Tide needs to beat Mississippi State...

       Alabama lost a critical game to Baylor by failing to play well the last two minutes. Change that to failing to play well in the last two minutes, again. It was the same song with a different verse. Add the Baylor loss to Georgia State, TAMU, and Tennessee. What would the Tide's record be if they had managed to play well the last few minutes?  The reason I bring that up is that close losses can define who you are, or if you are special, you can learn from them and start to win. I'm not sure what Alabama will do down the road. One thing seems certain. If Alabama wants to go to the NCAAT they need to start winning the close games. 

     You win close games by having a closer. It doesn't have to be a Colin Sexton. It can be anyone who wants the ball when it matters most. Who is that for Alabama? Who is that on the guy you want to have the ball in his hands when the game is on the line?  I think the most likely person is Kira Lews, Jr. John Petty might be that person in some games. I think if you want to draw a file it is Dazon Ingram. He's a matchup nightmare for a two guard when he takes it inside. Riley Norris is a big-time shooter. Alabama needs to find that man.  When they do the Tide may overcome some late game problems. 

    The season is past the point of losing home games. The Tide needs to finish the regular season with no home losses starting with State. Key to the game? Can Alabama defend the three? Will they contest every outside shot?   They don't need to be perfect but they need to make sure State doesn't have wide open shots. The Tide will extend their perimeter play. That puts pressure Hall inside. Alabama has the speed and length cause State some problems. The weather seemingly will not cut down on crowd size. Students need to turn out. Big crowds win games. The Tide has a great SOS, a good NET, and RPI. The ground is laid to make the NCAAT. Win all home games. Beat someone on the road and they are in. All the remaining games are 'must-win' types now. 

   Alabama by 4.
     

Alabama and Baylor should be a great match-up...

     Assuming that Alabama's plane gets to Waco, tonight's game with the Bears should be a good one. Both teams are 12-6. Each team needs this one to further ensure their goal of making the NCAA. The Bears are 3.5/4 point favorites. And both teams are coming off impressive wins. For Alabama, a win will see a jump in the NET scores and an improved RPI. 

        As we all know by know, ex-Tider Jared Butler is in the Bear's starting lineup and is averaging in double digits. Butler got an unconditional waiver from Alabama after team physician's discovered a minor heart condition which they believed required a season of rest. Regardless, he is now a Baylor Bear.  

'bama needs to beat ole miss ...

Who thought the Ole Miss game would be so important to Alabama this season?  I sure didn't. I'll tell you one thing everyone should have learned by now - Kermit Davis is one heck of a coach. The unranked Crimson Tide (11-6 2-3)faces off with the 20th ranked Ole Miss Rebels (14-1 4-1). How would have predicted that?

So here's the deal. If Alabama loses tonight the road to the NIT gets brighter. If Alabama carries the same zeal and passion they showed in the Tennessee game, clean up a few mistakes, and make some free throws they should OleMiss. Coleman is a decent home court advantage.  Ask Kentucky.  It won't be easy to beat Ole Miss.

The Rebels might have the best backcourt in the SEC. Alabama's backcourt is good, and very good if Dazon Ingram hangs on to the ball. This is the exact type game that Kira Lewis, Jr. might excel on offense. I look for him to have a big night. If Alabama can score 80 points the win. If Alabama can keep Ole Miss around 70 they don't have to score as many points. That sounds pretty simple. I'm not sure that Alabama will score 80, but I'd bet they score over 70 in tonight's game.

Don'ta Hall is on a double-double rip. He has a chance to do the same tonight. Both teams will want to push it up and down the floor. Alabama's half court game has been hot and cold, but I think it is still better than Ole Miss's game. A 'Bama win  will put the Tide from the last four out to in. How many games does the Tide need to win to secure an NCAA Tournament bid? If Alabama finished even in the league they should make. The can do that if they can make their free throws and Petty keeps up his scoring. He doesn't have to score 30 a game, but he needs to give the Tide 15 or so. Mack is so inconsistent, but so is Petty. One of them, or the combination of both of them needs to give the Tide more scoring. 

This is one game where the Alabama depth could pay off. The Tide can keep fresh legs on the floor. The Rebels have some depth but not as much as Bamas.



  

'Bama proves they belong...
Missed free throws killed the Tide

    The agony is profound. The sadness will pass. Alabama did everything they needed to beat Tennessee except make free throws.  It's always the little things, isn't it? The Tide played their hearts out. They defended the high scoring Tennessee Vols off their feet. Tennessee got lucky. They should have lost and I bet they know that. If Tennessee and Kentucky are the best teams in the SEC where does that leave Alabama? Are they the team which beat the Wildcats and almost beat the volunteers? Or are they the team that threw away wins against teams such as Northeastern, TAMU, and Georgia State. What ifs kill you, don't they? What if the Tide has not lost two buzzer beaters and had hung on to beat Tennessee? Where would the Tide be then? A top 25 team no doubt. 14-3 sounds better than 11-6. Alabama is borderline for the NCAA right now. The next few games will tell the story.

       I'll tell all of the Bama fans one thing and you can take this one to the bank. No one wants to play the Crimson Tide that played today. No one even wants to think about that. The Tide will not win the SEC but they might determine who does. And by the time the SEC Tournament rolls around they might be good. They might be very good.  Tennessee fans will talk about the bad offensive game their Vols played today. Nope, the Tide shut them down. I think that Alabama showed the SEC today they belong. The problems can be fixed. The effort was outstanding. Petty may have returned to the big leagues. There are several silver linings today. Could it be that Alabama is ready to make a big-time statement? I like the Tide's next few games. The Baylor game could give Alabama some national exposure. It is also an extra game to reach a higher wins number.  

      I take my crow without salt or pepper. The Tide proved a lot today. And by the way, Petty didn't walk. He was pushed. That call should have been reversed. It wasn't even a close call. 

Please note that the unedited post was published earlier in error. Sorry.

Can Alabama be competitive with Tennessee?
   Rick Barnes and Avery Johnson both are in their fourth season as SEC head coaches. Each has been to one NCAA Tournament.  Barnes was a highly respected coach in talent-laden Texas. Johnson coached in the NBA. Avery Johnson is now 68-51 at Alabama. Barnes is 72-45.  Tennessee is now ranked 3rd in the Nation. Alabama isn't ranked. It seems to fair to say Tennessee has successfully rebuilt their program. The same cannot be said for Alabama. In all honesty, it would be unfair to think Alabama has shown anyone they can be successful again. I'll let you judge what success is. I don't think either Alabama or Tennessee will ever be a national power on a regular basis. I doubt that Alabama is likely to be an SEC Champion at anytime soon. It is more likely that Tennessee might be. In fact, the 'Vols might make it this year. Alabama is just hopeful of getting an NCAA bid. Is this acceptable to Alabama fans? 

     I love Alabama basketball. I'm sure many of you feel the same way. I've been a true believer for decades. Now, I am a realist. I still love Alabama basketball. I've written about my seven-decade history as a 'Bama fan and won't bother to tell you that story again. Today, I was thinking about our game with Tennessee. Normally, I think we would have some chance to win. Statistically, I am sure there is some tiny percentage of a chance. It would be more correct to call that a hope or a dream. I realized that what I was hoping for was one of two things:  Don't embarrass yourself Alabama, and secondly, at least be competitive. It is difficult to tell our younger fans how far our program has fallen since CM Newton and Wimp Sanderson. Let me put it this way: There isn't one player on this year's team that could have started in 1976 or 1987. Leon Douglas or Reginald King aren't taking the floor this weekend. What I find ironic is that Coach Bryant, the Bear himself, made Alabama basketball successful when he made a personal decision that he wanted his legacy as an Athletic Director to be important. CM Newton got the ball rolling. Wimp Sanderson continued the progress. Alabama fired Wimp Sanderson. Alabama hasn't recovered. It wasn't just firing a great coach. It was an affirmation that Alabama no longer cared about basketball. Each season is a reaffirmation that Alabama football is all consuming. Football is all that most people who jokingly call themselves "Alabama fans" care about, and that appears to be true with powers to be as well. 

     People are getting disenchanted with Alabama basketball again and Coach Johnson.  Johnson is not to blame for the inherent disinterest in basketball. The fact that Alabama won't actually commit to a date to build a modern facility. Or perhaps better stated is when it will be completed. This has been an ongoing problem with Tide hoops for a couple of decades. Even Auburn built a new facility. Ole Miss has a new building. Alabama's AD extended Coach Johnson's contract through 2023. That is good and bad. It's good if Johnson is winning, but bad if things are not going well. 

      Measuring the progress of a program in the SEC used to be how you compared to Kentucky. Now, you have to compare to rising programs like Auburn and Tennessee. How does the Tide compare to Mississippi State, a suddenly better Ole Miss program, and Florida? I sadly read the posts of younger fans expressing the same hope I had for years. It is a repeating program. For the older fans, we have seen the Rocket Eight, Newton and Sanderson teams. We have even seen Bama ranked #1 for a week. I have a historical perspective of our program that newer fans don't have. Coach Johnson is experiencing the same programs as all Alabama coaches after Wimp  Sanderson. 

      Until Alabama makes a strong public commitment to make Alabama the bully boy in the SEC, Tide fans will experience the same frustrations I have suffered. It is time for Alabama to put up or shut up. Give the program some of football's money. Hire a great coach (and it could be Johnson and give him the money for the best staff money can attract (and we might have them now). Clearly, something needs to be done. We aren't making the mark right now. I'll support Alabama either way. I think Alabama fans need to let the AD know we all expect better and not just hope for better.

      Today, Alabama goes to Knoxville to try to find a way to beat the #3  ranked team in America. How did Barnes elevate Tennessee to this level and Johnson hasn't? I don't know. On paper, the Tide has had better recruiting. Alabama basketball may be an enigma wrapped in a puzzle forever. Roll Tide forever

Tn by 15.

Tide bounces back and wins on the road...

     Let's not get confused. Missouri is not a good basketball team. They do have a good home court advantage. But let's not get confused about the win. It was a good one and needed for the Tide to get back on track.  Last night, Don'ta Hall and Avery Johnson, Jr. played their best game of the year.  Junior played with leadership and even some flair in the lane. He made several of his shovel layups over taller players. His set a perfect pace for the type game that Alabama needed. The offense was deliberate and that allowed the Tide defense to keep Missouri off-balance. The superior depth of Alabama was also key in the win. 

         I thought the Tide cut down on turnovers, rebounded well, and made their free throws. The inside shooting was nice to see. Hall had his 8th double-double. The Tide made only 6 of 18 from behind the arc.  That was about the only fault you can point out from last night's game. Alabama had only 10 turnovers. That is a key number for any team and a particularly for a road game. The final was 70-60. One this was apparent. The Tide as much better on set plays and inbound passes.  The Tide's physical play was too much for the Tigers.

        Tennessee on the road is next. It could be a big win, but I'm going to look forward to seeing if Alabama can be competitive. The Tide is now 2-2 in the SEC and overall are 11-6. I had picked the Tide to be 2-3 after their first five games in league play. The schedule gives the Tide a chance to get about the .500 mark if they play as well as last night.

Time is getting shorter for an NCAA run...

     This isn't one of those 'end' of our basketball world blogs. The Tide had a great finish to last season, and they need to begin another great finish starting tonight.  For those who have never been to the former lair of Stromin' Norman, the Missouri home floor is a sight to behold. It is a tough place for a road win. After falling apart in the second half of the Texas A&M game, Alabama needs a win to they need to prove to themselves they are a good team. Luckily, the NCAA isn't all about being great.  To make the NCAA you need to be at least good. It's pretty clear that being great isn't on the menu for this rendition of Tide basketball. The question we need to answer is whether this team can be good. Alabama can still make the NCAA field but they need to win the remainder of their home games and "steal" a couple on the road. The term "steal" is a misnomer. No one steals anything on the SEC road. You have to play a good solid game.  You need all the usual suspects to show up - win the rebound battle, keep turnovers around 10, shoot somewhere in the 50% neighborhood, make 75% of your free throws, play solid defense. I think Alabama can do each of those except the defense part. Tide defensive efforts have been pretty weak lately.

        The fourth foul on Herb Jones really hurt Alabama in the last game. Jones is a great defensive player. Alabama will need him tonight. If you look at the Missouri offensive game the first thing you notice is how physical they play.  They are tough and play hard-nosed under the basket. Point two is that the Tigers can shoot the three-ball. If Alabama stands around on defense the Tigers will score from the outside.  Right now, Alabama is living on the margins. One bad area of play and they lose. The talent isn't overwhelming. Alabama needs to execute on both ends of the floor. and so does the coach. 

       Johnson needs to reassess his coaching. Fundamentals matter. Perhaps playing fewer players might develop better chemistry. Great shooting covers up a multitude of basketball sins. However, if you don't defend who still lose. Winning always starts with defense. Basketball is a coach driven sports. Johnson needs to step it up. And he can coach defense. Defense isn't always about talent. It is about heart and effort. Johnson has shown he can coach at other levels.  He owes to his players to make sure they are ready for all situations.  Can Alabama win tonight? I think so. I don't know if they will. Alabama needs a win in this game to keep the dream alive. 

AVERY JOHNSON GOT HIS COACHING REAR END KICKED TODAY...

     Avery Johnson can soft sell his coaching effort today. I'm not buying it and neither should you. Shades of Mark Gottfried on two late inbound passes. The first one the Tide looked like dead men walking on Ingrams attempt to find someone to throw the ball. Duh, no one set a screen. A fundamental, elementary, eight-grade coaching lesson isn't communicated. Don't blame Dazon. He tried to call time out. That is the play that Johnson will get roasted over. Turn up the gas burner because he caused it to happen. 

       That wasn't the killer, however. It was the second inbound pass to Kira Lewis. That played is named the double split by some coaches. Your best two free throw shooters go in opposite directions. You can't double team both because if you do some is going to shoot a wide-open layup.  The inbounds pass went to Lewis, who in all fairness is Alabama best free throw shooter.  Ironically, the other Bama player went backcourt and no one followed him close enough to read his jersey number. That ball is thrown into the backcourt and the game was over.  It would have taken the remainder of the game for someone to catch him. Decorum doesn't allow me to write what I thought. 

     This is the perfect example of why I wrote a blog piece saying "quit hoping" about Bama basketball.  I will yell and scream for the Tide in every game left this season, but those who think this team is going to the NCAA is likely to be disappointed. I just don't see it. Johnson didn't even get Herb Jones out of the game when he had three fouls. Seriously. appalling,  and dreadfully he was left in the game. His presence in the second half could have made a difference in what was jokingly called the Alabama defense.  The University of Alabama wouldn't put up with this in football, nor should they accept it in hoops. 

    And for good measure, Johnson decided to take Tevin Mack off the high post where he was making a living passing the ball to John Petty. TAMU was clueless how to defend Mack. He would out quick their big man and pull him off the glass. If they put a two-guard on him he could down the paint for a lay-up or hit Hall for a slam.  In the never-ending player rotation, Johnson never put the one having the most success back on the floor. And for a cherry on top of the whipped cream, the Tide made only 62% of their free throws. 18-29. 

     It was good to see Petty back in form. We only had seven turnovers which are a good sign. We won the battle of the boards. That is a good sign as well.  I love Alabama hoops. I guess it is my curse in life. LOL. Maybe things will get better. I think this team will improve as the season progresses.  I think Johnson needs a super-star like Watford on board. Boy, if I was Trendon I'd sign with Alabama and he'd start on day one. He would allow Johnson to run a more professional themed offense. And by the way, TAMU is now 7-7. It's not like Duke beat us. 

    I really like Avery Johnson. I just don't see much progress this season. We'll see.

'Bama Hosts Texas A&M in a Key Contest...

    The elimination from the NCAA Tournament starts with game one of every season.  Unfortunately, Alabama lost two games that will have a lasting impact with the Selection Committee.  The Georgia State and Northeastern fiascos will continue to be an albatross around the neck of Avery Johnson all season. The Kentucky win helped the Tide make up some of that ground. The loss to LSU, while unfortunate, was a least a road game. In today's basketball, there are no meaningless games, None.  

       The road for Alabama in making the NCAA Tournament starts will one simple premise - don't lose at home. Today, that means that Alabama needs to beat TAMU in the worst way. The Aggies have already lost two SEC games. Arkansas and Kentucky beat the Corp of Cadets in close games.  Texas Southern whipped the Aggies and that was a bad loss. Today, the Aggies will try to whip some stink off that loss by beating Alabama on the road. Alabama tries to get their second home win. In the bigger scope of all things basketball, the Tide will try to recoup some style points to help make up for those two bad losses.

       My Texas A&M friends are upset with the record that Billy Kennedy has posted thus far. They look at the 'Bama game as a must-win affair, and frankly, they think they are better than the Tide. I don't quite buy that. The Tide opened at -7 and that seems about right IMO. 

       Bama needs to do several things to win. They need to continue winning the boards. Alabama needs some consistent outside shooting other that than Kira Lewis, Jr. Consistency is a key to Bama's winning. Against the Kentucky Wildcats, all five Tide starters were in double figures. That would be a great repeat. But more than that the Tide needs a go-to guy in the clutch. John Petty needs to find his shot. Tevin Mack is making a name for himself. His improved defense is buying him minutes, and Johnson has to be happy with his outside shooting. Dazon has been a key ingredient to the Tide's success. He is making too many turnovers, but his rebounding has been big. In fact, rebounding has been key to 'Bama's success. Let's not overlook the role that Riley Norris has played as well. 

       'BAMA BY 8 TODAY...

Let's be clear on a couple of things...

     I think that my post yesterday upset some people. Let me clarify that I said Avery Johnson, when first signed,  would need five years to get the program on the rise. I still say that. I will say that our recruiting needs to pick it up a little. If Bama could sign Trendon Watford I would feel a lot better. But signing Watford alone isn't going to get a tsunami type wave. 

          Watford is the best all-around player I've seen in the State of Alabama for quite some time. Next season, the question we'll ask ourselves is who will be the post player. We have three. One of them will have to be the man or we can hope to get a grad transfer. I see Watford as a power forward,  or an overwhelming small forward. If push comes to shove he could even be a post player. He can play facing the goal or with his back to the backboard.

        This season it is clear we need a  couple of good shooters. Mack has shown some progress, Norris is a good shooter. I have no idea what has happened to John Petty. Ingram is a lot better shooter than most think.  Lewis is the best outside shooter on the roster. It seems like we could be a downtown shooting team to beat a lot of people. For some reason, we just don't seem to be able to find the chemistry to be an offensive dynamo. 

        The Tide has been mired in the mud for two decades. I think Johnson can do the job but he needs an arena, he needs the best assistants he can find. I think the assistants we have are fine coaches. We need one coach who can recruit the heck out of the deep south. We may always be an average program, but I can remember when we were a great program. I guess that after a while you get tired of "next year in Jerusalem".  Let's see how this season ends. I keep hearing we are on the right track.  I'm not sure. This year will tell us a lot. 

Bama can't get out of the hole they dug...

     Alabama could have beaten LSU. When you fiddle around letting an opponent build an almost insurmountable lead you get beat. It's that simple and that is what Alabama did against LSU. Coming off an upset win over Kentucky you could use that to start a run, or you can just go back to mediocrity. Alabama is just a piddlin' and middlin' basketball team that and can't put together to two solid wins. Since Wimp, the Bama basketball program has been mediocre at best.  There have been a few good wins and I won't deny that. But is the program headed in the right direction? That's the question I would like for each of you to respond. When will the University of Alabama use it considerable sports wealth to do something special? It brings me no joy to write or ask this to or readers.

Tide whips Big Blue...

     Avery Johnson has his signature win. There have been big wins, thrilling wins, and timely wins, but in beating Kentucky he has proved to the SEC that he can beat the biggest basketball bully in the Deep South. The final score was 77-75.  Will this win be the game that propels 'Bama to bigger things this year?  It certainly can be. Today, the Crimson Tide played with purpose and cohesion. When 'Bama could have lost their lead late they hung on. This might be a big step in the season.  

   Tevin Mack became the scorer Tide fans hoped he would become. He made six three-point baskets in the first half. Kentucky paid extra attention to him in the second half but did so at the cost of allowing other Tide players to have some easy baskets. Don'ta Hall controlled the lane. He altered several shots and caused the Wildcats to miss a lot of lay-ups in the second half. 

   Alabama won the rebound battle. This was key in winning the game.  The Tide allowed only six offensive rebounds. The Alabama defense put more pressure on the Kentucky guards in the second half. If the Wildcats guards penetrated the perimeter they ran head lone into Hall. 

   Alabama had 17 turnovers, and you will expect the Tide coaching staff to address spacing before the LSU game. Poor spacing caused at least a half dozen of those turnovers. In all fairness, the Kentucky guards harrassed Lewis and Ingram into to 9 turnovers. But the pair also delivered the firepower in the second half to ensure the win. Alabama also hit 13-17 free throws. The first half saw Kentucky get a lot of favorable calls. Johnson complained about the free throw difference at the end of half one, and the Wildcats saw the Tide on the line more in the second half. Kentucky was 14-17. 

    The Tide was 46% from the floor and Kentucky was 43%. Alabama shot a sterling 43% from the arc thanks in large part to Mack's first-half explosion. John Petty played only 16 minutes. Mack started the game and has seemingly won the starting job. 

    Alabama won a big game. It can be a springboard for better things to come. Johnson's team has won five games in a row now. Since the collapse against Georgia State, the Tide has played consistently better basketball. Alabama has drawn an especially difficult opening SEC schedule. The Tide's win over the Wildcats will be loudly heard around the SEC. 

KENTUCKY GAME  IS ALWAYS TOUGH FOR BAMA...


     Avery Johnson hasn't been able to beat Kentucky. If the benchmark of football is to beat Alabama then surely the basketball benchmark is to beat Kentucky.  I doubt he gets it done on Saturday. Alabama will play hard. Kentucky will play hard. The Wildcat's 'hard' is better. Too much talent and too much depth will likely prove fatal.

    Bama needs to shoot better than 50 percent from the floor. The same percentage from downtown would be great. Alabama needs to get to the line and shoot 75 percent from the free throw line. Keep turnovers 10. Cause 15 turnovers.  That is how Alabama can beat Kentucky. Kentucky will get the benefit of the officiating. Somethings never change. Give up almost no offensive boards. Control the defensive boards will be a big ask against Kentucky

    The main reason the Tide might not beat Kentucky is that the interior defense. Far too many teams shoot uncontested lay-ups. SFAustin had a few. Kentucky will run and Tide tide guards need to get back on defense. Smith, Hall, Petty, and Ingram need to get big rebound numbers. Riley Norris needs to offer his senior leadership. He is a tough-nosed kid who can board, defend, and get the fifty-fifty loose balls. He can also drain the three-ball. Alabama is a much better team with the Albertville native on the floor. I think Kira Lewis will rise to the occasion. If Petty gets hot, and Mack plays well the Tide has a chance. Johnson needs to manage his rotation with more discipline.