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Saturday, January 12, 2019

'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...


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