alabama. 

13.  ARKANSAS RAZORBACKS have more personal problems than any team in the SEC. Last year the Razorbacks won 27 games. They may not win 15 this season. Mike Anderson has a tough row to hoe coming up. The Hogs lost Booby Portis and Michael Qualls.  You don't recover from that. Add to the list of problems was a sub-par recruiting class according to various services which rank players. The Razorbacks also lost three transfer players to various personal and legal question. Not wanting to beat a dead horse just suffice it to say that the Razorbacks or in a down to the wire fight with Missouri to avoid the SEC celler.

13. (tie) MISSOURI TIGERS basketball came into the SEC with a highly regarded program. The football team was kind of an afterthought. It hasn't turned out that way has it. Last year the Tigers were 9-23 and were frankly, a very bad basketball team. Jonathon Allen, the team best player transferred to Gonzaga. It would be easy to say the cup board is bare. Mizzoui doesn't even have a cupboard. The burden falls on the gifted Wes Clark, a 6-1 guard who is the real deal. Unfortunately,  doesn't have the help to pull the Tigers into respectability. 
 
Accolades for the season...

          Do you include Freshman for an all-conference team when they have never played a game?  Common Sense says you shouldn't but after watching a lot of AAU games and video they are hard to ignore.
SIMMONS - LSU. Simmons is the best high school player I've ever seen. He will dominate the SEC. I'd like to think that Simmons would stick around for a couple of seasons but that isn't likely.
Runner-up: Danuel House - Texas A&M - Not a glamour pick but House is that good...

SEC COACH OF THE YEAR: BEN HOWLAND - MISSISSIPPI STATE.  I have no doubt that picking a man who has never coached a game in the SEC is controversial. I'm sticking to my guns. From last season to the end of the present season I think that Howland is going to be the man.

Runner-up: Johnny Jones, LSU. You could pick him #1 and get no beef from this writer. Jones has rung the bell in recruiting and it should pay off big time.

ALL-SEC FIRST TEAM:

BEN SIMMONS: LSU
DANIEL HOUSE: Texas A&M
SKAI LaBRISSERE: Kentucky
DAMIEN JONES: Vanderbilt
ALEX POYTHRESS: KENTUCKY

SECOND TEAM:

JAMAL MURRY: Kentucky
MALIK NEWMAN: Mississippi State
STEPHAN MOODY: Ole Miss
JALEN JONES: Texas A&M
DORIAN FINNEY-SMITH: Florida 

SEC TEAMS RECEIVING NCAA BID:  Kentucky, TAM, Vanderbilt, Georgia, and  LSU
NIT BOUND: Ole Miss, Mississippi State, South Carolina, and Auburn

BACK BURNER TEAMS WHICH MIGHT SURPRISE: Mississippi State and Alabama.