Barbee's last season????

Barbee nears the end...

         I was looking at the Auburn roster today and thought this might be the worst team in modern SEC basketball history. That takes in a lot of teams and a lot of years. The funny thing is that no one in AU will even care. After all in "Gus we Trust" is now in vogue. Tony Barbee is not in any real disfavor on the plains. I'm not sure that most people even care about basketball. Alabama isn't exactly setting the woods on fire but at least people are concerned about basketball and want to see success.  You go to an Auburn game and people talk about how certain basketball players would be great defensive backs or tight ends. No joke. So if you are an Alabama basketball fan and you think things are bad in Tuscaloosa,  you should go down to Lee County and have a good laugh. If nothing else you can see the modern version of a comb over to hide baldness. Barbee now sports the comb down. Appropriate because that is where the Tigers are headed this season. Seriously, they might be so bad they finish 5 games behind the second worst team.

            I truly like Tony Barbee. He is not a bad basketball coach. He is stuck in the most hopeless basketball job in the SEC. It might even be the worst job in the NCAA. He has given it his best. I don't think that Bobby Knight could win at Auburn. All of this is really pretty good news for the Tide. Many fans think that Anthony Grant can't get the job done.Really?  I disagree. He has assembled the 6th best recruiting class in nation and one more signee is very likely. When Lee signs with Bama it means that Bama will have signed a top 5 national class and will have covered the point guard, the two guard, a versatile forward, and an inside player. That goes along with two very, very talented transfers. Better days are ahead. You just can't say that about the Tigers.

         Alabama has a tough schedule. Auburn has a schedule that is tough mainly because they are so bad, but also because it is an embarrassment themselves and the SEC. Here are some of their games:




Look on Wiki to see if these teams really exists:

• Nicholls State
• Northwestern State
• Jacksonville State
• Murry State
• Murray State (not a bad team in truth)
• Tennessee State
• Arkansas Pine-Bluff
• Florida A&M
• Clemson (not bad either)

The Tough games?

• Iowa State
• Boston College
• Illinois - none of those teams will be bad but except for SEC that is the best non-conference teams the Tigers play. To be fair, you might throw Clemson and Murray State in the tough game category. It isn't a fearsome fivesome. It's a joke.

     Barbee has couple of top 100 players and plans to play an up tempo game. That's usually coach speak for we can't play defense so we'll try to just out score the other team. I will say this about Coach Barbee - his kids play hard and you can't take them lightly. Alabama did that on a road game and it cost them a trip to the NCAA. Auburn will not go down quietly. They will go down just the same and it will cost Barbee his job. I wonder how long it will take Auburn fans to notice.
 

Randolph set to return soon...

Levi is getting close to returning to the Court...

Deep knee bruise?

           Sooner or later. In this case it appears that for Levi Randolph the answer will be soon and not later. While the University of Alabama has not been very specific on his injury, I've learned he suffered a deep bone bruise in his knee. This is supposedly a very painful injury and the best rehabilitation is rest and anti-inflammatories.  That is as close as I can find out and at least it is from a person who should know because he sees Levi on a daily basis. I hope this is correct. This man has always given me great information and is rarely wrong     


           Step one in recovery is to wear a brace to keep flexing the knee to a minimum and for protection. Step two is a lighter weight knee brace that offers support and more flexing in the knee. Step three to to discard the brace, and begin to work out to see what pain level is for that  individual, and go from there until a player is ready for full speed. If the bruise was serious it 'normally' takes 6-8 weeks for a person to be at full speed. The less serious the bruise the shorter the rehabilitation process. The possibility of re-injury is very possible and often an athlete with still wear the brace until he find his comfort level. This is an injury that might put a football player on the bench for most of a season. I found out that the fear is another "impact" in the same place. The knee isn't likely to be hurt with anything but  a severe blow on the old injury spot. I hope my friend is correct but a quicker return to the court by Levi is essential for Tide future NCAA hopes

Can Alabama win without Randolph?

Levi Randolph is the glue...

                         Let me get straight to the point. Alabama isn't going to win many games against quality opponents without Levi Randolph on the floor. After having a tremendous summer and seeing his outside shooting soar the junior injured his knee. No one really knows how long Levi is going to be on the sideline. Alabama's official sports website state he would be out "several weeks" and didn't elaborate further.  It could very well be that Levi's season is over. Let's say several is 8 weeks. You then have to add some time to get back in shape and scrape off the rust.  There is a lot of soul searching going on about the potential of a red shirt season if this injury goes beyond a month.

        Randolph lives in the gym. What would Alabama lose if Levi can't play. 30 minutes a game, 8 points, over 4 rebounds, a world of experience, and the most dependable player that Grant can put on the floor. Trevor Releford is the heart and sould of the team, but Randolph is the glue that keeps the team together in my opinion. He reminds me of T.R. Dunn. Dunn  always made the big shot, got the traffic rebound, and seemingly found every loose ball. Who does that sound like? I've got a lot of inside sources about Alabama basketball and I can't get any information about the injury. Weeks sounds serious. But it could cautious as well.  When got a call from an ex-player telling me about the injury it made me sick. Such a great kid doesn't deserve this. Will Anthony ever catch a break? I had us at fourth in the SEC before the injury. That will be almost impossible without Levi. My main fear at this point is that we'll have such a miserable pre-SEC season we won't make the NCAA. Without Randolph and making the NCAA would be one great job. Obasahan and Algie Key will get a lot of increased time. Key is a great athlete. He has the hops to help around the basket. Retin is ready to show just ho good he has become. How bad is this for Bama? Worse than losing Tony Mitchell.

 

Releford named to 1st Team ALL-SEC

RELEFORD WILL LEAD THE TIDE... 

RANDOLPH HURT...




 

          I think that Trevor Releford might be my all time favorite Alabama player.  When I look at the list of Alabama point guards his name jumps to the forefront. Imagine what Releford might have done with other Bama teams. Unlike other Bama point guards, Releford  has been forced to take on the heavy burden of leadership and scoring. He does it all with an infectious grin and a grit common to players that are long on heart and short in height. He has almost magical moves around the lane, is a really good outside shooter, and will steal your jock strap if you look the wrong direction.

 

      He is Bama's heart and soul. No way that his teams would have won over 20 games per season without his play. It is heartwarming to this writer to see him getting just just due. Having Trevor  on the court and being a great point guard is the first thing any basketball team must have to be successful. The Kentucky talent show of last season is a perfect example. Average point guard play resulted in average team play. Just for the record how ridiculous is it to name a Player of the Year who has never stepped on a Division One floor. I'm not saying Julius Randall of Kentucky might not end up being the best player in the SEC in the end. Just saying how stupid sports writers are for naming someone most  have never seen play. 

 

     Levi Randolph, Mr.under appreciated, has been injured. He has an undisclosed knee injury and is expected to miss six weeks minimum. A redshirt has already been discussed. The loss of Randolph would be enough to keep Alabama from making the NCAA field and would continue the bad luck that has plagued Grant since coming to Bama. More on Levi later over the weekend.

ALABAMA WILL PLAY STORIED UCLA THIS DECEMBER...

Alabama takes on UCLA ... 

    

 I know it's the time of the year to think about bone rattling tackles and winning three national titles in football.  No doubt, those thoughts cross my mind frequently. When you are a  misunderstood round ball man in an area where basketball ranks just behind fall football, spring football, and football recruiting, December 28th is a big day. That's the day when Alabama will take their crimson jerseys only the most famous basketball floor in the NCAA. Pauley Pavilion is not unlike Mecca for hoops fans. I guess I've attended 20 or so games in Westwood. The next time I'm going is to watch the Tide play. It won't be USC, Arizona, or Stanford. It won't be on some neutral floor for a Regional. It will be Alabama vs. UCLA. I'm going to ask my friend Steven Avram to go with me. He is an UCLA grad, friend of the program, friend of Bill Walton, and lover of all thing blue and gold.  Here's how much of a UCLA fan he really is today - I gave him my Keith Wilkes UCLA warm up jacket. It now holds a prominent place is his doctor's office. There are only two basketball teams that get my attention. The Tide is # 1 in my heart. The Bruins are a close 2nd. UCLA is the historic gold standard for basketball in the modern era. They may not have the juice they once had. Still, a win over the Bruins would be mighty impressive to the rest of the NCAA. Not only that, but the Bruins come to Tuscaloosa in 2014 to finish out a home and home contract.   That is impressive for Alabama.  It will be nationally impressive. ESPN impressive. The necessity for an old man to stay alive for another year impressive.

Bama game was not well received...

    
                 When this game was announced it was to the dismay of many Bruin faithful.  Some fans don't believe a win over Bama will help he Bruins make    the NCAA field in March.  Those could be logical thoughts. I disagree.  Alabama is a good opponent but should UCLA lose the game it might really hurt according to a lot of LA sportswriters.  For Bama, the opposite is true.  UCLA might not be the team of old, but they are still a top 10 program. Alabama isn't in that rarefied air, at least not yet. Beating a team like UCLA on the road will be big. The Bruins have turned  to Steve Alford to run the program. Some fans see him as the second coming and many more don't like Alford or the hire. Alford has his work cut out for him.  After coaching at New Mexico and have mixed success, UCLA hired him. One of the first things that Alford did was sign his son, Bryce. This has caused some hard feelings among some of the UCLA players.  Bryce Alford is not a star but is solid player in his own right. Alford has been controversial at every coaching stop  he's made, and he was a prima donna at Indiana where he was an  All-American. The man can coach though.

      Bama will be solid road dog in the game.  Can the Tide win?  As long as you have Trevor Releford  playing point guard you have a chance.
 

Outlook for the new Season...

Tide facing difficult schedule

     I think it would be a fair statement that Grant is closer to getting his type players on the floor this season.  The problem is that  a couple of those players are freshman, and another is going to replace Trevor Lacey. I've always been pretty optimistic about our teams. I'm almost optimistic about this years rendition but I am not getting my hopes up just yet. The second half of the season might produce some good ball playing however. Here's my view:

Trevor Releford is as good a point guard as you will find in the SEC.  The point is where you start in building a good team. This bodes well for Bama.

• Most coaches would then want a solid inside game. This is good and bad for the Tide. Jacobs has the experience to have some big game, but he really doesn't have the size to dominate. He is a defensive liability at times as well. Jimmie Taylor is going to be good when he gets some experience. In the mean time he can rebound and block shots. He can do that and Tide fans will be surprised at his inside game on defense. And then their is big Carl. He's back, he looks well, and he has improved. He isn't fancy. He is steady. Steady is what Bama needs inside. Look for Engstrom to start. This means Bama can move lefty over to the power forward and he can overmatch a few defensive players.

• Who takes the place of Lacey?  Retin Obsahan is the answer. Near the end of last season the Belgium  waffle started to send Lacey to the bench more and more. He is a very good defensive player and has made the jump to Division One speed and play now. He could be surprisingly good.

• Shooters?  Releford and Obsahan can shoot outside and both can finish off around the basket. So who else is going to help? Shannon Hale can be a big time scorer given some time. Look for Levi Randolph to continue to expand his shot numbers. 15 a game would be huge for Bama. It is also possible.

     Then you have to look at the schedule. Xavier, UCLA, and the NIT preseason, Robert Morris, Witchita State, Oklahoma, and Texas Tech makes for tough row to hoe. The NIT preseason is wild card. Bama has to play Florida, Arkansas, Missouri, Ole Miss, and arch-rival Auburn twice. They play Kentucky on the road but not at home. Bama's February tilts are really tough. In conclusion,  this year's schedule is much harder than last year.  On top of that you can look for a couple of the weaker teams to be much improved. Of course, you might also conclude that this gives Bama a real opportunity to get some national attention quickly.The UCLA game, even though it is televised, is a must see in person game to big time fans. Luckily, one my daughters live in LA and that great. Now to find a low price ticket in the middle of the holiday season.

 

Tarrant comes home to Bama

Ricky ends up where he always wanted to go...

   My daughter taught at Pleasant Grove for years and that gave me a lot of opportunities to watch Ricky Tarrant play hoops for the Spartans. She is a great student of the game and she kept telling he to come watch him. Finally, I agreed and then spent most of his senior year trying to convince Bama to sign him.  He is a baller. He's also a nice kid. He hustles. Those are all good things to have in your tool belt when you play for Anthony Grant.  Those two guys are a match made in heaven. Tarrant can shoot, dribble, and dish out assists. He has a motor that doesn't idle. He is a great little guard who can play both the point and the two. Bama is happy to have him. I think he'll be end up being a breathe of fresh air after watching Trevor Lacey slop it around for a couple of seasons. What is really outstanding about RT is that he is so consistent. That is something you just can't understand by watching a couple of games. In the long haul Tarrant is always there.  Butch and Sundance would have asked who is that guy. I love him, and he is going to be a big addition for the Crimson Tide. He is not the type of guy who has lot of flash. He is solid.  He'll make very few mistakes, will not miss many assignments, and has team leader written all over him.  I'm really up on this young man both as a person and as a player.

   

   Ricky will have to sit out this season as a Division 1 transfer under the the non-hardship rule. Tarrant will get to go head to head with Releford all season long. That will make Tarrant a better a player. Don't think that Releford will win all those little head to head practice battles though. Ricky will make Releford better as well.  Give him 4 stars and a bright future at Alabaama. He has gotten stronger, will work hard in our. He can make other players better with his unselfish play. He is a real basketball player. Almost a throwback type guy.