ONCE AGAIN THE NCAA MISSES THE MARK...

    I don't have much respect for the NCAA. They are arbitrary, capricious, and basically a waste of time.  LSU head coach admits to offering a bribe to a high school player and he still is the head man the Tiger sideline. Jahvon Quinerly, who transferred to Alabama from Villanova saw his petition to play this season denied by the NCAA. A pox on the entire house of the National Collegiate Athletic Association. North Carolina offered fake classes to players. North Carolina and their players escaped punishment. Are you kidding me? So, the NCAA rules that's okay, but JQ doesn't fit any exceptions which allows a player to transfer and play immediately.  He had no sick family members and he was nor sick himself.  He had been pushed out by a coaching staff by egregious behavior, or threatened with reduced or no playing time. He and his family did nothing wrong. The were defamed by a con man. 

       A federal judge made it clear that JQ and his family did nothing wrong in the scandal. They had been accused of taking money but that did not happen. Instead of attending Arizona where he had hope to play, he switched to Villanova. Villanova fans didn't want him. Arizona fans despised him for not wanting to stay in out West. After a miserable season at Villanova he transferred to 'Bama. I don't think most Alabama fans understand why he picked Alabama. First, it was because he liked the coach and school, but wanted to follow a great tradition of point guards. That's why he picked Arizona. And it is also why he considered the Tide. The combo of coaching and point-guard tradition helped him make the decision to come  to Alabama. 

       JQ got so depressed from what had happened to his life he sought the help of a therapist. The move to Villanova and his very supportive family were not enough to get him back on the right track. His grades dropped which must be  devastating to a National Honor member. None of  that mattered to the NCAA. I was disappointed that Alabama did not seek a legal remedy. That's above my pay grade I suppose, but JQ is the poster child for someone who should be allowed to play immediately.  There was no ambiguity in this young man's case. This was just a decision that should embarrass the NCAA. 

TIDE GETS NICE WIN OVER FURMAN...

 

   Furman is good basketball team. They don't have a big national reputation, but are a mid-major power. At the end of the season it will  recognized a big win. The Tide was led by freshman Jaden Shackleford.  The lefty knocked down 25 points included three 3 points shots. He was also  8/10 from  the free throw line. Kira Lewis and John Petty had 19 and 16 respectively. Javian Davis chipped in 10. The Tide had 21 turnovers, and Coach Oats said that keeps the Tide's offensive flow a problem.  Alabama had 13 in the first have but reduced the number 8 in the half two. Lewis had 7 turnovers which is far too many for the gifted sophomore team leader. 

TIDE HAS TWO BIG GAMES BEFORE NORTH CAROLINA...

   Nate Oats is starting his career at Alabama with a short-handed roster.  This season is going to be tough for any new coach in a league with outstanding talent and coaches. It will be very interesting to see how Alabama finishes the year.  My bet is that Oats and his team will be a pleasant surprise. That doesn't mean the Tide will be one of the top teams in the SEC. I don't think Alabama will be a bottom dweller either. What this season might show us is how Oats will do in a couple of years. 

      The loss to Penn was tough. All one point losses are hard to swallow. Keep this in mind  - Penn may very well win the Ivy League this season. The Tide then ripped through Florida Atlantic. The Owls are were predicted near the cellar in Conference USA. This week the Tide travels to Rhode Island.  They are predicted to finish in the top four. The A-10 is a good basketball league. It isn't a guaranteed win for 'Bama. After Rhode Island the Crimson heads to Nassau to play  North Carolina.  Can Alabama beat North Carolina. After watching Evansville beat Kentucky at Rupp anything is possible. 

     I am putting no expectations on Oats except to see his team play hard and execute the best they can. After watching Javian Davis use 240 lbs to dominate Florida Atlantic in the paint it would go a  long way to some inside presence. Alabama has no senior players on their squad. I'd have to wait until the end of the season to see if either Lewis or Petty turns professional. 

• Jaden Shackelford is going to be really key player for the Tide this season.
• Outside shooting has been spotty at best. It should improve
• Turnovers are too high or is that inherent his  this offense?
• Beetle Bolden settle down and show provide leadership. He is grad transfer
• The Tide will be a better team when Herb is back. 

     

Expectations for ‘Bama Basketball…

     We’ve all been down this road before. New Coach. High Expectations. Every Alabama basketball fan wants Nat Oats to be the man who fulfills our dreams of making the Tide a power in college basketball. It is hard to blame anyone for dreaming big. That’s what I do.  In reading the posting  board it is apparent that ‘Bama fans have high hopes. Is this going to different with this coach or just another verse of ‘been there and got the tee shirt’?

     I think this might be different. Coach Oats is an intriguing hire. He was the most successful mid-major coach in the NCAA. His conference record was 31-5 at Buffalo. Had he stayed up North he would have added to his rocket-like start in college basketball. Yep, I think this might indeed be different, but…  The SEC has the most impressive list of basketball coaches than any league in the NCAA. Kentucky is still the King of the SEC but things are changing. Auburn making its way to the Final Four is the perfect example of that change. Your team might be significantly better but that doesn’t mean your record will be significantly better. Alabama might be a better team this season than last and that may not lead to more wins.

     I know some faulted me for my guarded opinion of Coach Oats when he was hired.  My opinion is my opinion. Think what you like but never doubt my love of Alabama basketball. I hope Oats is all we hope for, but in all honesty we won’t  know for at least a couple of years whether or not the hire was a good one or not.  I believe it was an excellent hire given all the attendant circumstances that finding a coach at a football school entails. So, first I give our new Coach a red badge of courage for taking the job. When you come to Alabama as any coach other that football you are at best the second fiddle. There might be some benefit to a new basketball coach in name recognition. Alabama certainly has that. Secondly, Oats must be a very self-assured person to take the job at Alabama. I’ll give him that as well.

     He also has re-ignited a fire I haven’t sensed since Wimp Sanderson was our coach. So, that would be the third positive I recognize in Oats. His new offense is fun to watch and  some will call it radical. Nonetheless,  it gives the Tide an advantage on teams with more talented players.  I’ve found several Buffalo games on the net and they are fun to watch. The offense was very effective. The approach is unique to say the least. It takes a desperate or self- assured person to run the offense. Coach Oats doesn't seem to have one iota of desperation in his idea. 

    He can recruit. He got Rojas to forgo UCLA, Arkansas, and others to follow Oats to ‘Bama. The young man had announced he wanted to go to Buffalo. He wanted to play for Coach Oats. That says a lot about him. Same for Q. He could have gone anywhere to play ball but he wanted to play for Oats. So did Lewis and Petty. Those guys are a pretty great recruiting class. Add the three who announced for Bama and Johnson, and who stuck with Oats after Johnson left. . That is one heck of a recruiting class. So let’s add good recruiter to his positive list.

      I’ll be honest in saying not having an inside enforcer in the paint worries me. But one thing is clear – backing up the three-point line opens up the floor and creates more space for smaller and quicker players. Bottom line for me is I want to see some wins. I’ll also say I think we will see them. Losing Rojas, and the promising Gary to injuries will hurt.  Jahvon Quinerly, a five-star high school player, is still hoping the NCAA gives him the go ahead to play this season. Shackelford is going to be a key player and is ready for Division-One ball. Forbes can fill it up. I believe that Tide may have found their coach. Let’s see what happens. The new coach talks the talk. He is level headed. My bet is he walks the walk as well. We will see. Penn is picked as the number 2 team in the Ivy League. This will be a stern test for the Tide. I like Bama by 6. 

     Year three will give us an answer. Year one might give our hope so legitimacy.