JUST  WATCHING AND WAITING...
Have we improved in the last week at practice?
Free throws matter

  I love Alabama basketball. At one time my diary reflected the number of games attended. Somewhere in moves to California and Mexico, it was lost. That disturbed me greatly. Perhaps it will magically appear one day. The exact number of those games was around 1200. Give or take a few. That means in my 71 years on this earth I averaged somewhere around 18 games a season. Even when I moved to Mexico, I still watched about 10 games a year. My love for all things hoops has never abated. One year found me coaching a lower level professional team in Tijuana.  I couldn't see every game. So I decided to coach.

     There was no language barrier across the border. I found that yelling and screaming sufficed. In quieter moments my limited Spanish sufficed. The team went from somewhere around 3-30. We turned that around to 32 wins. We didn't get to play in the national tournament because my players didn't have the money. But we made our point. We had a nice arena. Some places we played the game was outside. The wind was a factor. Seriously, you always wanted the breeze at your back in the second half. The lanes were European and that made for a much more wide-open game. Big was great as always, but not like in the States. All in all, it is a much better game. Fundamentals were essential. We won games not just we had better talent (frequently, we did). Fundamentals are sadly lacking in the college game now. One of the main thing we taught was shooting free throws. Well, not just shooting them, but actually making them. At the start of early practice, we told them "ganaras el 75% du tus freethrows o no juagras." You make 75 percent of your freebies or you will not play. The end of every practice was shooting free throws. We didn't shoot them before practice. Why not? You need to make them when you are tired. At first, they didn't believe they wouldn't play. At the end of game one three starters didn't play in game two. I realize there are some players who can't do that. Everyone can come close. As a season we ended up making 82%. One game we made 43 free throws.

That brings me my point today. There is no reason why Alabama can't make 75 % of their free throws. We have two players who have good solid fundamentals. Kira Lewis and Alex Reese. We have one who is making that percentage with less than perfect fundaments. Dazon is getting better. And we have the enigma in Don'ta Hall. He has three of the five base fundamentals. But he works hard and he repeats the same motion every time. I have taught free throw and jump shooting for the last 35 years. Here's what you need:

1. You have to make players understand the NEED to make free throws;

2. You have to take your time and focus. We don't seem to do that'
3. Free throws are not a rest period. You have to practice when tired.

4. Don't let poor free throws shooters playin key parts of the game. Let me give you an example. Herbert Jones is a great player on defense. His defense is great. On offense, not so much. I can't even watch him try to shoot a free throw. I feel a waive of nausea wafting up. Now, that is not Herberts fault. He cannot teach himself to overcome the problem.

5. Missing free throws is not a mental thing. Period. It just isn't. If you use the perfect fundaments you don't think about pressure. Fundamentals reduce stress.

6. We have already lost two games due to poor free throw shooting. None of thing comments are about actually shooting.

Tonight we play Penn State. We should win, but we need to make free throws. Losing a game to poor free throw shooting is unacceptable in my opinion. RollTide

Trendon Watford says 'Bama, LSU, Memphis, and Indiana are his top four...

     Never underestimate Indiana. Trendon Watford's brother Christian played for the Hoosiers. Trendon calls Indiana a second home. He has seen dozens of Indiana basketball game and the Hoosiers will (no pun intended) roll out the red carpet for Watford. Never underestimate Indiana in basketball recruiting. They have a national reputation helping them. If you are not a real hoops fan you may not quite understand the power of the name Indiana. 

     French Lick, Indiana is one of my favorite places. It has several world-class spas and a very special golf course designed by Donald Ross. It is the home of the Hick from French Lick a/k/a Larry Bird. More than anything, the town exudes basketball. Every farm has a goal. Every home has a goal. And if you take the time to go to the local barbershop you will be regaled with Indiana basketball history. That would include the Milan Miracle. Tiny Milan High School won the 1954 State Basketball Championship. The Hickory boys beat Muncie in the finals to claim the crown. It also gave birth to the movie, "Hoosiers".  That would be like a single A team beating a seven A team. 

     I met Larry Bird there in the local meat and three. We shared a meal with a group of guys and had an Indiana sweet ice tea. Not one word about basketball was spoken. For a basketball junkie, it was a memorable day. Indiana is immersed in basketball as much as Alabama is by football. It is a 365-day joy or burden depending on how your team played that winter. Downtown French Lick, 25 years ago, was not unlike going back to the 1950s. All that being said, Indiana is deadly serious about their basketball. John Wooden was a three-time All-American at Purdue. Bobby Knight was a brilliant if slightly unbalanced head coach. His 1976 team was undefeated and won the Dance. The Hoosiers knocked off Alabama on a late flurry of calls that gave them the game.  Now Archie Miller, late of Dayton, is the Indiana Head Coach. We've seen his brother, Sean, in Tuscaloosa. He coaches the Arizona Wildcats and would be my personal choice if Avery Johnson leaves Alabama. Archie Miller and Indiana want Watford to sign a grant-in-aid. If you ever attended an Indiana basketball game you will immediately understand the love of basketball. None of that is lost on Watford. 

    There is a lot of talk about Trendon being a lock for Memphis. It's fairly well known is family would rather him stay close to home. I wonder how they feel about his second home? Bloomington is the Mecca of College Basketball to a lot of fans. Alabama is the same for college football. Avery Johnson has made Watford the primary focus of his recruiting efforts. Watford would be an impact player, a starter, a potential freshman of the year in the SEC, and future All-American if he stays for a couple of seasons before departing to the NBA. 

TIDE BEATS ARIZONA 76-73
'Bama stumbles but does not fall...

 

Lewis checks Coleman 

   Earlier, we speculated that what Alabama did today would give us an idea of what we could expect for the remainder of the season. Would the Tide continue to play horrible defense and throw in a poor offense for no extra charge, or would the Tide dig down inside themselves and prove they were not going to go belly up? Alabama chose the dig-deep idea and came away with a key non-conference win over a solid Arizona team. Arizona isn't a great team, but at the end of the year, I'd bet they go dancing.

       

   The Tide shot out of the gate with great shooting and even better defense. Once again the Tide had a 19-point lead in the first half and then seemed to lose focus. Arizona cut the lead to nine at half-time. The big question loomed. What this going to be a repeat of Georgia State or could the Tide find something better? Alabama had shown some real movement on offense, good spacing, and team-work for the first 15 minutes of the first half. The final half was too much one on one. The result was Arizona got additional shots. 

     

      In the second half, the Tide started by controlling the boards. If you control the glass you win more than you lose. The second half was brought to you courtesy of Kira Lewis and Don'ta Hall. The big post player played harder than he has played all season. He dominated the boards and followed anyone who drove to the glass for some nice putbacks, including a thunder dunk when the Tide needed one. There were four lead changes. When Kira Lewis made a step-three the Tide took a five-point lead with 13.2 seconds left. He brushed a Hall screen and had just enough room and time make that basket. 

• Alex Reese continues to impress. He made two nice threes, hit a baby hook, and made his free throws. He is a pleasant surprise. The weight program and nutrition program has made him ready to rock 'n roll.
• Kira Lewis controlled the Bama effort in the second half. He scored 13 of his game-high 20 in the second half.
• Don'ta pulled down 9 rebounds, and made key free throws down the stretch. 
• John Petty is finding ways to help. His rebounding and ball handling give the Tide a new dimension. His shooting is abysmal. Herb Jones is hurting Bama's offense. His defense remains solid. 

      Bama put aside a devastating loss to Georgia State with fortitude down the stretch to beat a good PAC-12 team. Alabama plays Liberty in Huntsville next up.

TODAY COULD TELL US ABOUT 'BAMA


    You are coming off an embarrassing loss. You are playing at home on the weekend, and your players are saying all the right things about confidence, work ethic, and getting back in the saddle again so to speak. You have a personable coach who is much loved, but whose fourth-year #buckleup program isn't showing much juice. Fans are split about what to do. One thing is abundantly clear - Tide fans want a winning program. Can this team and coach deliver the wins?

    With a noon tipoff, there should be a sizeable crowd. Perhaps even large when the after church crowd makes an appearance. Heavens knows my love for Alabama basketball. If older fans got seats on the number of games attended, I'd get a seat on the far end of the bench. So much is at stake this year for our program and our coach.

    Surprisingly, the Crimson finds itself a 1.5 point favorite. That is two made free throws and a bunny underneath. What we need to look at today is leadership. Who will take control of the Alabama offense? Alabama doesn't have a real "go to" guy, although Kira Lewis, Jr. is going to be that man. It would be nice to allow him to develop his game at the division one level without additional pressure. Alabama can't afford to do that in my opinion. Let him shoot. 

    Alabama showed in the first half of the last game, that is the Dr. Jekyll half, they can make three-point baskets.  Unfortunately, the Tide also showed in the Mr. Hyde half they can't make anything.  Devoid of leadership, the Tide slowly wasted a 22-point lead and lost. Sorry 'Bama you look pretty pathetic on the free throw line. Sorry, Avery, you didn't do much to instill a vote of confidence from your fanbase.

    I think today will show us a great deal about this season. Arizona is a good, but not great squad. They lost two games this year. One was to Gonzaga and the other to Auburn. Alabama lost to three lesser-known teams. Like you, my heart and voice will be with 'Bama. My head is less than certain we will win. 

breaking news: the line just moved to 3

TIME TO WELCOME BACK #5

justin Coleman returns to the Tuscaloosa with a better gig

 I remember Justin Coleman well. He was a high school superstar from Birmingham at Wenonah High School.  Justin earned four-stars as a recruit. Coleman was quick as a waterbug on a hot summer day. He was always listed a 5 feet 10 inches. No pun intended but that's a stretch. He as a great player and after flirting with Kansas he chose Alabama. I left Alabama and  I'm not sure anyone understood why.  Avery Johnson and Justin were a perfect fit. A quintessential point-guard being coached by an NBA guard turned Coach was a match made in heaven. So what caused him to leave? 

          After his sophomore season, Justin was competing with Dazon Ingram and Avery Johnson, Jr. He was much better (IMO) than either of those players. My first thought was Coleman was a victim of the coach deciding to play Junior. I am only speculating. One thing seems apparent. Coach Johnson was going to make Dazon Ingram his point guard. At least until 'Bama signed Sexton. Justin transferred to Samford in Birmingham. After graduated he took the grad transfer option and signed with Arizona. Some in Birmingham tried to convince him to go back to Alabama. How ironic would that have been? I'm not sure you can do that, but why not. At Alabama, he wore #5. For the record, both coach and player have said Justin wanted to be closer to home. Johnson has heaped praise on Coleman since that time. Again, this is speculation on my part. At any rate, the crowd favorite left for little Samford.

      Coleman is averaging 11.8 ppg for Arizona. His Wildcats have lost two games this season. One was to Auburn and the other Gonzaga. Those are two great teams. I think Arizona will be favored. Alabama will try to repair an already broken season. After a great first half against Georgia State, the Tide played the worst half of basketball I have seen a Tide team play. And I've seen some stinkers.  Alabama cannot afford to lose any additional pre-SEC games if they want to make the NCAA. A home loss would be very harmful with the Selection Committee.  Alabama needs to step it up. One thing Tide fans can expect is a better game. A second bad game is unlikely. 

From the baseline:

Oklahoma edged out Witchita State by 32.

Justin Colman is one of two Alabama natives on the Arizona roster. Dylan Smith of Mobile is the other. He is a transfer, a redshirt junior, who started his career at UNC Ashville. He and Coleman have been friends since high school.

Arizona had a tough game with Utah Valley.  Arizona was down 41-29 at the half. Key three point shooting put the Wolverines away. The game was a home game for Arizona and the showed the Tide how to beat them.

Justin Coleman, in the role of a sixth man, had 15 off the bench

The future for Bama?

Chances of Alabama making the NCAA  if Bama loses today - 2/10. 

          

PLEASE QUIT HOPING...


   One thing I've always learned about Alabama basketball is to expect disappointment. In the end, that is how it ends for Alabama basketball fans. Sure, there are moments of jubilation and excitement, but the conclusion is always the same. Over the years you become wary of hope. Hope springs eternal? At Alabama, all a hoop fan has is hope. A German philosopher once warned us that the reality of hope is the worst of all evils because it prolongs the torment of men. It has been with me. 


     The sad truth about Alabama basketball is it falls just short of good and on the high end of mediocrity. What a horrible place to be. I often wonder why that's the plight of Alabama. How is it that the football program wallows in money and fame and basketball has never been more than a footnote? Several reasons I suspect, but all could be overcome by money, facilities, and hiring a basketball coach in the same category as Nick Saban. Make a list of the top ten coaches in America and hire one. 

      That also means building a modern, first-class basketball arena. It means paying a coach 7 million a year, give or take. I believe the giving side is more likely. The athletic department has the money. This might mean a little stooping and begging, in my opinion, to convince a coach to come to a football school. I remember telling Hootie Ingram two things in 1992. Coach made a mistake. He has given too much to the University to be summarily dismissed and would take 20 years to recover. I was wrong about the second part. We are now in year 26 of our famine. 

     Can Coach Johnson gets this turned around? I hope so. Let's look at the record -

1st year - 18-15  and a first-round loss in the NIT. I thought Johnson did a great job given the circumstances he found at 'Bama

2nd year -19-15, a winning record in the SEC, and the NIT

3rd year - 18-15, a losing record in the SEC as in year 1. But a great finish behind Collin Sexton. Two games in NCAA

4th year - 5-2 with losses to Northeastern and Georgia State. Neither are marquee names, but each was picked to win their leagues. The loss to GS was a debacle in the second half. 

      I suppose it would be fair to say if he wins 20 games and gets into the NCAA it would be successful. At least by Alabama terms. I remained stunned that the AD doesn't expect more. Johnson has had three seasons to recruit his type players. Johnson is personable has had a good coaching record in the NBA. It has not transferred to the college level.

     He starts three-four star recruits and two five star recruits (taking the highest rating in any publication. Those type players should never give up a 22 point lead and have the sustained shooting problems the Tide experiences. I think it is fair to discuss what is going on in Alabama basketball. I think it helps Coach Johnson understand what is expected from his fans. 

    I am not trying to undermine Coach Johnson. We need results and not the hoopla. Winning brings results. Gimmicks sell a few tickets. Beating Arizona is a good team to begin winning again.  Practice free throws is another. Stop putting the ball into the hands of terrible free throw shooters so often. Stop playing everyone on the team. Find 8 or 9 men and work 'em up some. I may be a redneck from Blount County, but even I recognize what isn't working.
Hire Wimp as a consultant. I can't stand to listen to him so upset on the radio or TV.

And for stellar half-time entertainment. We have the Red Panda this Sunday

HOW BAD CAN IT GET ?

a complete second-half collapse spells trouble for Johnson...

   

Over sixty years of being a fan.

 Last week a poster asked a reasonable question - "Can we trust Avery Johnson to get the job done"?  The time has come to discuss whether the poster's point is true or not.  With a 22 point, first-half lead and still the Tide fell apart. The Alabama Crimson Tide was inept in the final 20 minutes. Georgia State hit a 24-foot three-point bomb at the buzzer. The shot was uncontested. Someone told me recently that watching Alabama basketball was something he could not do. Ain't that the truth? We will discuss some of the problems Alabama suffers throughout the week.

          #Buckleup was exciting. Avery Johnson is a master salesman. Tide hoop fans want him to succeed, but year four is going downhill.  Earlier in the year, I predicted 18 wins. That seems far too many tonight. I have been a Tide basketball fan for over 60 years. That is more than most of the fans on this board have been alive. I have seen the highs and lows. Those years give me a long time view and opinion of Alabama basketball. I have never seen anything like I saw in the last half of the Georgia State game. Kudos to Wimp Sanderson for not laughing out loud, or crying out loud - take your pick. So, perhaps it is time to start a reasonable discussion of whether Johnson can get the job done. What do you think? 

       Are we the worse team in SEC today?

         For those who didn't see my post about Bamabasketball.net - I won the right to use my old name after a lengthy struggle.