'Bama # 17 in USA Poll

Tide getting some respect...

     The Crimson Tide of Alabama picked up enough votes in the initial USA Today Poll to be ranked #17. I have no idea if that is high, low, or just right. No one else does either. What I do know is that Alabama won 25 games last season and returns almost everyone. Throw in a top five national recruiting class and that spells    h i g h  e x p e c t i o n s around this State. Only Kentucky and Florida won more at 29 each. 

    Coach Grant's extraordinary success in recruiting began with convincing Green to return his senior season. It was a move that will benefit everyone. The late Al McGuire who coached at Marquette was fond of saying " you give a good point guard and a great inside player and I've got a team."  When you look at the Tide the first thing you see is great guard play at the point. Great inside play, and one player who plays in the ozone. Releford, Green, and Mitchell are an impressive trio to build a team around. There is a fourth player that deserves recognition on this team. He doesn't have a number, but he does have everyones number, Defense. 


    First and foremost, an Anthony Grant team is built on the end floor you find out who wants to really play basketball. All summer people asked me about Lacey. "Will he help us immediately?" was the most asked question. My answer was always the same, "he will if he can play defense". And you will play defense at Alabama or you won't play at all. 

    The Tide is a NCAA team and I believe not a one and done deal type squad. This team can be very good. If everyone plays defense as well as last season and some consistent outside shooting is found the Tide will be scary. Playing basketball in Coleman Coliseum will be known as "Fright Night" for opposing teams. The Tide was undefeated last season at home. The very well might be again.

Some observations

•      Releford is going to hurt some teams with his improved outside shooting
•      Green is going to hurt everyone inside. He is fired up for his senior season.
•      Jacobs will surprise people with his solid inside play
•      All three of Bama's need guards, Lacey, Randolph, and Cooper can shoot

     And everyone is killing themselves on the defensive end. First hand knowledge. Got to the public scrimmage and see for yourself. One thing you might want to consider before you go - get that neck good and warmed up because it will need to be.