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.
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.
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