Green finishes strong to lead Tide

AUBURN ALMOST PULLS STUNNER...
Green's strong second half saves Tide
    

     Well, I said Auburn better get ready for a bad night. Wrong. Well, wrong unless you come so close someone jerks your still beating heart out of your body when it looked like you might upset Alabama. That was probably pretty bad if you wear orange and blue. The final score was 55-49. On Senior night our lone senior JayMychal Green got out of the doghouse and finished his home career standing in the Penthouse. It was Green's strong play in the last 8:15  of the second half that gave Alabama the win. For the night Green had 15 points and 8 rebounds. One of those rebounds was an offensive put back  to put Alabama up 51-47 off a miss by Trevor Lacey 33 seconds left in the game. It gave the Tide a little breathing room and forced the Tigers into some bad shots when only 4 points separated the teams. Bama hit 6-8 free throws down the stretch to ensure the win.


Auburn gamble almost works...  
  Auburn decided to gamble on Alabama missing from the outside and shut down Green. It worked defensively. Bama's outside game was only 3-12 and was a mere 30.4% from the floor. How can you win a game by shooting only 30%? The answer is you only allow Auburn score 49 points. Alabama had 6 less field goals than Auburn who shot a very respectable 45%  for the game. Auburn was playing hard physical defense all night and their pushing and shoving style of play stymied the Tide except at the free throw line. Alabama was 24-32 to Auburn's 5-12. I'll say it was one of the most horrible officiated games I've seen in long time. Obvious fouls were not whistled while some were called when no contact was made. I think the officiating hurt both teams from finding an offensive flow.


    Now that Alabama has established just how bad a team can play at home and still win they will turn their sights to Oxford, Mississippi. Bama closes the regular season against Ole Miss who came from 15 down to beat Arkansas by 2 on Tuesday night on Henry's 3 point basket with 8 seconds left in Bud Walton Arena. The Rebs came storming back from 15 down in the second half to keep their very slim NCAA hopes alive. 


Tennesse wins big road game against LSU to keep the fight for 4th alive...


    Mississippi State avoided a complete late season meltdown and six straight losses by beating Carolina by a bucket in overtime 69-69 in Columbia. State's Brian Bryant hit a final second shot of an inbounds pass to save the Dogs. Tennessee and LSU fought down to the wire in Baton Rouge where the Vols and Bengals fought to a 60 all tie and played an overtime. The Vols pulled out a big win on the road in the Maravich Assembly Center 74-69. Tennessee  and Bama are now tied for 4th in the SEC. Bama has that tough road game with Ole Miss on Saturday, while the Vols hosts arch rival Vanderbilt.  If the two teams tie at the end of the regular season Alabama gets the bye due to beating Tennessee in Tuscaloosa earlier this year.


     This game was as poorly played by Bama as any game all season. Yet, they dug down and found a way to win. Green, Randolph, Lacey, and Steele all made big plays down the stretch when Bama needed them most. Missing in Action was Releford who had a rare bad game. His ball handling was fine but he was unable to penetrate or provide the spark he has done so many times in the last two years. He looks tired. Maybe the minutes are adding up. There is no rest for the weary as Alabama will begin to prepare for Ole Miss who has an extra day of preparation because they played the SEC Big Tuesday game. By moves to 20-9 and 9-6 in the SEC. A Tide win assures Alabama of a 4th place finish in the SEC. The Tide doesn't need to back into a 4th place finish. They need a win over Ole Miss and at least one win in the SEC to get out of the DOA 8th or 9th seed. I think a win in Oxford and one win in the SEC might get Bama to a 7 seed. It should be higher with their RPI of 25 and SOC of 13. None of that matters unless we beat Ole Miss. The only place worse to finish a season would be in hell. It will take the Tide's best game to win. We don't match up well with Ole Miss who will have the home court advantage and all the zebra calls they need. 
    

Auburn needs to get ready for one really bad night...

Time for the Tiger sacrifice ...
Injuries and suspensions decimate Aubie - 
Breaking update: Ward and Denson probably re-instated for the Alabama game... no official word from Barbee at this point. Denson tweets he and Ward are in Tuscaloosa.

There are very few things certain in life. From what I've seen from our basketball team in the last few weeks I probably shouldn't say I am certain we will beat Auburn. But I am certain we will beat Auburn and I suspect it will be "name that score" type game. Alabama has allowed on 11 of their opponents to score over 60 points in a game this season. Auburn likes to run the ball up and down the floor. I don't see how they can get into a running game given the numbers of turnovers they have each game. Add to that the pressure that the Tide is going to put them under with their 94ft. defensive game and this has all makings of a blowout. We can only wish. For Alabama basketball fans this game is just as important as its football counterpoint. 

     Rival games can be tricky to predict. I thought Auburn would have a great chance to beat 'Bama in Cowville, but instead the Tide went out to the pasture and tipped over cows big time. Let me make one thing clear. I don't like Auburn. I have nothing against their players or Coach Barbee. I even cheer (on rare occasions) for Auburn to win a game such as the Arkansas game last weekend. You can never get too much room between someone close in the standings. But I do not like Auburn because of one Pat Dye. I always thought Auburn was a pretty decent place before he arrived on the scene. I'm not say he's a bad coach or a bad person. I just don't like him and I don't think many Alabama fans like him either. One of my fondest memories was going down to Auburn and sitting behind Coach Dye and making so much noise Dye told four of us he'd throw us out of the Cow Palace if we didn't calm down. One of my friends asked him who the heck was he to say that. He said he was Pat Dye. My friend said who the hell is he? And we laughed. He finally got up and left. I'll say this - he stayed in the arena much longer than the other 5000 fans who had showed up that night. 


Auburn has had tougher luck than road kill lately...

     Alabama fans have had their share of worries lately. During the same time the Auburn basketball team has essentially fallen apart from injuries and suspensions. Varez Ware, who transferred in from Texas has been suspended for the remainder of the season. The same for Chris Denson. On top of those self inflicted injury, rising star Allen Payne, underwent successful surgery. He's gone for the rest of the year. Payne, who had a great game against Georgia, was already a replacement for the injured Josh Langford, tweeted he is finished for the season. No official announcement from AU on his status. Barbee did not clarify the reasons for the suspensions. The three will not be available for Wednesday night's game. Alabama seems to be in reasonably good shape. Mitchell is gone for the year, and I don't think that Grant will risk further injury to Trevor Lacey but no official announcement has been made regarding his status other that uncertain. Lacey re-injured an  ankle against Mississippi State first injured against Arkansas. No other injuries have been reported regarding Bama players.


Big Game for the Tide in many ways...


   This is a very important game for Alabama. Even thought the Tigers not going anywhere but home at the end of the season this is still big. #1, the Tide needs this game to win game # 20 which is always a milestone for any program. And the #2 reason it is yet another chance to let Auburn know they are simply not going to be the best program in the State -not this year, not next year, and hopefully not forever. I think it is going to be a long time before Auburn is competitive. I heard Joe Dean, color analyst, and Athletic Director at Birmingham-Southern College, say on the radio today that it won't be next year for the Tigers either. I'm not putting words in Coach Dean's mouth but I thought that it might have been coach-speak for "never". Congratulations to Coach Dean and the entire Birmingham-Southern College program for getting the at large berth to play in the Division III National Championship Tournament. Coach Dean is a class act and a great gentleman and makes all of us Hilltopper grads proud. 


Auburn will play hard...(but it won't matter)

    I know that Auburn will come out and play hard. Frankie Sullivan will get his points. Kenny Gabriel, who I believe is a really good player, is still hampered by back trouble. Auburn just doesn't have enough depth or talent to hang with the Tide. If Auburn should win the game it would redefine the word upset. Auburn gave Alabama its best shot at Auburn and I just think that they don't have the horses to win. Take into account the collapse against Georgia, the injuries, and the suspensions and it isn't a good time for a road trip into Grant's Tomb. Tuscaloosa has seen a couple of losses this season but I wouldn't bet a penny Wednesday night will be another loss. I believe this is going to be a 20+ win for the Tide. Prepare for Auburn to play wild and out of control. Barbee is going to play ugly ball tomorrow night. He has no other choice. I hope Alabama can get some rest for Randolph, Steele, and Releford. Look for Green to open his game up a little and to get ready for the Ole Miss physical inside game. Look for the Swede to get some more minutes as well as Moussa. 


Nationally televised game might impress some voters...

    This game can help 'Bama because it is a nationally televised game, and regardless of the sport the Alabama and Auburn rivalry has a certain marquee value other games don't have. The game is a hard sell out. If you don't have a ticket be prepared to pay 50 bucks outside Coleman for decent tickets. I'd buy one in a heart beat. How often do you get to see Alabama beat Auburn in anything?  Okay, that is almost every time the two teams meet regardless of what the sport might be. Beating Auburn is like seeing a pretty girl. Somethings never get old. Tide fans don't always agree on everything except for beating Auburn. If we can't beat them by 20 then lets be them by 30. Or more. Roll Tide.




back to Tider Insider

home for sale on Big Island of Hawaii

We have to sell our retirement home located on the ocean near Honoka'a, Hawaii. Family illness has forced us to give up our home. It is named Casa de la Maresa Rollo or in English "home of Rolling Tide". It is full remodeled and furnished with everything included in the sales price needed to just turn the key and move in. It is one mile from the Waipio Valley, "Valley of the Kings" one of the world's national treasures. There you can surf, fish, lay on the black sand, hike, and watch the Whales and dolphins. We have bought homes in Italy and Ecuador but we never lived in a better place than Hawaii. The Big Island is not a tourist area like Maui, but is a more rural and "normal" place to live. The daily temperature is 82 degrees. Everyday. At night it goes into the high 40's. Honoka'a is like a throw back to the 1950 America. Soda shops, golf, a full restored movie theatre showing first run American and English movies for 5 dollars. Less if you are a senior. The world famous Waimai Country Club is just down the road and you can play for less than fifty dollars. It is a touch of Old Scotland. The golf course sits at about 5,000 meters and is very cool year round. This Island has active volcanoes, Mauna Kea where you can snow ski, and tropical jungles. It also has the most beautiful beaches and wonderful people in the world. The home has been appraised at 400,000 dollars but we are selling it for 330,000 in hopes for a quick sale. Leave me a message on the forum if you are interested. 

     
   

Big Game in Nashville Tonight...

Vandy hosts Florida...
Who should the Tide pull for ?

     As a general rule I wouldn't pull for Florida in anything. It might be in the Tide's favor to pull for Florida in what could be a great Tuesday night game. Why? Another loss would drop the Commodores to 20-10 and 9-6 in the SEC. 'Bama now stands at 19-9 and 8-6 and that might easily go to 20-10 and 9-6. The question I have in my mind would be how would the Selection Committee view these two teams if they finish the season after this weekend in a tie? Common wisdom might say that Vandy beat Bama, but logical reason would be to see which is the hottest team, compare SOS and RPI. 


    Joe Lunardi has Vanderbilt a 7 seed playing in Nashville. That must have been drawn up by the same guy that has Georgia playing everyone but good teams SEC football again next season. Florida needs a good road win to prove they are a 4 seed. Tonight they get their chance. There are 3 places I hate to watch Alabama play  in the SEC - Lexington, Oxford, and Nashville. Hundreds of years from now if the Vandy gym is dug up in some archaeological find it is likely that raised surface will be interpreted as a place for human sacrifice. Those diggers would be close. A lot of good teams go into Nashville and die. It is a horrible arena and it makes Vandy competitive. I think it is the worst shooting arena in the SEC due to the weird configurations. Most gyms people cheer down at you. In Nashville it cheers come up at you as well. 

    I'll go ahead and say this just to get it out of the way. It is unfair for Vanderbilt to play in Nashville even if it isn't the aircraft hanger/dry dock. It is even more unfair to tweak their seed to make it happen. That is exactly what will happen if Florida beats Vanderbilt tonight and the game stays in Nashville. I understand the POD used by the NCAA. But allowing Vandy to play in Nashville would be more like letting them play in their home PAD. This will be even more evident should Florida win tonight, and when the questions start to be asked by the national media. 


    Vanderbilt is now a 4 point favorite up from 3.5 earlier today in some betting parlors. The only number I'd bet on in this game is the over and under of 3 point attempts. I bet it is at least 30. The team that wins will be the team that controls in the inside to let their three point shooters have a little more time to focus. I like Festus Ezeli to control the paint for Vanderbilt. Patric Young who is 6-9 and weighs  270 lbs has been very good and very average, and tonight Billy D needs him to be very good.  Mike Rosario has been injured and the loss of the Gator number 6 man is hurting Donovon's team depth wise. Rosario transferred to Florida from Rutgers with great fanfare. 


I like Vandy by 4.

Bama seems to have found their shooting touch and chemistry...

The Mitchell loss doesn't seem  to hurt...
Bama freshmen have made their mark 

    

     If you told me to predict how the Crimson Tide would have done without Mitchell and Green it would not been 19-9.  Since this is only my opinion, not being a reporter, I think the Tide would have been 21-7 had Green played and had a good attitude. Like most, it seemed to me that the Mississippi State game would be one of those home games you could lose. I never dreamed we have blown the Bulldogs out of the arena. It did seem to me this would be a game which determined whether we had a real chance to make it to NCAA Tournament. Mission accomplished in that regard. Now we play hard and hope to win three or four more games this season.

     'Bama should have little problem with Auburn. Kenny Gabriel is still not at 100% and Frankie Sullivan isn't enough to beat you by himself. Could there be a better way to get win # 20 than over Auburn? I don't think so. Tony Barbee is a really good coach in a place where coaches go to die. I bet Cliff Ellis looks pretty darn good right now. Coaching at Auburn is a thankless task. It has never been that way at Alabama even though the Capstone is a football school. If you read a lot about the history of the SEC I'd rank Alabama as the second best program behind Kentucky. Other SEC programs have been to a final four but none have the overall and historic basketball record of the Tide. We really have a good basketball tradition. It is something we should be proud to know and share.

     So where do we finish in the SEC. Two wins would put us at 10-6 in the Conference. we might have repeated 12-4 if the suspensions had not occurred. Here are a couple of questions for us to think about - What happens if we win two in a row and 1.) And then Florida beats Vandy on Tuesday night? 2.) What happens if South Carolina beats Mississippi State this weekend?  I bet the Selection Committee will look at the Vandy - Florida game and it won't have any impact. Mississippi State be left out in the cold if a few upsets occur in the smaller conferences. I don't think I have ever seen a NCAA qualifier with the lack of fight that Mississippi State put up against Bama.

     One thing you can say about Coach Grant is that his teams don't have  a stop or an easy button. You might beat Grant but you'll earn it. I think that Coach Grant should get a lot of support for SEC Coach of the Year. It is hard to argue against John Calipari. Not only did he recruit great players he got them to improve. I see where Kidd-Gilchrist is returning. Is this beginning of some great young players wanting to stick around and try to win a couple of NCAA titles?  It would help the SEC. It would help Alabama.

     Right now I'm think that four more wins bumps us up to a six if anyone is really paying attention. I don't think we can beat Kentucky on a neutral site. I'm not sure the Heat could either. For the Tide it is too keep shooting well, and continue to play the best defense I've ever seen.  I'd like to give some props to Levi Randolph. He played the best all around game of his season. If Cooper, Lacey, Jacobs, and Randolph have graduated as freshmen alreay this team has some good games ahead of it. We need to sign Pollard. It's a three horse race with State, Kentucky, and Bama all even at this point. Perhaps the Kentucky kid that is staying will help us. He is the best all-around forward I've seen in some time. I know this he better like to play defense, dive,drive,and think that every 50/50 ball is his to play for Alabama. That takes unique character to be a high school star and sign on for Coach Grant's program.


The Second Front Page...

     If you are a true hoops purist you are very familiar with the WCC and its many reincarnations. It's a West Coast League and all their games are televised late in the Birmingham Television Market.  So if you are like me and need to watch just one more game before calling it a night, the WCC is your dream come true. I watch so many WCC games that I've learned the league, the players, and what's going on at the Left Coast. This is a league that a lot of people are not familiar with, but they can play the game wth anyone. I guess Gonzaga is the bell cow of the league. There are many other fine teams there however. This looks like a three bid league to me. And should an upset occur the NCAA is going to have a tough time not asking four teams to dance. 


     The reason I'm writing about the league is that Joe Lunardi, the ESPN basketball guru has Alabama matched up with St. Mary's. Bama is the 10 seed and St. Mary's is the 7 seed. According to the ESPN brackets the winner of that little shootout will play Ohio State, the 2 seed in the MidWest bracket. I think both the Tide and Gaels are better than where he has them seeded but if it is true what a great game and great bracket. The Gaels have just won the WCC Championship, their first since the '89 season.


     The Gaels have the # 1 seed in the WCC Tournament. Gonzaga is the # 2 seed. St. Mary's record going into their post season conference tournament is 25-5. St. Mary's won the title by beating San Francisco Dons. USF had this big kid named Bill Russell who was a two-time All-American a few decades ago. He turned out to be a pretty good pro with the Celtics. Besides Gonzago and St. Mary's you have to look at BYU, and Loyola-Marymount for at least three bids. I recall LMU breaking Bama hearts. Remember Hank Gaithers? The left handed free throw in his honor? That was a good team. St. Mary's is just as good when yo watch them on television. One other team, San Francisco, is also capable of winning the WCC Tournament if they get on a hot streak. Anyway you look at the league, there are four teams who could play in the SEC. Gonzaga and St. Mary's would push for an NCAA bid in the SEC. 

Dellavedova is a good point guard

       I think that the game would be a pick 'em unless Alabama finishes even stronger than we hope. I guess what I'm trying to convey here is that should the Tide play St. Mary's it will not be a cake walk into the Ohio State game. By the way, we match up pretty good with Ohio State. The Buckeyes haven't seen a defensive team as good as Alabama. Wisconsin comes as close as any BigTen team. 


       By the way a Gael is someone of Irish-Gaelic heritage. Never count an Irishman out of anything in this Country. God loves the Irish. If we play St. Mary's lets hope this is one game that doesn't have an Irish ending as the saying goes.

THE NCAA LOOKS AT THE SEC ...

• Kentucky
• Florida
• Vanderbilt
• Alabama
• Mississippi State

COACH OF THE YEAR?

     Those are the five teams most associated with by bracketologists when picking which SEC teams go to the NCAA.  You can’t argue with Kentucky. They are the best team in the Nation are worthy of their #1 ranking and deserve #1 seed.


     My question is who do you now rank the other SEC teams? Of the 5 listed above I’d have to say that State is at the bottom, and if they lose another SEC game this season they may find themselves on the outside looking in.  I know that Alabama looked like world beaters in the second half of the State game. Was is just me, or did it looked like State mailed in the loss without much of a fight?  So of the other 3 teams left above who is the best team.

Player of the Year

Both Florida and Vanderbilt beat Alabama so that might seemingly make it easy to pick who gets the lowest seed of the 3. I don’t think it’s that easy and with some season left to play you have to look at trends. The trend for Florida is down and last night in their loss to Georgia it makes you wonder if they are the second best team in the SEC. I don’t think so right now. Vandy and Alabama both had a chance to beat Kentucky on the road, and I wish we had a shot at them in Coleman.  I think we just might win. Vandy’s record is 20-9. Florida is 22-7 but they are dropping like a lead balloon. Mississippi State has now lost five in a row and I thought they looked like a team that has given up. 

Donovon needs Gators to move up

    So that begs the question - where will Alabama end up if they win a their last 2 games and maybe a couple in the SEC?  I was reading Jerry Palm's picks. He had Alabama a 10 seed. Are you telling me that there are 37 other teams better than Alabama right now? Vandy was listed as 7 seed. Florida is a 5, with Mississippi State an 11. You telling me that Alabama is only one seed better than State? The teams with the longest winning streaks in the SEC are Kentucky at 20 and Alabama at 3. That tells me something about how good Kentucky really is and, also how how balanced the SEC really is this season. If I'm an opposing coach and I find out I'm play Alabama as a 10 I'd think, "are you kidding me, a 10 seed ?"  Same for Vandy and whoever they play. If Florida keeps on falling and remain a 5 someone is catching a break. We all know about the 12-5 seed game. 

    I see that Palm has Murray State as a 4. Hmm... that seems a little high for team in their Conference. But it is the Murray States and the  Iona's that make Cinderella stories possible.
Way to go Crimson Tide on a great road win and then spanking State. Still think the man can't coach?

Alabama blasts the Bulldogs 67-50

Randolph leads Tide past Miss. State...
Green returns to the floor 

    This was supposed to be the showdown game in what was the old SEC West. The winner of this game would go to the NCAA and loser might not. The Tide was a 6 point favorite,but a lot of people thought the number was too high. The real issue in my mind was how would Mississippi State play after almost beating Kentucky?   Would they come out mad and fired up? Or would there be an emotional letdown?  The only exciting thing about the game when all was said and done was could the Bulldogs score 50 points?  The answer was yes, but just barely. If Mississippi State was a hospital patient in ICU they would have to Code Blue them just to get them on the team bus.


    Perhaps the most important play in the game occurred with .04 seconds left in the first half. Trevor Releford raced down the court, and fired up a 3 point attempt. As he shot the ball he leaned into Dee Bost and drew a shooting foul. TR hit all three free throws, and Alabama knotted the score at 25. It was a good ending for a lackluster final ten minutes of the first half for the Tide. The play was a sign of better things ahead for 'Bama. The Tide didn't win the first half, but then they didn't lose it either. The Tide has almost no preparation and rest for the State game after the big road win in Arkansas. The fatigue was apparent for the Tide. They fought through it behind the sparkling play of Levi Randolph. 

    Randolph led the Tide on both offense and defense. The freshman was all over the floor swatting passes, fighting through and over screens, and running like a sprinter down the court at full speed on every possession. It was a really impressive performance for the player who exactly fits the mold of what Anthony Grants wants in his in your grill defense. More than defense, Randolph was running wide open on offense. Whether it was dropping a 3 bomb or driving down the paint, he finished with a career high 18 points. His defense was even better. His overall play lifted the Tide out of the doldrums of the first half and into an explosive second half. 'Bama scored 42 points in the final two minutes. If you can average one basket every two minutes that is tremendous offensive basketball. Couple that with holding State to 25 in the second half and you have played one great basketball game.

• Alabama shot 54% from the floor and was 6-11 from behind the 3 point arc - 55%.
• The Tide made 11-12 from the free throw line for 92%.
• Alabama won the rebounding war 29-22. This was the second straight game the opponent failed to get 30 boards. That's good shooting and better defense. 
• JayMychal Green didn't start but played 25 minutes and had 2 thunder dunks.
• How good was Randolph? He led the team in scoring, rebounding, assists, steals, and minutes played. 
• Bama now moves to 19-9 and 8-6 in the Conference. The Tide might finish 10-6 which seems almost magical after the suspensions. What could have been a negative has turned into a positive with the improved play of Engstrom (who had 5 boards) Gueye, and the freshmen.
• Andrew Steele once again played a great game. His overall numbers seldom show his real contribution to the team, and he has one more year if he wants to play. 
• Trevor Lacey made a gallant attempt to return from his ankle injury on Thursday. It was obvious he was not as explosive as usual. His ankle rolled again at round the 5 minute mark left in half. In the long run it might have helped the Tide by forcing Releford to play more minutes. 

   

     Alabama now turns its attention to Auburn. The Tigers blew a huge first half lead against Arkansas turning victory into a 77-71 defeat when they made only 13 -24 from the free throw line. Ole Miss walloped LSU in Oxford by 72-48 in a old fashion beat down. Ole Miss is Alabama's last regular season game a week away in Oxford. 


   Now, we can all relax a little. We need to win games in order to improve our seeding in the SEC and NCAA Tournaments. If Bama could reel off three or four more wins and reach the finals in the SEC I believe we can get a six or maybe a 5 seed. A lot would depend on what some other teams do as always. But Alabama's Mens Basketball is asking a question to the rest of the SEC and the NCAA. Do you guys really want to play us right now. It seems to me that the Tide is peaking at just the right time and that Anthony Grant is making a statement for SEC Coach of the Year. I'm sure that Calipari has that in the bag, and maybe deservedly so. Still no one has overcome the obstacles that Alabama has endured this season. Yesterday, was an example of what this team can do if we shoot the ball well. Stay tuned for the rest of the years, the life support machine has been turned off. 

     

You have to be proud of the Tide...

Gritty performance may land NCAA bid...
Lacy unlikely for State game

Effort like this was key

    It seems to me that Alabama winning on the road over Arkansas must be considered one of the more important wins in the Anthony Grant era. With the roller coaster going downhill the diminutive group of Crimson Tide guards, plus one big man have won two big games back to back. A season on the brink of disaster is now likely saved for something to remember. I've seen over a 1000 Alabama basketball games. I can't remember one that was more enjoyable to watch which meant something. Last nights game looked like two teams of Smurfs running around chasing a ball. The Crimson Smurfs were just better.

Steele was supreme

     Alabama took a hard right to the chin and fell behind 33-20,  and then  lost Trevor Lacey. Lacey injured his ankle. If you saw him fall and heard his screams of pain you can better understand just how bad his injury might be. Lacey had already drilled 2 three point baskets and added a deuce for 8 points. It was Lacey who kept the Tide close enough to win. It was everyone else who pulled themselves together and played the hardest defense I have seen in years. No joking, no puffing, and no exaggeration in saying that for 10 minutes Arkansas couldn't run a play, couldn't score a basket, and were roundly booed by their own fans.



Lacey's defense on Young in second
half was huge

      Down 13 with 7:38 to go in the first half, Alabama rallied behind their defense, but also used some great shooting to build a 4 point half-time lead of 45-41. The Tide shot 59% from the floor including 6-8 from behind the arc. Arkansas hit 8-11 from behind the arc in the first half. Oddly enough, no one made a point basket in the second half.

• Andrew Steel would be my player of the game. He scored a career high in points,15, and had 3 assists. He pulled down 6 rebounds and was 8-10 from the free throw line.
• Rodney Cooper led a scorers with a very quiet 17 points.
• Trevor Releford had 14 points and enjoyed the last 20 seconds of game as he dribbled alone in front of the Tide bench.
• Nick Jacobs has 14 points, just one shy of his career high, pull down 4 rebounds, but set a lot of time in foul trouble.
• Moussa Gueye and Carl Engstrom each played. Gueye got the start was not as effective as he has been in the past. The same with Engstrom. The game was too fast for them in the full cout. Jacobs's mobility and speed was a key differnce in the game as Alabama controlled the paint durinig his rotation
• Bama needs 1 more win go at least .500 in the league. If they do I believe the Tide will get a bid. Any wins over 8 and in the SEC will help the seeding'
• What happens is Bama wins the last 4, and then 2 games in the SEC. How about a 5 or 6 feed.
• The Tide is playing so well right now I wonder exactly how Grant intends to use Green. Will he start him or use him off the bench. Bama can't beat State without a big game from someone inside. Moultrie and Sydney would have too much size for a four guard lineup.

• A Green/Jacobs vs. Moultrie/Syndey showdown would be fun to watch.

     Finally, for all the anger filled, doom and gloom pessimests who posted that Grant wasn't the man - He is the Man. And everyone who posted negative things about our Coach are just like Old Faithful. You are right on time with your negative posts, but don't do a damn thing except blow off steam... And finally, for you gentleman who take such pleasure in defaming me I just wanted you to know you have me confused with someone who cares what a bunch of whiners and cowards think. Go file yourselves under chicken shit a/k/a per America Graffiti, time for your next shift down at Wendy's, flunkees, choad scrapers,wankers, wife beaters, girl friend bashers, santorum producers, and all you guys who prove to sane people that Rick Santorum is insane, post away. Go find some self esteem, prozac, and class. You are unfit to be an Alabama Man in any capacity.

Here's the word I heard...

Great Source tells me that 8-8 will get a bid...

Grant says Green will not play.

     A really great source who is close to the NCAA Selection Committee told me that barring a lot of unforeseen upsets in Conference Tournaments, an 8-8 record would probably be enough to get Alabama in the NCAA Field of 68. That includes the opening night play in teams who earn the right to get killed by the number one seeds shortly thereafter. 
      
    That means that 19 wins could be enough to make the post season dance. That doesn't include what might happen, good or bad, in the SEC Tournament. That sounds great. But getting that 2-2 split isn't going to be easy. Two road games with Arkansas and Ole Miss will be hard to win. Auburn, your arch rival is always dicey, and Mississippi State are in Tuscaloosa. Three of those teams know their own individual chances depend on beating Alabama. This is especially true for Mississippi State. The dead solid perfect cinch for a tournament bid just lost their fourth consecutive game, and that's not good. Arkansas is probably so far off the bubble they can't make it but beating Alabama would give some room to argue. Auburn would kill to beat Alabama in Tuscaloosa. Ole Miss in Oxford. That is never easy. You can argue 1-3 as much as you could 2-2 or 3-1. Grants's decision not to play Green in Arkansas could have some really negative results. 


     Last night in Starkville the Bulldogs jumped out to a 13 point first half lead and then got beat by 9. The final was 73-64. The Bulldogs played an almost over perfect first half. Kentucky played an absolutely perfect second half. The second half of that game was like watching a robot. The Kentucky team systematically and methodically beat the Bulldogs by taking away what was successful in the first half, and correcting what they did in wrong themselves in the first twenty minutes. The SEC is going to win another NCAA title unless Kentucky has an awful night. There might be a team that can beat the Wildcats but none comes to mind right off the bat. State gave the blueprint on how to whip the Cats, but in the end just didn't have the depth to do it. 
     
    It may be a force of habit but I just never expect an SEC team to win on the road against a good team. Arkansas is a good team with great young talent and coached by one of the best coaches in America. Marshawn Powell, the 6-7 junior power forward is averaging 19.5 ppg and 6 boards. Bama has no one who can match up with Powell, and will try to wear him down with Jacobs, Gueye, and Engstrom. It could work, but Powell has so much more talent and experience on the offensive end its a pretty tough row to hoe for the three Tide inside players. B.J. Young is a 6-3 guard who is averaging 15 ppg is a 40% three point shooter. Think Trevor Lacey with a killer shot and you have an idea of how he plays. I think that Levi Randolph will draw the assignment of keeping the ball out of his hands. That is going to be a great matchup to watch. Arkansas entered the Florida game with a 17 game home winning streak. Florida beat them by 30 points, 98-68. Now, the thoroughly embarrassed Razorbacks have a chance to protect their house against a Greenless Tide team. 


     I have no doubt that Alabama could beat this Arkansas team with Green. Without Green? I don't think so,but if there is a silver lining it is that the four guard Florida lineup killed the Hogs and Alabama will put four on the floor as well. I think this will be a very competitive game. If Releford plays as well he did as a freshman at Fayetteville (except the last 2 minutes)  last year we have chance. If the Tide can slow down the pace and get away with their relentless defense they may pull off a big one. I'm surprised that Grant announced to the media that Green wouldn't play. I thought he would play but if not why let the Arkansas team know ahead of the game. You could say the same thing for the State game as well. Why not say one way or the other? I'm sure Grant has a good reason. I'm just saying...


Arkansas by 5. 

Here's the word I heard...

Great Source tells me that 8-8 will get a bid...

Grant says Green will not play.

     A really great source who is close to the NCAA Selection Committee told me that barring a lot of unforeseen upsets in Conference Tournaments, an 8-8 record would probably be enough to get Alabama in the NCAA Field of 68. That includes the opening night play in teams who earn the right to get killed by the number one seeds shortly thereafter. 
      
    That means that 19 wins could be enough to make the post season dance. That doesn't include what might happen, good or bad, in the SEC Tournament. That sounds great. But getting that 2-2 split isn't going to be easy. Two road games with Arkansas and Ole Miss will be hard to win. Auburn, your arch rival is always dicey, and Mississippi State are in Tuscaloosa. Three of those teams know their own individual chances depend on beating Alabama. This is especially true for Mississippi State. The dead solid perfect cinch for a tournament bid just lost their fourth consecutive game, and that's not good. Arkansas is probably so far off the bubble they can't make it but beating Alabama would give some room to argue. Auburn would kill to beat Alabama in Tuscaloosa. Ole Miss in Oxford. That is never easy. You can argue 1-3 as much as you could 2-2 or 3-1. Grants's decision not to play Green in Arkansas could have some really negative results. 


     Last night in Starkville the Bulldogs jumped out to a 13 point first half lead and then got beat by 9. The final was 73-64. The Bulldogs played an almost over perfect first half. Kentucky played an absolutely perfect second half. The second half of that game was like watching a robot. The Kentucky team systematically and methodically beat the Bulldogs by taking away what was successful in the first half, and correcting what they did in wrong themselves in the first twenty minutes. The SEC is going to win another NCAA title unless Kentucky has an awful night. There might be a team that can beat the Wildcats but none comes to mind right off the bat. State gave the blueprint on how to whip the Cats, but in the end just didn't have the depth to do it. 
     
    It may be a force of habit but I just never expect an SEC team to win on the road against a good team. Arkansas is a good team with great young talent and coached by one of the best coaches in America. Marshawn Powell, the 6-7 junior power forward is averaging 19.5 ppg and 6 boards. Bama has no one who can match up with Powell, and will try to wear him down with Jacobs, Gueye, and Engstrom. It could work, but Powell has so much more talent and experience on the offensive end its a pretty tough row to hoe for the three Tide inside players. B.J. Young is a 6-3 guard who is averaging 15 ppg is a 40% three point shooter. Think Trevor Lacey with a killer shot and you have an idea of how he plays. I think that Levi Randolph will draw the assignment of keeping the ball out of his hands. That is going to be a great matchup to watch. Arkansas entered the Florida game with a 17 game home winning streak. Florida beat them by 30 points, 98-68. Now, the thoroughly embarrassed Razorbacks have a chance to protect their house against a Greenless Tide team. 


     I have no doubt that Alabama could beat this Arkansas team with Green. Without Green? I don't think so,but if there is a silver lining it is that the four guard Florida lineup killed the Hogs and Alabama will put four on the floor as well. I think this will be a very competitive game. If Releford plays as well he did as a freshman at Fayetteville (except the last 2 minutes)  last year we have chance. If the Tide can slow down the pace and get away with their relentless defense they may pull off a big one. I'm surprised that Grant announced to the media that Green wouldn't play. I thought he would play but if not why let the Arkansas team know ahead of the game. You could say the same thing for the State game as well. Why not say one way or the other? I'm sure Grant has a good reason. I'm just saying...


Arkansas by 5. 

Here's the word I heard...

Great Source tells me that 8-8 will get a bid...

Grant says Green will not play.

     A really great source who is close to the NCAA Selection Committee told me that barring a lot of unforeseen upsets in Conference Tournaments, an 8-8 record would probably be enough to get Alabama in the NCAA Field of 68. That includes the opening night play in teams who earn the right to get killed by the number one seeds shortly thereafter. 
      
    That means that 19 wins could be enough to make the post season dance. That doesn't include what might happen, good or bad, in the SEC Tournament. That sounds great. But getting that 2-2 split isn't going to be easy. Two road games with Arkansas and Ole Miss will be hard to win. Auburn, your arch rival is always dicey, and Mississippi State are in Tuscaloosa. Three of those teams know their own individual chances depend on beating Alabama. This is especially true for Mississippi State. The dead solid perfect cinch for a tournament bid just lost their fourth consecutive game, and that's not good. Arkansas is probably so far off the bubble they can't make it but beating Alabama would give some room to argue. Auburn would kill to beat Alabama in Tuscaloosa. Ole Miss in Oxford. That is never easy. You can argue 1-3 as much as you could 2-2 or 3-1. Grants's decision not to play Green in Arkansas could have some really negative results. 


     Last night in Starkville the Bulldogs jumped out to a 13 point first half lead and then got beat by 9. The final was 73-64. The Bulldogs played an almost over perfect first half. Kentucky played an absolutely perfect second half. The second half of that game was like watching a robot. The Kentucky team systematically and methodically beat the Bulldogs by taking away what was successful in the first half, and correcting what they did in wrong themselves in the first twenty minutes. The SEC is going to win another NCAA title unless Kentucky has an awful night. There might be a team that can beat the Wildcats but none comes to mind right off the bat. State gave the blueprint on how to whip the Cats, but in the end just didn't have the depth to do it. 
     
    It may be a force of habit but I just never expect an SEC team to win on the road against a good team. Arkansas is a good team with great young talent and coached by one of the best coaches in America. Marshawn Powell, the 6-7 junior power forward is averaging 19.5 ppg and 6 boards. Bama has no one who can match up with Powell, and will try to wear him down with Jacobs, Gueye, and Engstrom. It could work, but Powell has so much more talent and experience on the offensive end its a pretty tough row to hoe for the three Tide inside players. B.J. Young is a 6-3 guard who is averaging 15 ppg is a 40% three point shooter. Think Trevor Lacey with a killer shot and you have an idea of how he plays. I think that Levi Randolph will draw the assignment of keeping the ball out of his hands. That is going to be a great matchup to watch. Arkansas entered the Florida game with a 17 game home winning streak. Florida beat them by 30 points, 98-68. Now, the thoroughly embarrassed Razorbacks have a chance to protect their house against a Greenless Tide team. 


     I have no doubt that Alabama could beat this Arkansas team with Green. Without Green? I don't think so,but if there is a silver lining it is that the four guard Florida lineup killed the Hogs and Alabama will put four on the floor as well. I think this will be a very competitive game. If Releford plays as well he did as a freshman at Fayetteville (except the last 2 minutes)  last year we have chance. If the Tide can slow down the pace and get away with their relentless defense they may pull off a big one. I'm surprised that Grant announced to the media that Green wouldn't play. I thought he would play but if not why let the Arkansas team know ahead of the game. You could say the same thing for the State game as well. Why not say one way or the other? I'm sure Grant has a good reason. I'm just saying...


Arkansas by 5. 

How many wins does the Tide need?

Will 19 be enough wins?

Green returns to practice -
Update: Grant says Green will not play
against Arkansas but might be available for State.

     You never know exactly how many it will take. But I think that if we have 19 wins in the regular season and 1 of those is Mississippi State we will get the. Getting a bid is better than not having one but you have to hope to get a lower seed. The 8 & 9 seeds are the kiss of death. If Bama somehow wins 3 of their last 4 and then takes 2 in the SEC we will be a 6 or 7 I hope. Bama has the RPI and SOS but the wins are low and we have only 1 quality win according the bracket guys. A win over State would give us 2. I think the win over Tennessee considering the circumstances was a pretty good win.

     Let's look at the remaining games. First, is Arkansas which is being played at  Wal-Mart. The Bud Walton Arena is the top facility in the SEC for home court advantage. This is going to be one tough game. I think if Green has a great game and we don't turn the ball over we have rshot. The Razorbacks have been team Prozac of the league, but they have been hard to beat in Fayetteville. This game would be a real shot in the arm for the Tide. The 'Hogs RPI is currently 87. That would be a big hit if the Tide loses and might even hurt a bit if we win. Life on the road is tough. Alabama has had some decent games in Fayetteville. The Razorbacks now stand at 17-10 and have 5-7 SEC Record. Alabama matched up extremely well when Mitchell was a part of team. Grant will probably go with Jacobs if he can play. The players have learned alot in the last three or four games when they were put under the gun with suspensions This should make Alabama a much better team. Still it is hard to pick against Arkansas. My gut tells me Alabama but my head says Arkansas.

     Alabama returns from Thursday night's game to face Miss. State. This is the biggest game the Tide will face all year. If they lose to Arkansas and then lose to Miss. State we might be lucky to get in the NIT. However, if the Tide wins against ranked Miss. State or at least ranked before playing Kentucky at home tonight things start to look better. State is at 19-8 and 6-6 in the SEC. Most have them penciled in already. A lot of State fans think that the Bulldogs will be State tonight. I hope so. I don't think so. Three things are in States favor however; its in Starkville, Moultrie and Sydney. This is one team that can bang inside with the Cats if they get a few calls it will be interesting. Alabama MUST beat State. It's that simple. Beat State and Alabama is knocking on the door.  You have to believe that Alabama will beat Aubuie quickly and not quietly.  This is a game that the Tide has to shine to the rest of the nation and convince some voters they belong. Beating State will set the table. A big win over Auburn almost puts us in. It might even put us in the field. I like the home team in an exciting game.

     Finally, we go to Oxford. Of all the places to end a season this has to be a worst case scenario. Not only do we historically play bad in Northern Mississippi but we don't match up well with them. We have to beat them on defense and beating someone on the road with a press could end a free throw marathon for the home game. On top of that this game might actually decide if Bama or Ole Miss gets an invite. Tide fans need to pull hard for State to win tonight over the Wildcats and Ole Miss to drop a couple.

    I can see 2-2 easily. You can think that 3-1 is possible and it might be. 4-0 would be tough but Alabama has the defense to make it happen. You can also see 1-3. State has a big inside game. Green will be tested. Moultrie is the leagues MVP along with that kid from the pro team out of Lexington. Bost always saves his best for Bama,  and he seems to always do it late. So to be fair. We are 16-9 with 4 games. That might end up as 18-10. Not impossible. Alabama's ace in the hole is that the NCAA gives the Tide some leeway for 2 of the losses while Green and Mitchell were suspended. That might help us get in but it won't matter about being a bad seed. The may cut the some slack for those two game, but they won't cut us anything for the seed.