Fast and quick...
The Crimson Tide is going to play a different type of game this season if I had to guess. This team may very well play small with four guards and JayMichael Green inside. This team will score a lot of points. When I say four guards I'm counting Tony Mitchell as a guard. He'll go inside and outside as needed.
Charles Hankerson looks like some kind of Grecian statue. No body fat on this kid at all. Hankerson has some real shooting and defending skills but last season that layer of baby fat held him back. He looks much stronger as well. Hankerson is also big enough to cause some match up problems if a man defense tries to defend him with a guard.
Releford is simply amazing. After being the best freshman in the SEC last season he may end up being the best point guard regardless of class. He has a chance to be a truly great player. A lot of attention is given to his average shooting. He is shooting better, but what he really needs to improve is his assist total. With all the great shooters around him he might lead the league is assists. The kid can penetrate. Now he has someone to dish it back outside who can fill it up.
Bama's freshmen look pretty good. You can quickly notice they are having a little trouble with the speed and quickness of the SEC. But they all possess both of those qualities when they get a few games under their belt. I think that Levi Randolph has been the most effective to date. Lacey is a player but is still hindered a little by having his knee scoped earlier in the summer. He'll be full speed by SEC play. Cooper can flat out nail the three ball. Randolph can chest up on defense and is very effective around the basket. He can also shoot it outside.
I'd expect the Tide to run the floor and press almost as much as last season although the improved shooting may not make that "defend 'til they drop" won't be a necessary. I didn't say they wouldn't play hard defense, but the half court defense looks better. When you start with Releford, Mitchell, and Green you have a basketball trinity to build on. I'd bet Hankerson will start as well. Hankerson may well be this season's Chris Hines. Losing Steele hurts. Between our freshman guards the Tide can make up for his loss in time.
The big Swede is still big. He isn't much quicker or faster. The key question in my mind is how long will it take Nick Jacobs to get some quality minutes. The problem for Bama is going to be quality insider players. Bama will be better than last season, but 25 wins may be hard to match.
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| Hankerson needs big year for Alabama to excel... |
Charles Hankerson looks like some kind of Grecian statue. No body fat on this kid at all. Hankerson has some real shooting and defending skills but last season that layer of baby fat held him back. He looks much stronger as well. Hankerson is also big enough to cause some match up problems if a man defense tries to defend him with a guard.
Releford is simply amazing. After being the best freshman in the SEC last season he may end up being the best point guard regardless of class. He has a chance to be a truly great player. A lot of attention is given to his average shooting. He is shooting better, but what he really needs to improve is his assist total. With all the great shooters around him he might lead the league is assists. The kid can penetrate. Now he has someone to dish it back outside who can fill it up.
Bama's freshmen look pretty good. You can quickly notice they are having a little trouble with the speed and quickness of the SEC. But they all possess both of those qualities when they get a few games under their belt. I think that Levi Randolph has been the most effective to date. Lacey is a player but is still hindered a little by having his knee scoped earlier in the summer. He'll be full speed by SEC play. Cooper can flat out nail the three ball. Randolph can chest up on defense and is very effective around the basket. He can also shoot it outside.
I'd expect the Tide to run the floor and press almost as much as last season although the improved shooting may not make that "defend 'til they drop" won't be a necessary. I didn't say they wouldn't play hard defense, but the half court defense looks better. When you start with Releford, Mitchell, and Green you have a basketball trinity to build on. I'd bet Hankerson will start as well. Hankerson may well be this season's Chris Hines. Losing Steele hurts. Between our freshman guards the Tide can make up for his loss in time.
The big Swede is still big. He isn't much quicker or faster. The key question in my mind is how long will it take Nick Jacobs to get some quality minutes. The problem for Bama is going to be quality insider players. Bama will be better than last season, but 25 wins may be hard to match.
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