STANFORD CARDINAL PICKED 4TH IN PAC-12

    Alabama takes on Stanford at 8:30 CST in the Maui (not in Hawaii) Classic.

   The Maui Classic is perhaps the best Holiday basketball tournament in College basketball. Due to Covid, the tournament is being played in Ashville, North Carolina, and not in Hawaii. The Tide is a one-point underdog tonight. It's the Capstone vs. the Farm. Stanford is locked down from practicing in Santa Clara County, California. The Cardinal has been practicing in a high school gym in an adjacent county not under lockdown order. 

   The media has picked Stanford to finish 4th in PAC-12. Zaire Williams. The Cardinal is led by 6-9 Oscar da Silva. He is a two-time All Pac-12 Conference player. Stanford has signed its first five-recruit. Ziaire Williams, a 6-6 small forward, was one of the nation's top 25 high-school players. This pair is where the Cardinal will sink or swim. The Tide will like put  Bruner on da Silva and Jones on Williams. The remaining starters are solid and expect the Cardinal to play at least 8 players.

Alabama will likely start Bruner, Jones, Quinerly, Shackford, and Petty. It will be interesting to see if Nat Oats will go 10 deep in this game, or could he reduce the minutes to give his starters a little more time together. The Tide needs to improve its rebounding. 

KenPom has Stanford a one-point favorite.

My pick: Alabama by five.

 Alabama takes on Jacksonville State...

 

Nat Oates begins his second season

   Tonight at 7:00 PM the Crimson Tide opens to 20-21 season against the Jacksonville State Gamecocks. According to the bookies, the Tide is a 21 point favorite. It marks the second season for Nat Oates who is fast becoming a fan favorite. In my opinion, Oates fits the bill for being the most successful basketball coach at Alabama since the Wimp Sanderson. Granted, the game has changed in some way since the Plaid One was our coach. Some things never change. In hoops, you have to build any team on the defensive end of the floor. The Tide has Herbert Jones to set the example on defense. You have to have a point guard whose ego is set aside to make other players offensive threats. Jahvon Quinerly has the pedigree to be the next great Alabama point guard. The former Parade All-American will be following in the steps of great Alabama points. You have to have a big man who can play defense and score a few points. Jordan Bruner, the Yale grad transfer, seems to have all those skills. If you have those three things you have a solid foundation for a great team. 

     This team averaged 82 points per game last season on the road to a 16-15 record. The Tide was short on players last year and that clearly showed in the last few games. Alabama finished 8-10 in the SEC last year. Expect this team to finish in the top four this season. If a few things fall into place the team might not win the SEC but they'll likely decide who will. Once again, coming to Tuscaloosa will be a nightmare for other teams. We all wonder how much-limited crowds will affect the home-court advantage. Let's hope not. 

      I like this Tide roster. Oats is ringing the bell in recruiting. John Petty is here to offer senior expertise and leadership. Jones will be a nightmare on defense, and from all reports, he's improved on offense. I can't tell you how many games this Tide team will win. No one knows how many games will be played. I think the Crimson and White will win 75% of the games they play. Number one will come tonight. Roll Tide.