Alabama faces Arkansas
Let's skip the fluff and get down to it. Alabama needs to beat Arkansas to keep their dimming NCAA hopes alive. I see nothing to make me believe that will happen. In a season lost to a lack of fundamentals, Alabama now goes to Bud Walton which is a place where turnovers can be found by the dozens. Alabama must protect the ball, make what few free throws the SEC refs will give them, and depend on offensive rebounds to win. Arkansas is not a great rebounding team, but Daniel Gafford has embarrassed Don'ta Hall in the past, and Bama has no help for Hall. Daniel Giddens has an injured hand and is supposedly a game-time decision. Giddens doesn't need to score but he needs to defend.
Here's some bad news for the Tide. Arkansas leads the SEC in turnovers caused. Hmm... Dazon is once again a game-time decision due to his bruised quad, but he will likely see some limited time. Johnson is going to be forced to play Junior more in this game, and although the little guard has some problems he is a good ball handler. Kira Lewis needs to play a good game. Lately, he's hit the wall. Too many minutes and the physical toll on a 17-year-old is starting to show. One thing that the Tide does have over the Razorbacks is numbers on the bench. The Razorbacks aren't deep. I don't know how Johnson will use his rotation today, but he needs to keep fresh players on the floor.
Arkansas is not a very good defensive team. They are disruptive. Can Johnson keep the spacing correct to give the Tide the opportunity to have some undefended looks? Will Ingram be well enough to play because the team needs his ability to penetrate and hopefully get Gafford into foul trouble? Alabama has suffered another late-season meltdown that has been the hallmark of Avery Johnson coached teams. A loss today would be 6 losses in the last 8 games. I think Bama keeps the game close and it will be a late-game win or loss. Perhaps the law of averages let's Bama win. Arkansas by 5.
Let's skip the fluff and get down to it. Alabama needs to beat Arkansas to keep their dimming NCAA hopes alive. I see nothing to make me believe that will happen. In a season lost to a lack of fundamentals, Alabama now goes to Bud Walton which is a place where turnovers can be found by the dozens. Alabama must protect the ball, make what few free throws the SEC refs will give them, and depend on offensive rebounds to win. Arkansas is not a great rebounding team, but Daniel Gafford has embarrassed Don'ta Hall in the past, and Bama has no help for Hall. Daniel Giddens has an injured hand and is supposedly a game-time decision. Giddens doesn't need to score but he needs to defend.
Here's some bad news for the Tide. Arkansas leads the SEC in turnovers caused. Hmm... Dazon is once again a game-time decision due to his bruised quad, but he will likely see some limited time. Johnson is going to be forced to play Junior more in this game, and although the little guard has some problems he is a good ball handler. Kira Lewis needs to play a good game. Lately, he's hit the wall. Too many minutes and the physical toll on a 17-year-old is starting to show. One thing that the Tide does have over the Razorbacks is numbers on the bench. The Razorbacks aren't deep. I don't know how Johnson will use his rotation today, but he needs to keep fresh players on the floor.
Arkansas is not a very good defensive team. They are disruptive. Can Johnson keep the spacing correct to give the Tide the opportunity to have some undefended looks? Will Ingram be well enough to play because the team needs his ability to penetrate and hopefully get Gafford into foul trouble? Alabama has suffered another late-season meltdown that has been the hallmark of Avery Johnson coached teams. A loss today would be 6 losses in the last 8 games. I think Bama keeps the game close and it will be a late-game win or loss. Perhaps the law of averages let's Bama win. Arkansas by 5.
No comments:
Post a Comment