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.
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.
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