Always nice to beat Vandy on the road...

       A road win is always a good thing. The Tide has always had a tough time in Nashville. The final score was 77-62. The only reason it wasn't 30 points or more is that Alabama had 25 turnovers. Let's repeat that - 25. How bad is this poor Vanderbilt team? They had 25 extra possessions and still lost by 15 at home. Of course, the 'Dores had quite a few turnovers themselves.  

       Alabama isn't going to win another game with 25 turnovers and we all know that. A win is a win and Tide goes to an unexpected 4-2  in the SEC. Next up, Kansas State, fresh off a technical knockout against Kansas comes to Coleman. KSU will be minus two players who got suspended for the fight against the Jayhawks. Neither start or contribute much to KState but has a good showing in the post-fight. KState. The Wildcats are 8-10. Their most impressive win was over West Virginia which was ranked #14 in the nation. Big 12 basketball is always tough from top to bottom. Bama will be a clear favorite in the game, but don't expect a cakewalk. The Big12/SEC challenge is a bragging rights. deal. Last season the SEC was 4-6 against that league.

      While no official word has been released get on Davis, it was reported he was walking without assistance and was listed as  "questionable" for the KState game. That means that Galin Smith will be the only true big man on the floor for the Tide. I suppose that Raymond Hawkins could play if necessary. He's played one game this season and Tide coaches look like they want to redshirt him. He can play four games and retain his redshirt status.  Alex Reese is really a stretch four but he could play the post if needed. I thought that Petty and Jones played an excellent game. Lewis had a bunch of assists but also had a lot of turnovers. Bolden has some problems that Oats needs to address. A road win was nice. Now it's time to clean up the sloppy play. Rebounding was a big plus for Alabama. 

next four out ...

    That doesn't mean Alabama is in the field of 64. It means that the metrics and the eyes of those who matter are noticing Alabama. I'm not sure many people thought that Nat Oats could have gotten Alabama this far in season one. I didn't. The more you watched the blue-collar effort of the player's things looked better. The bombs aways attitude of the offense is a joy to behold. The Tide now stands at 10-7, while not steller you have to remember the injury situation before the season and after the season started. I'm impressed with what I've seen. 

    Nat Oats takes this team to the worst place that 'Bama plays. Of course, Nat Oats doesn't believe that and his team no longer believes that. IF Bama beats Vanderbilt (Bama is an 8 point favorite) and then beats Kansas State the Tide would be 12-7 and before the big road game with cheatin' Will Wade and his professional LSU Tigers.

     I like the Tide to win tonight. Jerry Stackhouse has elevated Vandy out of the embarrassment zone, but I'm not sure the Vandy defense can stop Alabama. I think Bama is at least in the best five teams in the SEC today. If you look at all things considered I wouldn't argue with 6th. The SEC is not as good as it was last season. Auburn has stumbled.  Kentucky doesn't look as good as usual. Florida is not performing as expected. If These trends continue I see no reason for the Tide not to get a bye for the SEC Tournament and even more.

Bama by ten tonight. 

What is LSU thinking...


      Will Wade is the head coach at LSU. The question is how is that even possible? How does the NCAA, the SEC, and LSU allow to continue? When the three bodies that should and could put an end that do nothing it's a bad day for integrity. To most of us, basketball is a sport. To the NCAA, SEC, and LSU is a business. It'sO about the money. In the college sports world is always about money. In a telephone call which was recorded by an FBI wiretap, Wade admitted to making an offer to a recruit. “It was a [expletive] hell of a [expletive] offer,” Wade said. “Hell of an offer.” 

     The first thing that Wade did was lawyer up. Whatever transpired between Wade's attorney and the three amigos is unknown. My best guess is that Wade said he'd sue LSU if they fired him. The Wade phone call is not going away. My best guess is that the NCAA and the SEC will eventually rid themselves of the Wade. In talking with several LSU fans they defend the coach. They believe the phone call never says the Coach offered the recruit any money or anything inappropriate. One said he might be working with the FBI. It is odd how fans make excuses and can justify anything. Of course, we now live in a society where inappropriate behavior is acceptable. The real problem (other than Wade) is that LSU won't fire the coach. LSU is a school where English common law is not the legal basis to follow. The Napoleanic Code is used. LSU won't fire the coach because of money. Morality is not even a consideration. 

     If LSU wins the SEC Basketball Championship they did so with a cheating coach, a complicit AD, and school President who turns a blind eye.  There is no honor in that. I believe eventually that all the wins under Wade will be vacated, championships rescinded, and the Administration will try to publically distance themselves from the situation. 

TIDE BEATS MISSOURI 88-74...

    You have to be impressed with what Nat Oats is building in Alabama. The ex-Buffalo coach came to the Deep South to revive basketball. Oats believed he could bring his idea of what a basketball team could do using a unique offensive system. Oats thought he could come to the pre-eminent football program in the NCAA and could make basketball relevant again. It isn't like Alabama basketball hasn't been relevant in the past. At a school where football is king, it is easy to forget how good basketball had been at the University of Alabama. There are two schools of thought about being the basketball coach at Alabama. First, the Alabama brand can give a coach all the tools he needs to build a successful program. One of those tools is money. The other school of thought is that a basketball coach will languish in obscurity because of the football program. I think Tide hoop fans have seen both. To younger fans, Wimp Sanderson is the example of hoops excellence.  For those of us who are older, Johnny Dee, C.M. Newton, and Mark Gottfried were all successful. 

    When Oats was hired I wrote that Tide fans should exercise some caution and lots of patience to determine exactly how successful he could be. Obviously, the man can coach. Making it to the NCAAT seemed impossible. If Alabama continues to play like they have in the last 10 games or so there grows the probability of getting a bid. He's done so with his offense. Being old school I am pleasantly surprised with the defense. Alabama's offense will wear a team down, but their defense will kill you. I'm sure that part of Oats's success is due to the SEC having never seen an offensive attack the Tide uses. I am curious to see how teams play the Tide the next time they play.

    Alabama was just better than Missouri on Saturday. Missouri made 31 consecutive free throws which are an SEC record. It was stunning to watch the Tigers drain them. If you told me a team made 31 free throws I'd assume they won in a blowout. Alabama still beat them. Lost in the 31/31 was the fact that Alabama made 25 of 30. The game set a new standard for clown-like officiating. I'll say this - both teams found some benefit from the officials. Both teams have some legitimate complaints. Usually, the home team gets the calls. That wasn't the case for Alabama.

    The Tide's outside shooting was the difference. Missouri got back in the game in the second half when Alabama's three-point shots didn't fall. Alabama was handicapped by Kira Lewis's foul trouble. Next week, the Tide travels to Vandy and then homes back to Coleman for a game with Kansas State. 

FINAL LOOK BACK AT THE AUBURN GAME...

     Looking back at the AU game one more time made me appreciate how well we played. I was also impressed with the skill of Auburn. The Tigers are a good team,  but Alabama is close. The primary difference between the two teams is their depth and the Tiger has better inside players. One thing that should be appreciated in the Oats system was how the Tide speed and pace negated the Tiger size. 

         Alabama broke even with the taller Tigers on the glass. One reason was the number of three-point shots taken by each team. Missed threes always give smaller players a chance rebound. For example,  John Petty the leading board man for 'Bama. Kira Lewis gets a lot of rebounds for a point guard. My thought was the longer three-point line would hurt outside shooting. It doesn't seem to have much effect. 

         You have to recognize that a fast pace wears out bigger players. Take Wiley for example. He just couldn't keep up with the back and forth of the Oats system. Saturday the Tide plays Missouri. The Mo Tigers are not big. I'll be interested if they keep up with the Tides speed and quick shooting. One thing that really caught my attention was that Alabama whipped AU and didn't have a hot night from the outside. I thought the reason that Kentucky beat us was not just poor shooting, but the Tide wasn't playing defense like they played against AU

Bama is 46 in the NET ranking which will sit well with the selection committee. The highlight of the game was Kira Lewis putting one AU defender on his rear end with a fake. 

TIDE DEFENSE SET THE TONE...


        When I opened my morning email, four Alabama fans wondered if Alabama would make the NCAA.  I told each that I'd email Bruce Pearl and get his opinion. Top five teams get beaten, but few get whipped by 19. So how did Alabama beat the Tigers like a drum? The Tide played defense. With its new fashion offense, the Crimson Tide turned to the old school on the defensive end of the floor. The Tigers got their respective egos flattened. Going into the game the Tigers were averaging 83 pts. per game. They scored only 64, and very few of those came easy. The Cliff Notes version of last night was Alabama embarrassed the Auburn Tigers. Pearl handled the postgame press conference with a lot of class despite the stunned look on his face. I don't think Pearl was surprised that his Tigers were beaten. But, I'd bet he was shocked that Alabama ran roughshod over his team.  I think AU has a very good basketball team. I think Alabama is on the cusp of being a very good team. 

    Will Alabama make the NCAA field of 64? If they play defense like they did last night, try to at least break even on the glass, make their free throws, and keep learning the offense they just might do so. Let me ask this. Does anyone see a team in the SEC Alabama cannot beat let us know? I'm not saying that no one will beat the Tide. Someone will, but merely suggest that Alabama can beat anyone on their schedule. Nat Oats has brought back an echo of the past that has been sorely missed in Tuscaloosa for two many seasons. 

Bama has a NET score 46 

Cold shooting kills the Tide...

       Alabama was 4 for 21 from downtown and that gave Kentucky the edge. I'm not sure that Kentucky is Final Four material but they are very good. And despite Alabama's overall record, I think this Tide team is going to be very good as well. Kentucky was lucky to have beaten Alabama and John Calipari knew it. The Tide lost 76-67 for three reasons. First, Alabama's poor shooting, poor shot collection, and lackluster defense in the first half.

        Kentucky won by understanding how we play defense and made a calculated guess that the Tide couldn't beat the Tide when Alabama tried to attack the Cats inside. The Cats had its best shooting night of the year. Despite all those factors, the Tide was down on by 3 with two minutes left. I think Nat Oats got a lesson in SEC politics as well. The SEC protects Kentucky at home. They only way you are going to beat Kentucky on their home court is to make a ton of three-pointers. The Tide couldn't do that on Saturday.

        Alabama's Herb Jones took a  ton of questionable shots. That hurt. Jones is a marvelous defender, but his offense is always questionable. It might help Alabama if Oats reigned in Jones shot selection. Jones's poor shooting night didn't kill the Tide but it sure made things tough. One thing not questionable about Herb is his effort and leadership. He may be trying to do so too much. Thnk about this - had Bama made their normal amount of three-pointers the Tide would have embarrassed Kentucky on their home floor. I'm disappointed the Tide lost, but I saw a lot of good from Alabama. Look for Bama to shoot better against Auburn at home. Can 'Bama beat AU. They sure can.

BAMA RIPS STATE 90-69...
    Alabama isn't going to win the SEC basketball championship this year. What the Tide will do is keep a couple of teams from winning the hardware, however. There isn't a single team that Alabama can't beat in either the East or West Divisions. That includes Auburn and Kentucky. Alabama showed what a Nat Oats team might do on any given night. The Tide cut the turnovers down to 10 and outrebounded MSU by 4. Last week when the Tide lost a big lead they gave one away. Last night when the Bulldogs cut a huge Tide lead to 6 Alabama settled down and won by 21. Keep in mind that Alabama is playing without a JUCO ALL-AMERICAN, their highest-rated recruit, and endured a hose job from the NCAA regarding a third player. Despite the loss of those players and a  rash of early-season injuries, the Tide has continued to improve. Give Oats a couple of great recruiting seasons the sky will be the limit for the program. No disrespect for the last couple of Crimson coaches but something is different under Coach Oats. Something is clearly different. 

     Nat Oats acts like a kid with a $100.00 bill in a candy shop.  And so does his players. The guys are having fun and running wild. They take shots that conventional wisdom says you should never take that shot. And when those shots find the bottom of the net jubilation explodes on the faces of every player. Hey, this is how we all used to play in neighborhood games. My friend Wimp  Sanderson was widely known for his scowl. Nat Oats is gaining fame for his wow. The Tide seems to always make that extra pass. They are mighty midgets who win the glass. The fast pace of Alabama caused State some real problems with their two inside bigs. 

       This team has brought back basketball to the Coliseum. Will Bama fun off ten straight wins? Probably not, but I will guarantee you that every coach in the SEC is thinking that Alabama isn't a pit stop any longer. To beat Alabama you have to endure the fast-paced Tide and that isn't easy. To quote Nolan Richardson, "fatigue makes cowards of us all." You can dish out pain running an offense as well as playing in your face defense. Alabama's pace wears down opposing players.

    Alabama runs like rabbits on offense and then beats you down the floor on defense. Remember buckle-up? This team doesn't have a buckle. This team is pedal to the metal, rock 'n roll, and turbo assisted speed. The team takes and makes shots that cannot be described on the radio.  They can hardly be believed seeing them in person. The Tide might lose a game we think they should win, but they'll win a few they shouldn't win. And we all get to watch them get even better. I know a lot of teams aren't going to like playing the Tide later in the season. Oh yeah, we get to smile a lot as well.

    Oats got his first SEC win against Mississippi State. Kentucky and Auburn are on deck. We'll learn a lot from those two games. Kentucky is the leagues' true blue blood, and Auburn is undefeated. Alabama will be the underdog in both games.