For almost 34 minutes the Crimson Tide and Auburn played a game of pick up basketball. It was almost like the prizefight fan who went to a match and a hockey game broke out. I'm sure the next Lee County grand jury can sort out the various fouls and misdemeanors committed.
For most of the game Alabama played along with the hapless Tigers. With ten minutes left in the game coach Anthony Grant took out prized forward Tony Mitchell and replaced him with Andrew Steele. You remember Steele, the second of the injury proned John Caroll stars. Steele is not as dynamic as Mitchell. He is cool, collected, and steady. He is a basketball player. He just played basketball the way Bob Cousey would have approved. He took a couple of good shots, got a couple of steals, had no turnover, and helped Trevor Releford slow down the frenetic pace of the contest.
At the five minute mark near the end Scenario Hillman hit a jump shot. It was a short jump shot. Grant abandoned the outside game and allowed Green and Hines to dominate the middle. Hines played the best game of his short Bama career. The Tide also knocked down 16-20 free throws down the line. It had been an Auuburn party up to that point. Hines and Green turned out the lights and the party was over. As the AU faithful stampeded over themselves to leave the arena they may have missed a turning point in Alabama basketball. In three out of its last four games the Tide won the game in the final five minutes. This one wasn't just a road game. This was a trap and the Tide avoided it. There may be a better coach in the SEC than Grant. I can't think of who it is though.
Alabama dedicated the new and splendid basketball arena for the Tigers. They had best get used to seeing the Tide win home and away. A new dawn is coming...
No comments:
Post a Comment