Three point shooting...
That was not a misprint. Charvez Davis ended his regular season senior season pretending he could launch something as good as NASA. Davis nailed 5 three pointers. When Bama star JaMichael Green was sitting with four fouls the left handed dropped in four big three point baskets. That performance only reinforced what a lot of pundits believe - if Bama has good outside shooting they can beat anyone, anytime, and anywhere but the Bahamas.
Senior Day is always bittersweet. But for Hillman, Hines, and Davis they each played like champs, and each contributed in their own manner to the Bama win. Hillman nailed down his man on defense. Just flat nailed his shoes to the floor. Davis was the mad bomber. What can you say about Hines? It was almost fitting that the senior fouled out trying to make a steal and ended up prone on the hardwood for his effort. 15,000 plus fans gave him a standing ovation. Same for Hillman when he left the game. Davis who played 38 mintues was still on the floor when the final buzzer showed the Tide a 65-57 winner. When the game was over and the Crimson Tide gathered at midcourt to celebrate their Western Division Crown it was Davis who got the thunder. He deserved it.
The bench was a big part in winning...
We have all expressed concern over our bench. Today the bench outscored the Dawg bench 16-2. More important, when Green got his third foul early in the second half it was the Tide bench that helped the Tide from a 2 point lead to a 7 point lead. When Big JMG got his fourth foul the Tide upped the lead to 11. Green had 19 points and 9 boards in only 24 mintues of play. Trevor Releford knifed throught the Georgia zone like a surgeon drinking Red Bull. When Georgia finally went man in an effort to place some defensive pressure the freshman point guard owned the floor. His ball, his game. Tony Mitchell was always there for the big traffic rebound when the Bama Big men were sitting. He also threw in some "hello, I'm Tony Mitchell and I'm from outerspace" baskets. Tony doesn't do the mundane. He specializes in wow.
Vandy couldn't beat Florida. So the Tide finishes 2nd overall in the SEC. I think Florida is the best team in the SEC. And I honestly think we are second best. A shot and turnover here and there could have given Bama the Crown. That Crown is coming and coming soon. Most felt Bama needed to win the SEC Crown to make it to the NCAA. I've listened to all the bracket experts and they seem to think Bama's strong finish in the SEC will be enough, barely. Barely means you make it. You either make it or don't make it. I think we have made it. I'd love to see us win at least one game in the SEC Tournament. Call it breathing room if you like.
A word about the crowd. The were loud and they were proud. When Coach Grant addressed the fans he thanked them for making Coleman a place where teams hated to come. I suspect in a couple of weeks some team is not going to be overly happy to see Bama coming to play them. A lot of things could happen between now and a week from tomorrow. We should be there . You can't convince me there are more deserving teams that don't recieve an automatic bid that should be in over the Tide.
Last home game is always a little different for me. Rather than sitting close I like to go up in the rafters and soak in all in. The game unfolded with the bad guys jumping out front and the good guys getting it togehter to win. Georgia was wearing black and Bama was in white. This was an old Roy Roger's rerun. The guys in the white hats always win. This was a season where the term Crimson Pride was easily understood. I can' remember when there was an Alabama team exactly like this one. Watching them play took on all the fun of a root canal. But as the season progressed and kids got better they became a team that real hoop junkies came to love One play today eptimized our season. Trey Thompkins, the great Georgia forward, picked up his dribble in the corner. He immediately was swarmed over by Green and Mitchell. It was like someone dropped a sirloin steak in a river of piranha. Thompkins desparation pass landed just short of Northport. If you like your football as three yards and a cloud of dust, you love this team.
If I'm a guard recruit I'd look at the Bama offense and Releford and think I could score 20 every night out. Mr. Cooper, Mr. Randolph, and Mr. Lacey were probably watching a grinning.
photos compliments of UAmedia and bham news
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