Next Four games will tell the tale of Alabama and the NCAAT...


    A few free throws and field goals missed can make a world of difference over the course of the season. Some lapses of defensive assignments can make or break a season. That is the story for the Crimson Tide in 2018-19. Despite the close losses, the blowouts, and last-second shots, the NCAA Tournament can still be reached. Alabama has four or perhaps five games to prove they are worthy of an invitation. Think about this - if the Tide wins their last three regular-season games they are 20-11. That means beating LSU and Auburn at home and Arkansas on the road. That is tough sledding so to speak. I predicted that Bama would lose their last four games this season. Alabama played a great game on the road against South Carolina. I'll have my crow with a pinch of salt and pepper please, and am would happily eat even more. 

   How much optimism should Tide fans place into wins over Vanderbilt and South Carolina? Vanderbilt isn't a very good team. South Carolina has gotten much better after a pre-SEC season that continues to throttle their NCAAT hopes. The road win over Carolina impressed me. How so? Alabama played hard and physical basketball. They outmanned the usual Carolina batter you to death defense. Alabama won the game because of their defense and rebounding. Keep in mind that 'Bama lost Dazon Ingram played only 16 minutes. Whether you like Ingram or not you cannot disregard his rebounding and his ability to draw fouls. The Tide moved Herb Jones to the guard position and responded with a solid performance. After falling behind, Johnson rallied his team to stage a very impressive comeback. The eight-man rotation seems to give Alabama much better chemistry. I think this is particularly true with the defense.

   Can 'Bama beat LSU? They can if they play with the same intensity they had in Columbia. But Bama is going to need more points. At some point, you'd think that John Petty is going to have a red-hot shooting game. The same can be said for Mack. Kira Lewis can fill it up. Don't disregard Ingram if he is 100%. Tre Waters should be back on the floor for the Bama game. Who draws the defense straw to guard Waters? I think it is going to take a team effort. Put a fresh body on him, push him, bump him, and try to cause as much chaos to his offensive game as possible. Don't think anyone can stop him though. If he has a poor shooting night it would be a gift. Keep in mind that LSU beat then #1 Tennessee without him. Bama gets the Tigers at home and that will help. The Tide matches up fairly well with the Tigers. 

   One thing I am curious about is the subpoena that was served on Will Wade. What effect could that have now, and in the near future?  No line is available for the game at this time. I'd guess the Tigers might be a five-point favorite. Has the Tide righted its ship? I don't know. My firm belief is that the musical chairs rotation cost the Tide a lock for the NCAAT. It might not be too late. The SECT is going to be a really fun affair this year. Alabama is only one game out of fourth place. Ironically,  a double-bye might not be helpful for the Tide. The tie-breakers don't seem to favor Alabama at this time.

A HUGE HELLO AND ROLL TIDE TO THE FLASH. GET WELL AND KEEP UP YOUR GREAT POSTS.

tide fights through late game adversity...

     Let's give a round of applause to both Avery Johnson and the Alabama Crimson Tide for getting off the canvas to win the fight.  After three games of falling apart, Alabama said it wouldn't happen again. And it didn't. Instead, the Tide came back with a strong finish after seeing their lead diminish and win 68-62. The Tide is now 17-11 overall and 8-7 in the SEC. 

      What was different? How did a team that had played so poorly in the past few games reverse that trend? The Tide had balanced scoring. Lewis had 17, Hall had 15, Mack chipped in 11, and the every steady Riley Norris had 11 points. Balanced scoring causes the defense to pay attention to everyone, and not double-team any single offensive player. Kira Lewis made several three-point baskets. Hall scored inside. Mack scored inside and out, as did Riley Norris. Norris played a steady and brought some leadership to the floor when the Tide fell behind late in the game. 

      John Petty didn't shoot well, but he pulled down 10 boards and cinched it up on defense. Alabama has a couple of lazy passes that led to turnovers but for the main part, they held onto the ball. Nine Bama players played. Galin Smith got some limited moments rest Hall, but the Tide continued to find better chemistry with fewer players. Alabama controlled the glass and that included nine offensive boards. 

    Last night kept Tournament hopes alive. It was a much-needed win. Now it the Tide gets ready for LSU and Auburn. There is no way to describe the value of those games. So how did the Tide beat USC? The word is defense. Alabama played in your face defense. And they made their free trows. 

     

10 Things I've learned about Alabama basketball this season...

Or why we can't win.

     I'm not putting this list in any particular order. After watching 27 games somethings have been apparent to me.

1. Johnson and his staff haven't done a good job. When we need some dynamic help the coach just doesn't seem to have the answers. 

2.  John Petty is having a horrible year shooting. I give him credit for improved defense and effort.

3.  Tevin Mack is having a lackluster year shooting the ball. Mack is also a defensive liability in a man defense. Players stream by him like someone is giving away free ice cream.

4. Alabama's inside game is hurting. Somehow, in four years of recruiting, we have only Don'ta Hall. Galin Smith is undersized and isn't exactly a hops buy. Daniel Giddins isn't the answer, but he can throw his weight around.

5. Alabama only has one offensive guard who is SEC worthy. Kira Lewis, Jr. has a baptism by fire. Dazon Ingram is a small forward who can rebound, he has decent range, but he is forced to play out of position.

6. We can't rebound well enough to run. Sorry, that's just the truth and we do have some people who can run the floor. Hall can't do it all by himself. Ingram is a really fine rebounder but that means he can't run. 

7. We have no half-court offense that is competitive. We have four good outside shooters in Mack, Petty, Ingram, and Lewis. But Petty and Mack are dreadfully inconsistent. Ingram needs to shoot more. Avery has him trying to pound the lane.

8. The only truly consistent player we have is Riley Norris. He needs to start and he needs to shoot as much as possible. Perhaps two stray neurons will fire off and the staff will understand that.

9. How can a team of decent shooters keep missing free throws? It doesn't make sense, and it is hard to believe that the coaches are emphasizing it much.

10. We are not physically strong. We are not warriors. We are soft and other teams know it. We don't have mental toughness. We things get tough we give in. 

      My pick for the last four games. 0-4 and I'd love to be wrong. If we shoot better we could win a couple of games. I just don't see it based on past performance. Shooting covers up a multitude of sins. We reduced the turnovers against Vandy. Keep in mind the 'Dore play only one guard so the pressure wasn't a big focus point. This team is going to either get better in the next five games or be remembered as a talented team that just couldn't win. 

Eight-man rotation helps Tide beat Vandy 68-61...

     It took Avery Johnson almost 30 games but he dug up a strategy that basketball coaches have used for decades. He picked out eight players and stuck with them. The result was a win. Now, Vandy will never be mistaken for a good basketball team. In all honesty, neither will Alabama at this point in the season. A win is a win and moves the Tide to 16-11 overall and 7-7 in the SEC Conference. Bama may be chasing a carrot at the end of the stick, but their NCAAT hopes stay alive. (Bama did put 

          It was obvious the shortened line-lineup helped the Tide in many ways. First, they had a consistency of play. The Tide got tired in the last ten minutes of the second half, but those eight young men hung on to win. The Tide has only 10 turnovers for the game, they broke even on boards mainly through the effort of Hall, Ingram, and Petty. Petty didn't score by he rebounded, had 3 assists, and one big steal. All of Bama's players played hard. The Tide flowed to a 23 point lead in the second half, but Vandy got into the paint and made a comeback. I thought that Johnson might have played two bigs during that run to cut down on the Vandy penetration. Regardless, the hung on when they failed so many times this season. Kira Lewis, Jr. and Dazon Ingram just don't have the speed and footwork to stop penetration. Bama held the 'Dores to 43% from the floor and only 4-17 from the arc.

       The win was nice, and Johnson is clearly trying to find something to win. Did this win make Bama fans think they can win their last four games? I'll leave that up to you. The Tide's Net fell to 55 due to Vandy's overall record. LSU beat Tennessee 82-80 without Waters, Kentucky killed Auburn. 

        Bama has road games in South Carolina and Arkansas. Home games are with Auburn and LSU. If Bama and somehow win three of their last four they might get in. If the Tide wins 18 in the regular season it will take two in the SECT in my opinion. 

Wishing and hoping, thinking and praying against Vandy...

    After Alabama beat earlier in Nashville the hoop world proclaimed that the curse of the Commodores was over. Tomorrow, the Crimson Tide finds outs if they can sweep the series while suffering from a serious dose of keystone kopitis. Since the win in Nashville, the Tide has become a lost soul. 

        Somehow the Tide is hanging on to one of the last four in the NCAAT.  Honestly, that seems generous. The Vandy team has zero wins in the SEC. Today, they have an honest belief of winning their first SEC game of the season. The 'Dores have played much better in their last four games.  Alabama has fallen to a level that is hard to explain.  

      It is still possible for Alabama to secure a berth in the NCAA. All theTide has to do is beat Vandy, LSU, and Auburn at home, and somehow beat South Carolina or Arkansas on the road. What seemed possible only a couple of weeks ago appears impossible today. The oddsmakers have picked the Tide a nine-point favorite. That seems reasonable on paper. On the floor, given the Tide's play of late, that seems a lot of points.

  What is Johnson going to do today to ratchet up better play?  I have no idea. He says he's got to figure out ways to make critical plays in crucial times. My idea is to put the ball in the hands of your best ball handlers and make sure only your best shooters take shots. Take the other teams player out of play as much as possible, and for heaven' sake teach your team to fight through ball picks on the outside. I don't want to watch Don'ta Hall trying to match up on Savon Lee.  That is what is killing the Tide on seeing guards just drive to the basket.

   Shoot from the outside, Shooters gotta shoot. But there is this thing called ball reversal it seems we don't know about.  We out to try that some. Draw fouls unless you are Herb Jones. We get killed on the man defense because of a lack of quickness on the perimeter. After Kira Lewis, who is quick but hasn't learned the finer aspects of defense yet, we have not quickness anywhere.  We are about as aggressive on offense and defense as a Quaker Church Meeting. 

   Bench players who get can't play defense and stand  around  on offense.  Try to find some plays to let Petty and Mack to shoot. Put Mack around the foul line and let him score some points. And pass the ball quickly. Our offensive has no meaningful movement.  We dribble far too often, run some back screens. If we are going to lose at least make them physically sore in doing so. Play hard, and play like warriors. When teams leave the floor against Bama let them know it isn't going to be fun. Quit playing like you are starring in a chick flick.

   I shudder to think what a loss to Vandy will do to this team and Johnson. Let's try a bigger lineup. Play Hall and Smith to control the boards early on to control the boards. If a player makes dumb turnovers take him out. Post John Petty up inside some so he can at least get some shots. Run. We don't have a half court offense. Control the boards and run. 

Bama by 9

Alabama fans need to buckle-up for the end of the season...

     As Alabama prepares for the Vanderbilt Commodores, I can’t help wondering if Coach Johnson has reached a tipping point with the fan base? If he has it doesn’t matter what happens in the future. Mike Shula could tell us what that was like. Alabama fans are quick to anger but are also quick to forgive. What if Johnson runs the table with the games remaining, or at least the games that could get Alabama into the NCAAT?  Even if he wins enough of those games his problem doesn’t disappear. He is now known as a Coach cannot help his team when they are falling apart before his eyes. That has to be a touch position.

   Part of the problem is that Alabama has not had much success since Wimp Sanderson. Sure, Mark Gottfried has some. But even his Elite Eight team had a miserable record. They were 18-13. The Tide hit a red – hot shooting streak that got them to the Eight. In a sense, that was the high water mark for Alabama basketball. From that point, the Tide has suffered.

   Anthony Grant inherited a situation that had some talent but also had a lot of problems.  To his credit, he restored discipline even though it took some suspensions and eventually led to transfers. That hurt his plan in the short term, and honestly, things never got on the right track.  I always respected Coach Grant for restoring education and behavior in the basketball program. I’m not sure that the average fan ever understood exactly how serious some of the problems had become.

   Grants teams played hard. They were blessed to have gifted point guards. I’d like to remind fans that his team won the 2010-11 SEC Western Division and didn’t receive an NCAAT bid. It was a snub that I’ll never forget. Alabama finished as NIT runner-up. Grant wasn’t popular but he was exactly what Alabama needed when you consider what happened to Bama immediately before he arrived.  He as a warm, caring, and civically involved man. He had class, but at Alabama, the only thing that fans want is winning.  He also took Alabama to 2011-12 NCAAT.  He won 58% of his games at Alabama and 52% in the SEC.

   Johnson’s problem at Alabama is upfront and in your face. His teams have a tough time winning when it matters.  Each season, his teams experience at slump at the tail end of the season. It is more than that. I think there the recruiting problems have been severe.  Colin Sexton was a bona fide star. Other than Sexton you have to wonder about evaluation.  John Petty was a five-star recruit be he has not lived up to his high school hype. Dazon Ingram was Mr. Basketball – Alabama and has been solid but not a player how can lead a team.  Hall has improved each year.  But like most Alabama players he is up and down.  Mr. Double-Double has been missing in action in each of the last three games.  Ingram has been trying to take the ball inside. It has been a necessity to re-establish Hall’s inside game. This has led to some turnovers, but he is doing what his coach wants him to do.

  Just for the record – Johnson’s overall winning percentage is 56.3 at Alabama and his SEC record is only 48.5%. Neither of which is making ‘Bama fans happy. I think the most disturbing part of his tenure at Bama is that things appear to be going backward at this point. The Tide is 15-11 and 6-6. With road games with improving South Carolina and always dangerous Arkansas, things don’t look good for a win at either place.  LSU and Auburn are big home games.  Right now it would difficult to believe that Alabama and win either of those games. Alabama has five regular season games to make the NCAAT, and perhaps one or two in the SECT.  Things don’t look good right now. Alabama is a team in disarray. The talent level is far below what fans believe in reality. The inside game is not up to SEC standards and our outside shooting is bi-polar at best. This is a period where the Tide needs their head coach to step up and earn is money.  Johnson also needs to win some games to assure signed recruits and potential recruits he is a here to stay. This late season slump could not have happened at the worst time.

   Trendon Watford can cure a lot of ills at Alabama. Johnson still has an inside road to help players play professionally. It is now time to buckle-up in an entirely different manner. Tide players need a big crowd against Vandy. We need to support the players.

Johnson is likely to be at Alabama until his contract expires...

     Regardless of how you might feel about Avery Johnson, he isn't going anywhere this year unless he chooses to leave. If you are waiting for the AD to make a statement, it is not going to happen.  If Byrne says anything about Johnson it will be supportive. That's all he can do. Johnson is a competitor. He wants to succeed. Should Johnson quit the damage to future coaching jobs must be considered. If he stays it could do the same thing. All Alabama fans want Avery Johnson to advance the program. This isn't about anger with the fanbase. It is about a program that after almost four years has made little improvement in the eyes of Crimson Tide supporters. After the Texas A&M game, even the most patient followers seem to have lost their belief that he will turn around the team. I'll give those fans a nod of approval for hanging in there.        


          One thing we need to remember Alabama basketball is tempered by money. I have seen a lot of supposition about his buyout clause. I don't know what the number might be. Buyouts can be negotiated after the contract is signed. Johnson is going to be at Alabama until the end of 2023. Think about that for a minute? That gives him Johnson time to "right the ship" if the AD  is so inclined. I understand his buyout is 3.5 million should he return to the NBA. Speculation has him taking the General Manager's job with the Pelicans. There is no way anyone to determine whether that is possible or not. An interesting question in my mind would that actually be returning to the NBA. I'm not sure that the GM job would be. It certainly isn't coaching. It does show that Johnson gave himself a 'get of jail' free card should is Alabama not work out. Alabama wanted some reassurance he would not leave. Both parties could find a compromise. If Johnson was fired he would be entitled to the full compensation his contract states.

        My best guess is that Johnson will stay and try to succeed before he leaves Alabama. Alabama doesn't want to spend money on basketball unless it is a necessity in my opinion. For an example, look at the delay of a new arena. The Tide opted for more improvement to the football stadium. Despite the state commitments by the AD, most feel like Alabama is still a second-class citizen. At present, all fans can do is be patient and look for horseshoes and four-leaf clovers. 

        I'd love to think that Coach Johnson can be successful. Let me add that I don't believe in Bigfoot or UFOs.




     

Turn out the light the party's over...
     
    What we are watching is almost unbelievable. Alabama basketball is disappearing before our eyes. Avery Johnson has lost the team, lost the season, and probably has lost his job. Alabama has become an embarrassment to themselves. Coach Johnson has reached the point of having little credibility with the fanbase. In today's world social media you have to wonder if he can recover. Looking at the schedule the Tide could be in store to win only one more game. The Tide might be Vanderbilt but it is hard to believe they will be anyone else. That would give the Crimson Tide a record of 16-16. Can that be acceptable to AD Greg Byrne? 

    With a ten-point lead late in the second half over TAMU, Alabama became a joke. I'm not sure which was worse, an offense which couldn't score or a defense which was painful to watch. This is a collapse of monumental proportions. There wasn't a single aspect of their game which wasn't horrendous. 

   This continues a trend of late-game collapses for Alabama. It sadly comprises yet another late-season meltdown. This is the fourth season under Johnson. All of his previous teams at Alabama have shown the inability to finish the season in a manner which shows improvement. Let's put that another way. The inability to finish is not an anomaly, it is a habit. This year there is not a player on Alabama's team who can manufacture a Colin Sexton miracle. 

    It is never comfortable talking about a man's job. For me, this is a situation of loving the coach, but hating his coaching. To be fair, Johnson can't teach leadership on the floor. A leader is something Alabama needs. It is rare when an entire team loses its' confidence, but that seems to be the case. Where does Alabama go from here? I have no idea. 

Is tonight a road to redemption?



     Alabama travels to College Station, Texas to play the Aggies. Surprisingly, the money men in Vegas have made the Tide a 1-point favorite. Perhaps, they know something not apparent to the rest of us. Equally surprisingly, Joe Lunardi has Alabama a 12 seed in his latest bracketology reveal today.

     On the long and winding road, otherwise known as ‘will Alabama get a bid’, tonight is merely the next chapter. This is an annual ritual conducted by Tide fans. The ‘good’ Tide can beat almost anyone. The problem is that no one seems to know where that Tide basketball might be.  I have a lot of long term friends around the program. They have told me that the last couple of days have been pretty rugged on the Alabama players following Johnson’s statement that the entire program is under review, Tide fans are anxious to see what that really meant. Will Alabama have some new starters on the floor tonight? I'm not sure that really make any difference? Or, is the game going let us know if the players understand the message about what it means to wear the Crimson and White?  Will Alabama man up? The fans are restless, and this season needs to take a drastic change to the better to win their hearts and minds. I remember earlier this season my mild rebuke of Johnson's coaching was met with anger and scorn. The problems of the last two games were obvious in earlier games. It took a perfect storm against Florida to make every fan see that.  By that, I mean the Tide was horrible in every aspect of the game. Not only was the Tide the gang that couldn't shoot straight but they didn't seem to care. 

    More than anything that game seemed to convince a lot of people that Avery Johnson didn't know what to do, or he couldn't motivate his team to be ready to play. Neither is a good option to pick. There are four things a team must do to win. They need to shoot decently, make their free throws, take care of the ball, and win the war under the glass. The Tide did none of those things in their last home game. 

    Tonight gives the Tide a chance. Like Lazarus, they can arise again. The stage is set for Alabama to make a monumental comeback this season. The set that stage by embarrassing themselves. They can't get any worse. Let's keep our fingers crossed that Alabama can improve. Later today, I'll sure some thoughts about what the Tide can do to change the direction of their season.

"Effort is non-negotiable."  Duf 

     

It all depends on what you want...

     Alabama fans have pretty much melted down over the how Alabama played in the last two games. Those losses could best be described as an embarrassment.  What do you expect from a program that has suffered some hard times of late?  Any Alabama fan would love to win a national championship in basketball. A lot of so-called "fans" don't care if the team even played a game. What is realistic for the Tide? I would never quit trying to win the national championship. We have the third most wins in SEC history. We should expect at least that much in the future. Why? We've done it in the past. Or perhaps you think that mediocrity is fine for basketball. I mean, after all, it's just basketball right.

          Let's assume we can continue having the third best record in the SEC. What would that mean? For starters, the Tide would not have to play the 'do we make it to the NCAA' game every year. Every game would be close to a sellout. This is especially true when Alabama builds a real facility. Let's say if Alabama builds one.  A program that competes at that level would make money. It could pay its own way and have the ability to help pay for other sports. It might dispel that Alabama is more than a football factory. 

         There is no reason to accept where the program has fallen. Wimp Sanderson and C.M. Newton made Alabama a top 15 national program. Had Alabama maintained that level of play it would have attracted top recruits every season. No more of this perpetual problem of being one or two players short. Many out there remember when the name Alabama struck fear in the hearts of other coaches. A road game to Tuscaloosa was a death sentence, and you might lose your home game with the Tide to boot. 

         We might have to pay a coach a few million dollars more money. Try telling Alabama football fans we shouldn't pay top dollar to get a great coach. That wouldn't work, in football would it? Try telling G.M. they can hire a CEO for less money and believe you will get killer results. Pay assistant coaches so much money you could hire the best. Let basketball fans and the media know that it is no longer acceptable to be average.  Surely, that is cheaper than allowing our program to be laughed at. 

         Am I satisfied with the state of our program?  No, and you shouldn't be either. We should demand better. I hope Avery Johnson gets his butt in gear. Perhaps he makes the NCAAT. I'd be shocked but it is possible. But, even if he does, the problems are not fixed yet. Better effort and coaching would be a start. I'd love for Sanderson to be a paid consultant to help Johnson. Is this acceptable to be this bad? Ask Kira Lewis, Jr. It sure isn't with this young. It shouldn't be with any of the players or coaches.

Greatness is a decision and not an event...

    You try to be patient. You hope to find progress. You desire to be a good and loyal fan. You want to do what is right for your school. Regardless of how many of us feel at any given moment, we want is best for your program. We anticipate the program becoming better. But exactly what is being a good fan and what is a fair level of success?  I read the 'fire Avery' postings, as well as those who believe he is making things headway. 'Give him time' is their mantra.  Avery Johnson is going to be here next year. That is a given. The Athlete Director has no inclination to firing Avery Johnson. The AD makes some hard decisions. That's his job. Fans have no say-so.  That doesn't mean that hundreds of letters to the AD urging him to keep or fire Johnson will be ignored. That is about all fans can do.  I guess you could fail to show up for games or something like that. That would be distasteful to most fans who love the basketball team and the players. Stop buying tickets is an option. I don't think that is fair to the players.

    So what do we do? I have blogs that reach several hundreds of fans daily. You might not always like what I write, but I don't think you can question my love for Alabama basketball. I hope Coach Johnson decides to leave at the end of this season. And while the decision is out of our hands, we deserve better. I see no definitive evidence that things will be better. The team is falling apart or perhaps it is fair to say seems to have fallen apart.  In watching the Florida game on Saturday it was clear that the Coach seemed to lack the ability to do anything about another meltdown. It appeared to have no idea of what to do. It didn't help that his comments were on an open microphone. He sounded like a father who couldn't discipline his children.  The best indication of future behavior is past behavior and present behavior. We can't keep making excuses for a man most of us really love. He tries hard to be a salesman for Alabama. He ends each interview with "Roll Tide." All of that is nice. I am sure he is sincere. He promotes the brand named Alabama basketball. The phrase "buckle-up" was catchy. All of us buckled. Few of us are satisfied.  Is there any real hope that Alabama will improve?  After watching several horrible games, it is amazing a team could play so poorly and be coached so badly. There is not one thing that leads me to believe next season will be better, but we will probably get to watch what happens. Hope doesn't always spring eternal. The team on the floor exemplifies the personality of the coach.

    Avery Johnson can spin all the "season is not over" stuff to anyone who listens. It won't be. The product he puts on the floor convinces me it won't ever improve. The recruiting is not working. The offense doesn't work. We cannot make free throws. The shooting is horrible. Our rebounding is a joke, and it looks like we are not prepared to play.  You can deny those observations if you wish,  but you would be lying to yourself. I wrote a post earlier saying that I have quit hoping. I have. When you compare Coach Johnson's squad with other coaches who came into the league under similar circumstances we are just losing ground. Hopefully, we can win a few more games. How many of you believe we will enough to make the NCAAT.

     Mainstream media could not write an article like this. They are too close to the coaches and depends on their relationship with the higher-ups to pen a column something like this. I wish they would but please don't blame them. Several people have said they should. They can't. When Johnson is fired, and he will ultimately be fired, or find a better job, then the mainstream will do a yeoman-like job in telling us exactly what happened. Many print media types are gifted writers. But for now, it is okay to voice our opinion. If the University of Alabama wants to have one of the top athletic programs in the NCAA, or do they want to rest on laurels from the football program. Greatness is a decision and not an event. If Alabama aspires to be a national program in other sports the leadership needs to start today.

     The only thing consistent about Alabama is their inconsistency. We may well turn around and beat Auburn and LSU. I doubt it. That may put a bandaid on a knife cut. Something is wrong with what Johnson is doing. We seemingly have no fundamentals at times. We are like a blind man with a wallet full of cash on a street full of pickpockets.  What Mississippi State and Florida did was embarrassing to our University. I love my Univerisity and I really like Coach Johnson. I think Johnson would honestly tell all of us something wrong. Have the players quit?  Maybe not, but how long will they continue to play when they have no winning gameplan. Sure, they might hustle more. If they are not doing their job put them on the bench to help their collective perspectives. I don't sense that is the truth. I hope we win enough games to earn our way into the NCAAT. Who knows? We might beat LSU and Auburn at home. We could take Carolina on the road. Those wins will not fix our problems, however. They only make us feel better until the next humiliation. I like Coach Johnson but this isn't working. Ultimately, all coaches leave, are fired, or retires.


     The University of Alabama is becoming a bottom feeder in college basketball. Yes, we are...

     

Tide hits the hardwood at 1:00 PM for a much-needed win...

     Now, the Crimson Tide has wandered into the 'must-win game' category. It isn't like going to hell, but it's on the edge of purgatory. We can see the light, but you can feel the heat. Some teams respond with new found confidence and others stoke the fire of defeat. I've picked Bama to win today by 13. I have no idea why that number came to mind. It certainly isn't a lucky number. Maybe an unlucky number will bring luck to an unlucky team. Looking back over the season this team has had their share of unlucky last-second shots on their home floor. 

          Not today. I think Alabama has too much size and length to lose this game in Coleman. There is simply too much on the line to play poorly at home. If the Tide can't beat Florida at home don't hold your breath win LSU and Auburn comes to town. Alabama has set the stage for an end of season meltdown or a stunning comeback from a team which is just above average. I might even tip the scales in favor of saving a good team.  With an upcoming schedule like Alabama, they need to be better than good, and I think it could start today. However, with this team you can never feel safe, can you? 

       The Tide is a 3.5 point favorite today. That would be because of the home court advantage. Florida is 5-6 in the SEC and Bama is 6-5. The Tides to move to 7-5 to keep their NCAAT bid hopes alive.  If the Gators feel confident it might be because it has been 13 years since they have lost in Tuscaloosa. Alabama looks to end that skid today.

        The Gators have been on life-support for quite a while and Alabama is going to pull the plug today and send the Gators to NIT land. I think Alabama's defense, despite some problems, will be able to shut down the Gator. Florida's offense has been placed on the sleep mode of late. If Florida wants to win this game the better be able to score more than 70 and I can't see that happening. If Alabama can make the Gators run the score Alabama will win. Tide fans are surprised to see the Gators NET ahead of Alabama. 

Look for Petty and Mack to find some room over the smaller Florida size. I think Hall will be a nightmare inside today.

Bama by 13.
'

 PICKNROLL'S EARLY RANKS OF INTEREST...   

With only seven games or so left on the schedule of SEC teams, here are my team rankings

14. Vanderbilt - Ever think you would ever see the Commodores this bad?

13. Georgia - Tom Cream has his work cut out for him

12. Missouri - Martin will get them on track but for now, they are in pain

11. Texas A&M - Not as bad as some think. Kennedy laid the hammer down.

10. Florida - A dangerous team at times, but disappointing.

9.  Arkansas - The Razorbacks are hot and cold.

8.  South Carolina - Good SEC record but only even on the season. Hard-nosed bunch

7.  Auburn - From a top 10 team to this?  What happened.

6.  Alabama - Tide always seems ready to make a jump, and then…

5.  (tie) Ole Miss and Mississippi State - to fine teams with excellent guards.

3.  Kentucky - Will likely go far in NCAAT but two teams are better.

2.  LSU - After knocking off the Cats in Lexington they are moving on up.

1.  Tennessee - 19 in a row is quite a fee in the SEC.

     The top five teams listed can go a long way in the NCAAT. It all depends on the brackets. These five teams have separated themselves from the SEC pack. Alabama and Auburn are the next levels and they are capable of winning big games. South Carolina heads the remainder. They are 7-4 in the SEC, but their overall record hints of some problems.

     

Surprise Team? Ole Miss was picked to finish dead last in the SEC. So far they have shown what great guard play and coaching mean in basketball. Tennessee is a very close second.

Biggest disappointment?  Without a doubt, the Auburn Tigers.

SEC COACH OF THE YEAR?  Rick Barnes in 15 round decision over Kermit Davis

Freshman of the Year? Lots of good players in the SEC. Keldon Johnson edges out Kira Lewis, Jr.

Player of the Year?  This isn’t a tough decision. Grant Williams of Tennessee.

     The SEC is going to have a minimum of 6 teams in the NCAAT. It is likely to be 7, and if all things go extremely well, and there are not a lot of upsets in the Conference Tournament 8 is possible. What makes the SEC so respected is not the quality at the top but 12 teams in the SEC can beat almost everyone in the league.

     A couple of good wins will help Alabama become assured of a berth and a better seeding than 8 or 9. Those seeds are a death march. Same applies to Auburn. Some late season wins will make Arkansas a bubble team at worst. Ole Miss and Miss. State are in the ‘fighting for seeds’  in the weeds right now.

Alabama can get bumped if they don’t finish with 19 wins in the regular season. They would need to win one game in the SECT. A win over LSU would be key in their late-season run. Auburn has NO quad 1 wins. None. How they are consistently given good seeds in brackets seem strange to me. The irony of all ironies, the Tigers might need to beat Alabama on the road to keep an NCAAT berth.

How did Ole Miss hold AU to 55 points? 
     Kermit Davis may not be the SEC Coach of the Year. I think Rick Barnes deserves the award, but their may not be a better coach than Kermit. The small miracle that is this season's Ole Miss cannot be overlooked. As Bruce Pearl if Davis can coach. It appeared that Coach Davis gave up the paint in order to harass AU's outside shooters. The result was taming the Tiger in their lair. What he has done with Ole Miss has been outstanding. What he proved last night should be remembered. Auburn doesn't have the inside game to beat you. It is much better to get in their faces on defense. Give them the old "Dentine" defense. Davies also mixed his zone defense when the Rebels went man.  The 1-3-1 was perfect. It allow the quick and fast Rebel guards to shut down the Tigers. Harper and Brown had  bad nights and no other Tigers picked up the slack. 

    The result was a 60-55 win. That was the Tigers lowest scoring output  this season. The sweep was unexpected. Auburn was a favorite, but the Tigers were outmatched from the opening tip. Ole Miss had to hang on to win when the Tigers had one more run. Neither Harper or Brown could make enough threes to get over the top. Ole Miss put four defenders outside the arc. It worked. 

    Auburn fans are now worried about making the NCAAT. There is a lot of basketball left. A loss to Alabama later this month is now a huge game for both team. For Alabama, the Ole Miss win means that Alabama has beaten both Ole Miss and Mississippi State this year. The loss to State in Starkville will fade from memory by the time the Selection Committee by the time the pick are made in my opinion. The Tigers still have games with games with Mississippi State, Tennessee, Kentucky, and Alabama. Each of those games will be tough to win. The high flying Tigers have been grounded for the moment. I am interest in how Auburn handles adversity. Ole Miss gave a road map to find a way to beat the Tigers. For Alabama, I am not sure the guards have enough quickness to slow down Auburn. One thing is certain. Basketball in the State of Alabama just got a lot more interesting. For Auburn, the future is now. Auburn loses a ton of player this season, and even though they have a great freshman class coming in, the SEC is a difficult learning curve. The Tigers are now 16-8. Not what expected. 

    


    

I expected a loss to MSU but not the Keystone Cops ...


     It was so predictable. Alabama wasn't ready to play and proved it. This split personality of the Crimson Tide is getting old. If the Tide plays the way it did in Starkville expect losses to USC, Auburn, and LSU. Florida isn't a lock. Is it just me, or do have a major meltdown every season under Avery Johnson. Last year it took a last-second shot by a great player to keep Alabama's NCAAT hopes alive. In year four of the Johnson era, the Tide has proved they don't look ready for prime time. So what is the problem? Why can't we win? Here is my take.

1.  Johnson hasn't recruited in a manner that puts good players at each position. You don't need five-star players to do this. While it was fun to watch Colin Sexton, I'm not sure a one and done is sound recruiting for Alabama at this point. Granted, we all want the best players but is it worth it?

2.  Alabama has an appalling lack of quickness at the guard positions. Only Kira Lewis has the true guard skills needed to play Divison 1 basketball. Dazon Ingram is a really a small forward playing the two guard. Junior gives it all he can, but his limitations are obvious. Who else do we have to play guard? When you see Herbert Jones running the point do you get the feeling of who is running the asylum? Jones has no outside shooting ability at all at this point in his career. Tevin Mack isn't quick. Alabama isn't quick enough to compete with teams like Auburn, State, and LSU. 

3.  As a twisted sister to lack of quickness is poor ball handling. Lewis does fine,  Ingram makes too many mistakes, Mack dribbles the ball somewhere around his waistline. As a bonus, most Tide ball handlers dribble the ball so far away from the torsos they can't protect. the ball.  I'm sorry guys, you just can dribble the ball around the waistline and away from your body to be effective. Where is Gene Hackman when we need him. What shocks me about those problems is that Johnson and Pettway were both point-guards. In short, Alabama needs some ball handlers, and until we recruit a couple we will continue to self destruct.

4.  Alabama is like one of the church leagues that gives recognition to everyone who plays. That doesn't work in college basketball. Alabama has no team chemistry due to an ever-changing rotation. Some of which seemingly make no sense. A lot of fans think chemistry is about offense only. Not true, too many lineups lead to lack of communication. That was clearly visible last night. 

5.  Alabama can't defend the perimeter due to lack of quickness, and Alabama doesn't have enough inside players to help out. Don'ta Hall is a good player. He isn't what I'd call a warrior, however. Galin Smith is undersized and doesn't seem to have the hops. Alex Reese is small forward. He is an outside shooter but has improved his inside presence to his credit. Of course, he now gets fewer minutes. Here's what happens to players like Alex who see their minutes reduced - they get lethargic or the words transfer portal comes to mind. 

6. Riley Norris provides some senior leadership. He is clearly a player that Johnson looks to when on the floor. After that?  Hall? Maybe he is but is not readily apparent. Lewis is just a kid. When things blow up like last night you need a couple of players who step up. They tell the team to calm down and focus. 

7. No nice way to put this - Alabama needs to man up and knock a few people around under the boards. If Bama continues to lose the battle of the glass we will lose. We simply turn the ball over too much if we can't control the defensive glass. No disrespect to our coaches perhaps they need to reward the players who will play tough. That's why Avery Johnson is in a bind. To control the boards he needs to play two bigs, but we need our top scores to make up for turnovers. 

     Here is a recipe for disaster. Last night the Tide had 18 turnovers and State had 15 steals. State killed Alabama on the boards 35-26. Included in that stat were the 14 offensive rebounds. You cannot give a team 46 additional chances to score and expect to win. What Alabama gave State the keys to the car. I hope this loss was as embarrassing to the team as it was for the fans. 

     This is going to surprise you some. I think Johnson has done a good job considering our talent level. He signed all his players except Riley if I remember correctly. He picked them and he lives and dies with his talent. The mass substitution is probably because he wants to find someone to score. Whether he can coach 'em up leans strongly to the negative. Credit to the coaching staff for help Herb Jones some free throws.  His arc is not as steep as before. This gives him the chance to have some baskets rattle around rather than clanging of off the rim. Same for Ingram. You want to see the perfect elevation on free throws?  Watch Kira Lewis, Jr shoot free throws.

    So here's where we are - this up and own will not end until some needs are met. The current signees are very good,  but one is a pure shooter, the other guard is a great shooter, and the small forward is a decent ball handler. All three are quick. The young man from  Hesperia, Cal is underrated. Think a better shooter than Lamar Peters and he has really could quickness. He needs some weight and strength training. Watford is the best all-around player this state has produced since Gerald Wallace in my opinion. If he suited up now he would start. He is a good ball handler and extremely quick for his size.

  Beating State earlier this season is big. It makes that win look more impressive. A 10+ loss isn't going to help the NET.  

One thing was pretty darn good. Alabama made 11-12 from the Freebie line.

Mississippi State ready to pound the Tide...

      Read it yourself in their posts. The Bulldogs are ready for some old fashioned revenge. They just may get it as well. The Tide is a six point underdog. Alabama needs to play the best game they have played this season to win. No joking. State is the third best team the Tide has played this season IMO. Better than Auburn. I believe so. The formula to win road games is to play as well as you, and hope for some help. That help involves turnovers and poor shooting. The Bulldogs didn't shoot well in Tuscaloosa and I don't expect a repeat in Starkville. The Hump gives the Bulldogs a big homecourt advantage. What does Alabama need to win? 

      First, round up the usual suspects. Bama needs to get Don'ta Hall more involved on offense. His shot total is going down. Way down. Hall needs to disrupt inside and control the defensive boards, and he needs some help to boot.  That would be Dazon Ingram who is without a doubt the best rebound guard in the SEC. Tevin Mack can help. so can Petty. The Tide needs an outstanding offensive game from either Petty or Mack. It's a mix and match type deal. The Tide needs to have fewer turnovers. Less than 10 is ideal but... We really have only two ball handlers. Lewis, Jr. and Jr. can  handle the ball. 

      Don't talk about it but the Tide has been better at the free throw line. They need to keep it up. Whoever thought that Hall was going to be a decent free throw shooters. My superstitions make this difficult to type. At the end of the game it will shooting percentages, free throws, and defensive rebounds that win the game. The usual suspects never go away. If the outside game is hot we can win. The Tide has good outside shooters. Lewis, Mack, Petty, and Ingram are good and getting better. Off the bench, Riley "Pops" Norris killed Vandy in the last game. He is also the coach on the floor when he plays. The younger players look up to him. What a warrior. I have watching him play since the tenth grade. He is a winner. 

       State has gotten off to poor starts lately. Bama needs that to happen again. They will be pumped, and they are not playing to get in the Tournament. They are play for a higher seed. Alabama may well nail down a berth with two road wins. No, they will down a berth with wins over MSU and USC. Two losses and then two killer home games could spell doom and gloom for a berth. Four wins and Bama is suddenly a five seed. 

My heart says Bama. My head says State because they are at home. 

State by 8. I hopefully be eating crow later tonight. 
 

     

WHEN DOES THE NCAA TOURNAMENT BEGIN?

   So I'm down at Five Guys having the low-calorie double cheeseburger with large fries and a diet coke at lunch today. I'm talking to a guy in a 'Bama tee shirt.  We are laughing. A man walks up and says, "are you, Ellis"? This is never a good sign in South Alabama. I nod in the affirmative. He goes on to say he heard me talking and remembered when I did radio with Herb and Ben. "I recognized your voice", he says. We strike up a conversation and he asks me, "when does the NCAA Tournament begin"? Honestly, I couldn't remember the date. Here's what I said. "It starts with the first game of the year." He chuckled, but it is the truth. Every game counts in this new algorithmic world of college basketball. 

   Alabama is 15-8. They've been playing some good ball recently.  But you can't get rid of bad losses.  Northeaster, TAMU, and Georgia State are going to be the albatross around the neck of the Crimson Tide. They replay those games and Bama wins by double digits in each one. Not only do the losses hurt, but every time each of those three teams losses hurts as well. You just can't escape the math. I see that Alabama has passed AU in the RPI rankings. In the all-important NET, the Tide won and their score remained the same. Auburn lost to LSU and they remained the same. I'm just saying that seems odd. Using that logic it would have been better for Alabama to lose to Duke than beat Vanderbilt. I don't like that type of thinking. It rewards a loss and minimizes a win. But, the math says that is okay. 

    Pre-season games are just as important as league games. If Alabama wins those three games and they are 18-5. Their NET is probably around 15 or so. Alabama broke it and they have to pay for it. Laugh if you wish, but I've always been a proponent of a National Tournament that includes everyone. It might make the season a little longer, but man that would be a way to say every team got to play for the national championship. I guess some would say that this already happens, and in a sense it does. One year, the NCAA should give this a chance. 

   Now, the Tide gets ready to play to make the field. Surely, they are one of the top 25 teams in the nation. Here's how I think this plays out for 'Bama. I am being hopeful in my approach to making predictions.

1. MSU - Bama will likely lose. This is a key game for both teams. 
2. Florida - Bama will probably win, but with will be a war.
3. TAMU - Bama can win this game, but the road is so hard isn't it? We will find out a    about Bama in this one.    
4. USC - Another game Bama can win, but South Carolina is a tough team. They are rough and Silva is a gem.
5.  LSU - I think the Tide will win, but simply because they have to win and are at        home.
6. Auburn - Auburn gives the Tide so many match-up problems it hurts. I'd take Bama  at home in a barn burner. No pun intended.
7. Arkansas - I'd take Arkie in this one.
8. Vandy - Bama 
8. SEC Tournament - I'll take Bama due to seeding.

    There we go. Of course, Alabama could easily lose to South Carolina and TAMU on the road. It's the road. The road is tough. Bama could lose to LSU and Auburn at home. Going into the SEC the Tide may upside down on the bubble. To split the baby, I'd say the Tide could end the season with 19 wins and 12 losses. Let's be honest. Alabama should beat Vandy at home.  LSU, Auburn, and Florida at home will be hard to do. Can they do win all three? Yes, but will they? That sounds like a lot. At least, they are at home. If Bama could beat TAMU and USC on the road I'd feel a lot better about the home games. What I'd hate to see is a season-ending collapse, and that is possible. But hopefully, it will be the year of a Jubilee. I'd like to think the Tide doesn't have to win a couple of games in Nashville. Losing two more home games might be the end for Alabama.  This bubble stuff is hard, isn't it? Four wins will be enough. The SECT is for seed. 19-12 should be enough. Win all the home games and 2 on the road, and 'Bama is a 6 seed, maybe better. 

Johnson gets first win at Vanderbilt…

     It was a good night. Any time an Alabama team beats Vanderbilt in Nashville makes it a good night. Avery Johnson got a big-time win. Riley Norris provided leadership and showed younger players how to man up and win. The Tides record is now 15-8 overall and 6-4 in the SEC. That’s good for 5^th place with Ole Miss. Alabama has beaten Ole Miss once this season but won’t get replay unless they meet in the SECT.

     The Tide had to shut down a Vandy comeback after building a 16-point lead. The Commodores cut into the lead, but behind the strong rebounding of Riley and deadly downtown shooting the Tide settled down to an impressive road win. Any win on the road in the highly competitive SEC is impressive. Riley finished the night with 15 points with three three-point baskets when the Tide needed them most.  He also had 12 big rebounds, including three which help curb a Vandy run late the game. He also made 6-7 free throws. The Tide nailed 17-21 free throws. Alabama players seemed better focused on the free throws. 80% is a big number for any team. 

      Kira Lewis, Jr. led all scorers with 18 points, 4 assists, and only two turnovers. He was relaxed and the Vandy crowd didn’t intimidate him. Dazon Ingram has another outstanding game. He made 3 three-point baskets. If Alabama can continue that kind of outside shooting they are going to win some big games down the line. Call him Don’ta “downtown” Hall. Hall made his first three-point basket of his career. He stepped back behind the line and nailed it from the top of the key. Hall also made both his free throws to continue better free throw shooting recently. All in all, it was a big win for Alabama on a court where they have historically struggled. Yes, the refs helped them along late in the game, but Alabama responded with a strong run themselves. For a minute it appeared that Alabama might throw another game away. It didn’t happen. Lewis and Riley showed a new ‘Bama attitude. The Refuse to Lose mentality was key. (Compliments of Xerxes). And once again, Giddens helped inside.

    Tomorrow we will talk about the Tide’s remaining games. 

vanderbilt - the place where 'bama teams go to die...

      I want to set the record straight about why I hate Vanderbilt fans. They are mostly a bunch of elite white little snobs living off daddy's money. I remember going up to Vanderbilt in the salad days of the 1970s. Vanderbilt is a place where diversity means the very rich and ordinary rich with a few students from overseas. That night, Alabama was whipping the pants off the Commodores. Upsetting Vandy on their home floor was a big deal. The students started this racist chant - "that's all right, that's ok, you will all work for us someday." Alabama started five African-American kids who bled crimson just like you and me. A couple of faculty members apologized to the Alabama fans. I told them they didn't have to apologize for the actions of their KKK students. 

      My parents, now deceased, taught me that racism was immoral. It took root in my heart. Those unkind words were indicative of a lot of Southerners. Sadly, it appears the still are, and not just in the Deep South. Every year when the schedule is released my first glance is when do we play Vandy. To be fair, a lot has changed at Vanderbilt. But those students are now leaders in many fields. They still influence the lives of others. This weekend I hope we can put on the same show we did that cold night years ago. I will watch the game with an intensity like any other game.

    Alabama needs to win this game. The Tide played 30 minutes of good solid basketball against Georgia. Kira Lewis, Jr. and Tevin Mack played with a poise and polish. Mack showed some of the skills that made him so valuable to Texas prior to his transfer from Texas. Daniel Giddens played is his best game. He can help the Tide if he continues playing the way he did against Georgia. Kudos to John Petty. He played some hard-nosed defense when his shots didn't fall. He played well the last time he was in Tennessee. A win would move the Tide to 15-8 overall and 6-4 in the SEC

    Here are a few numbers to keep in mind. 4 will likely get the Tide into the Dance. But 19 wins don't guarantee anything other causing a dispute among fans. The Tide is in good shape with its NET at 44. That is still marginal but will improve if Bama beats MSU, LSU, and Auburn. I like our chances with Auburn and LSU at home. Alabama can beat South Carolina in Columbia. Same for Vandy and Florida at home. I see five wins. Bama can beat any team in the SEC at home or on a neutral floor. The Tide has 14th toughest schedule in the nation and an RPI of 36. All the numbers can get the Tide into the SEC. If the Tide finished in the top five in the SEC they are in. It is marginal with a 9-9 conference record. The Tide might need to win 2 in the SECT.  If Bama is in they are now playing for a better seed. Two publications have Bama as a 10. Stellar wins over MSU, Kentucky, and Ole Miss look good. How good depends on what each of those teams do as well. 

THE OFFICIATING IS ALWAYS A KILLER IN NASHVILLE

I like Bama by 3.

Make it or break it time for the Tide...

     Here's the deal with Alabama and Avery Johnson. You can forget the record, the inconsistency, and the highlights of the season so far. The only thing that matters is what's left on the schedule. That starts with Georgia tonight. If Alabama wins, the dream of another NCAA Tournament lives on. If the Crimson and White lose, well, you might just see the end of their Tournament hopes. When you have home losses to Georgia State, TAMU, and Georgia you would have to do something extraordinary to make up some sorely lost ground.

          There is absolutely nothing ordinary about this year's team. When they are good they are very good, and when they are bad they are horrible. The team struggles to finish games they were winning with five minutes left in the game. In all candor, the Tide just falls apart when the pressure gets hot. I'm not really sure why that happens. You would think that a 17-year-old point guard would be the weak link. He isn't. Lewis isn't perfect by any means but he's not Dazon Ingram. I hate to point out an individual player but Dazon seems to be a walking turnover at times. Hey, I love the guy. He is having a bad season handling the ball. He is a warrior in the paint, and he can shoot the three. In fact, he needs to shoot a lot more. What he doesn't need to do is play point guard. 

          Alabama suffers from a lack of quickness in their guard play. Lewis is quick, but not quicker than death, Dazon is powerful but not quick, and Junior not really quick, but he is better than 'Bama fans want to admit at times. The lack of quickness at the guard causes all sorts of problems on offense, and in a man defense. 

         John Petty and Tevin Mack must score more. When either gets hot from the field the Tide either wins or scares somebody to death. If they don't score, the Tide is going to have a tough time scoring. Both are playing better. Riley Norris is a tremendous help for Alabama. He is the best sixth man in the SEC in my opinion. He brings much needed senior leadership. He will be a key player down the stretch. 

         Clearly, Johnson needs to help this team to establish an identity. I've often thought that when you play ten in a rotation it might be difficult to find that identity. I'd go old school and would stick to eight players. Perhaps those eight could become more cohesive on offense. Defense is about preparation and toughness. Defense is a mental attitude. Unlike offense, a team can be consistent on defense every game. A player who can deny a basket three or four times a game is a difference maker. Herb Jones needs to be that man again. Limit his touches and Jones can be the player he was at the end of last season.  This Alabama team plays a little soft at times. They beat State with only one three-point basket.

       Georgia has talent and a good inside game. Hall needs to play hard. When he is involved the team plays betters. A double-double will help. Alabama better make their free throws. 70% should be the minimum goal.    My pick:  Alabama by 7. 

From the Midcourt:  Nothing wrong with Tide fans criticizing the program. Nothing wrong with seeing the world through Crimson colored glasses. Both sides make good points. One thing that seems to be true from both schools of thought - no one wants mediocrity. 

Tide is embarrassed...

       

      I don’t think any halfway honest person thought for a single moment that Alabama could have beaten Auburn on the Plains. Not me, I picked Auburn to win by over ten. Auburn is a good basketball team. They beat the Tide in every phase of the game. What I didn’t expect was to see that Auburn had better players at every position on the floor.  That includes the coaching.

       I got some heat from a poster who said Alabama basketball fans didn’t need a fan like me. I am the exact type of fan ‘Bama needs. I love them, but I am not going to keep my mouth shut when it is clear we have some problems. In the fourth season of Avery Johnson, we have some real problems. Think of this for a moment. Auburn has a better basketball program than Alabama. Auburn. For heaven’s sake, the Tigers have a better basketball program that the University of Alabama and the current status shows no realistic chance of changing anytime soon.  This nonsense has been going on at Alabama since midway through Mark Gottfried’s tenure.

      Now I know that one game doesn’t a season make. But this loss is the poster child of what is wrong with our hoops.  We have only one decent ball handler, and he is 17 years old. We have one decent rebounder in Hall, but kudos of Ingram for pitching in. Jones and Ingram have taken a big step back from last season. Jones to the NBA. In what world will that happen?   This team makes far too many turnovers. They have no leadership and we can’t expect Lewis to be that man. Petty played hard and helped the Tide yesterday. 21 turnovers?  That is a direct result of poor coaching. Johnson failed to call timeouts when they were needed again, but at least Jones didn’t catch a fourth foul this time.

      Bama played better in the second half but the Tigers were on cruise control. The officiating was iffy but yesterday I wrote that it would be. We have no backup big man, and now Hall Graduates. Fleming is no Hall. Johnson needs to scour Europe to find a big man.  Yesterday we were lost. We looked like we had never played before. This is a reflection on the coaching and recruiting.  How does a college team not have a legitimate back-up point guard? I congratulate Junior his effort. Ingram cannot handle the ball under pressure. We are wasting Mack’s ability. We had no plays for Hall yesterday. It was a total embarrassment to our program and all the great players who came before. We now have some very winnable games ahead of us. Only one team as a winning SEC record. We are still 4-4. Do Alabama fans settle to be second best in our State   Demand better.  Make your voiced heard. We might still make the NCAA by some good end of season play, but do we want to continue to be a bottom feeder. I don’t and you can hate me for saying so. 

'Bama hits the road for the Tigers...

    Two teams searching for some consistency play when Auburn hosts Alabama this Saturday. The Tigers have lost three of their last four games before exploding against Missouri. The score of that game was 92-58.  Auburn made 16-41 behind the three-point line. Whatever demons the Tigers might have had in the three previous games seemed to be purged with that win. Avery Johnson hasn't been able to win a game in the Auburn arena in his short 'Bama career. The Tide is coming off a nail biter against Mississippi State. The Tide had an impressive first half and then had to fight to win. I think that might be par for the course regarding 'Bama. 

    Coach Johnson reported that he pumped in loud audio of the crowd noise that his Tiders will hear in Auburn. A unique idea. Let's hope it helps. Alabama is 13-7 and would be a ten-seed if the NCAAT was selected today. Auburn would be an eight-seed according to the numbers gurus. The Tigers are 14-6. Bama's NET is 43. Auburn's NET is currently 24. Both teams are fighting for some national recognition and some impetus for the remainder of the SEC season.

      How does Alabama beat Auburn? It is going to take the best game that they can play, both offensively and defensively.  Alabama needs to start well. I also think Auburn needs to have a bad day at the office. The Tigers need to help Alabama by missing a lot more from behind the arc than they make. A lot more. 

      Auburn is going to foul, and foul often. It is part of their game plan. Pearl believes that the officials cannot call every foul.  But, the Tide will likely spend some additional time on the free throw line. That's good but usually ends up bad for the Tide.  The Tide's free throw shooting woes will only embolden the Tigers to foul even more. That would be a solid game strategy for the Tigers. A good day from the line will go a long way in keeping the game close down the stretch. 

     The Tigers are a surprisingly strong rebounding team. They aren't big but are very athletic. They are very quick jumpers. It is important that the Tide dominate the boards. That is standard coach talk, but if Alabama can't dominate the boards they will lose. I'd like to see a ten board advantage with very few offensive boards in the mix. Wiley is not expected to return to the lineup for the Alabama game. We'll see. Hall needs to have a big day. A double-double, stay out of foul trouble and disrupt Tiger offense on the inside. Someone else needs to help out in the paint. Don't be surprised if 'Bama doesn't try too bigs inside. Smith and Reese could get some significant minutes. 

      Who guards Bryce Brown and Jared Harper. Frankly, I don't see anyone on the Tide roster who can shut Brown down. Slow him down would be nice. I wonder if Johnson would let Herb Jones give it a shot? Otherwise, I'd expect to see Dazon Ingram and Kira Lewis, Jr. split the chores. Harper can sting you as well. My bet is that Kira Lewis gets the nod. Alabama needs to slow this game down. If you can slow down the Tigers on offense and spend running your half-court offense it will help Alabama. If Alabama can execute the same manner as they did against Mississippi State they have a chance. As stated before, it will take the best game the Tide has played this season. It will take the game that beat Kentucky. Bama is going to get a lot of three point looks. Make them. 

     I'd be lying if I told you 'Bama will win this game. I don't think they will but they can. If Bama thinks they can win, they just might do it. Here's what I have learned in the past few years. The drive to Auburn is long. But it is always much longer going home. Roll Tide and whip the Aubies.