I'm betting 'Bama is ready for the Bruins...

         At one point, UCLA won seven consecutive national championships and ten out of 12 NCAA Tournaments. The last time Alabama went to the Sweet Sixteen was 2004. How much will that matter in tonight's game? The answer to that question is not one bit.  Let me elaborate on that. It won't matter in the least.  Alabama is full of players who might not know about UCLA's tradition or even care if they did.  The game will be played in the famous Hinkle Fieldhouse.  The ghosts of Milan High Schools of their improbable run to an Indiana State Championship will not be in attendance. Instead, the Alabama players will be focused on building their own legacy. For Alabama fans, this season has been one of excitement.  It has not been easy to be an Alabama fan since Wimp stopped coaching.  Sure, there have a few shining moments.  Hope caving into disappointment has been the general rule. Things seem to be changing. 

      Alabama is favored by around six points tonight.  The Tide is coming off a great offensive performance against Maryland. Jordan Bruner has given way to Juwan Gary which will help Alabama inside. Alex Reese has found his game once again.  John Petty made a bunch of three.  Joshua Primo is back in the lineup and appears to have found his stroke. Keon Ellis is becoming a defensive force and he can score inside and out. Last but not least, Jahvon Quinerly as exploded as one of the NCAA's best point guards.  Does this mean Alabama will beat UCLA.  Hopefully, but don't count UCLA out. They have three deadly outside shooters, and are stronger in the paint that 'Bama. UCLA hasn't played a team which as both an outstanding offense and a downright stingy defense. 

      Alabama has greater depth than UCLA. I recorded five UCLA games and watched them all again. The Bruins don't turn it over much as Alabama. 'Bama's has reduced it's turnovers to a manageable number. Can they do that continually? I don't know. UCLA will try to run with the Tide. Is that a good idea? It is for 'Bama. Statistically, the team's are similar, and has the Tournament has proven the PAC 12 is not a weak sister. Alabama needs a good start to this game. I think the Tide can wear the Bruins down in the last quarter of the game. Bama made 10-10 free throws in their last game and the Tide needs to make most of their chances.  Hall, Reese, and Rojas need to rebound and keep UCLA from getting second chances. Getting a few extra opportunities themselves. They'll get some.

      Tonight the Tide has a chance to win game number twenty-seven. Will they do that? I'm betting they will. I like the Tide by eight. 

Bama and UCLA could be an All-Time Classic 

      I graduated from high school in 1965. My senior class had 31 people walk the stage. It was all football in Blount County, Alabama. For me, it was all about basketball. I grew up in Jackson, Mississippi, and my first love was playing basketball on an asphalt court.  We had chain-link backboards, chains for nets.  My family wasn't rich by any standards. We lived close to the black neighborhood. Every afternoon, I'd walk to the court and meet my black friends to play. It was tough, but I learned a lot about life in the Deep South and how to play basketball.  

     Basketball was, is now, and will always be about one thing.  You have to put the ball in the goal. Everything you do on the court is just window-dressing to finding out how many points you could score. Suffice it to say that when my family moved to Alabama, my basketball background was different from my classmates.  For my buddies, it was about controlling the ball and taking good shots. I'd never seen a bad shot in my life. Controlling the ball for me meant behind my back, between my legs, and having court sense.  Today, they call that spatial interpretation. I remember throwing a pass to a teammate who wasn't looking. It hit him in the face. The coach screamed at me. My only thought was he should have been looking. To be a good basketball player, you have to have a court sense.  Your world isn't looking for a place to lower your shoulder to run.  It means you understand where nine other players are on the Court and how to maximize your advantage. Some players understand, but many don't  

      Alabama has players who certainly have high basketball IQs.  Jahvon Quinerly is always two moves ahead of the defender. His teammates know where they need to be and understand they better get there ASAP because Jahvon will deliver the mail right away. If you ask Quinerly how he knows to do the things he does, he'd likely say, "I don't know, but it seems like the right thing to do."  Basketball isn't about the best five players. It is about having five players on the court who play the best together. 

     This weekend, Alabama plays UCLA. The Bruins are an example of a team that is coming together at the right time. So is Alabama. This should be a classic game.  The Bruins of UCLA are the heralded basketball program in NCAA history.  For UCLA fans, this weekend is a chance to bring back some of the magic of John Wooden. Under this leadership, the Bruins won seven National Championships in a row. They also won 10 of 12 Championships under Wooden.  Just think about a minute.  Imagine any team ever doing that again. It won't happen. 

      Alabama hasn't won a national championship in basketball or even an Elite Eight. They can take a monumental step toward doing that this Sunday.    

My top four to win the NCAA Tournament...

     Given the collapse of the Big 10 in the post-season, it makes it more difficult to take Michigan seriously.  I've still got them in my top four to win the whole thing, but I'm not holding my breath on the Wolverines. For the record, here are my picks.

1. Gonzaga

2. Baylor

3. Michigan

4. Alabama.

        It's been a Gonzaga kind of year. The Zags are still undefeated and have had not close games.  They have three NBA future players in their starting line-up. Not many teams can say that. I'm picking Gonzaga to win the whole shooting match. They are balanced, all five starters can score, they are disciplined.  Often overlooked, they play together as a team. A great team is often greater than the sum of its parts, and when you have as many outstanding players as the Zags have, that puts them in the all-time best territory. All that being said, there is one team that might beat them. 

       That team is the Baylor Bears. The Big 12 team is a cohesive team whose ability to score can't be stopped. I'm not joking. They lost a game after a COVID pause, and it took some time to get going again.  When they did, they simply had no real competition. I think a Gonzaga-Baylor final might be the best final the NCAA Tournament has ever seen. 

 

       Michigan is a more traditional team. They have a tremendous post player.  They can out-rebound anyone they play, and they can shoot. Their weakness is they depend on their inside game to win.  Shut down the inside game, and you shut down Michigan.  LSU ran out of energy, or they would have beaten the Wolverines. M go Blue is the last chance to win a national championship for the Big 10.  No team from that league has won a national championship in over two decades.

      Alabama is on my list, and that is not being a homer.  For Alabama, the recipe for winning a national championship is simple.  Shoot the rock from downtown at 40% or above. The Tide's defense is solid and is rated d 3rd in the nation right now.  John Petty, Alex Reese, and Josh Primos showed some signs of being over their shooting slump. Another plus is the emergence of Juwan Gary inside.  

     This has been a special season to be a Tide fan.  Alabama has now won 26 games.  That is in one season and not two. Nate Oats has brought a new attitude and mindset to the Capstone.  

Bombs away against Maryland...

   

Quinerly sliced the 'terps with 11 assists

       I've said several times that Alabama can beat anyone when they shoot the ball well.  Last night, they shot the ball well and beat Big 10 Maryland 96-77. It could have been worse.  The Tide rained three-point shots and gave notice that perhaps the Tide's downtown shooting has returned. For the night, Alabama was 16-33 from behind the arc.  Think about that for a moment. The 16 made baskets were worth 48 points. The Tide was 10-10 from the free-throw line.  The Tide shot 53% from the floor overall and was 48% from behind the arc. The rebound margin was Perhaps the most impressive part of all that was most was done with SEC Player of the Year, Herb Jones, sitting on the bench in foul trouble. 

     Jaden Shackleford led Bama with 21 points.  John Petty, Jr. had 20 and appears to be coming out of his shooting slump. Josh Primo surprised 'Bam fans by coming on the floor and knocking down 2-4 from three-point land and 2-2 from inside. One was a nifty reverse dribble Canadian special. He played for 23 minutes. He also pulled down 4 boards. Juwan Gary started over Bruner and had 6 points, 7 rebounds, an assist, and one blocked shot. Bama is a better team with Bruner on the floor. How about Reese? Alex made 3 bombs from downtown, 5 rebounds, an assist, and a steal. Jahvon Quinerly had a double-double. He scored 14 points, 5 rebounds, and 11 assists. Keon Ellis, who injured an ankle, and did not appear at full speed, made 4 points and pulled down 3 boards in limited playing time. The Tide only made 9 turnovers. 

    It was a well-played game by both teams. Kudos to Aaron Wiggins, the Terp, who scored a game-high 27 points on silky-smooth outside shooting. He was the one player who Alabama couldn't stop. But they stopped everyone else. 

     Alabama now plays UCLA. The Historic Bruins are the surprise team in the Tournament, in my opinion.  They lost their best player earlier in the season and turned into a great team as the year progressed. The Bruins whipped MSU in a stunning comeback in the play-in game and then reeled off two wins over BYU and Abeline Christian.  This will be a great game between high-flying teams. 

 Alabama hopes to move on tonight by sending another Big 10 team home...

     The Crimson Tide takes on the 10th seeded Maryland Terps tonight.  For Alabama, a win puts the Tide into a position not enjoyed in decades. For Maryland, a loss is just another embarrassment for the overrated Big Ten. There are two Big 10 teams left in the tournament. After tonight there could be zero teams.  LSU takes on Michigan tonight, and talk on the street is the Bayou Bengals might win. Alabama is now a six-point favorite over Maryland. 

        This is the biggest game the Tide has played on a national level in recent memory. Nate Oats is in his second year and finds himself a 2-seed in the NCAA field. Being a two-seed doesn't guarantee victory. Ohio State and Iowa were 2-seeds, and look where they are today.  Only Alabama and Houston remain in the land of two seeds.  So what does Alabama need to do to beat Maryland? First, Alabama must make Maryland up its tempo. The Terps like it so.  They won by keeping the score low. Alabama wants 80 plus points. 

1. Run the floor.  Push the ball every time they have possession. Speed the game up. 

2. Cause 15+ turnovers. Keep Bama's to 10 or less

3.  Establish lane penetration and shoot lay-ups. This causes the defense to collapse from the perimeter.

4.  Take good outside shots. Don't create threes on your own. Make the extra pass to have better shots.

5.  Make 75% of the free throws. 

6.  Stick to the gameplan. Always stick to the gameplan

7.  Bruner, Gary, Reese, and Rojas need to control the glass. It is imperative to outboard the Terps.

8.  Hard in your face defense. Good switches where needed. Plug the gaps.

9 Get off to a better start than with Iona. 

10. Win the fifty-fifty balls. 

     Alabama needs to be smart. Don't look ahead.  Make this the most important game they have played this season.  Don't look at the results of other games. 

      If Bama scores 80 they win.  

       I'm picking Alabama by 10.

 Bama will have to play better to beat Maryland.

   

Petty led Bama in rebounds

    For 30 minutes in yesterday's Iona game, the Crimson Tide looked lost. They stumbled around, looking for some way to score some points. Alabama shot 47% from the floor. That's usually enough to win a game. The Tide outrebounded the Gaels by 42-26. That is outstanding. Alabama had 10 steals. They caused 17 turnovers, and that's in the hard hat game plan. So why did Alabama look like they were on the verge of getting beat?  It was several things. 

        If you look at the stats for the first 30 minutes, Alabama wasn't doing much more than outrebounding Rick Pitino's Iona team. Bama was missing free throws, throwing the ball away, making lazy passes, and forcing themselves into playing some awful basketball. The outside shots weren't falling. Pitino was working some coaching magic to force the Tide into playing at a slower pace. The more the Tide wanted to run, the more mistakes they made. 'Bama found itself in a catch-22 situation. They couldn't dictate the pace because they were throwing the ball all over the floor, missing free throws, and couldn't hit the ocean if they shot the ball off the end of a pier. Alabama was only 5-16 from downtown.  When half of your offense is shooting threes, that is a pretty bad number. It was the worst game Bama has played all season. 

      Iona wasn't putting pressure on Alabama. The Tide was putting pressure on themselves. When Alabama finally got a lead in the second half, they could relax and put the game away. Survive and advance. Bama did that. Several teams didn't do that. If you look at the "experts" picks, you'll see that they are all over the place. The upsets in Round One surprised a lot of people. My personal bracket looked like it was dripping blood. There will be fewer upsets now. Alabama will play Maryland, which upset favored UConn. Mark Turgeon, head man at Maryland, is a great head coach. The Terrapins finished 8th in the Big10 with a record of 17-13 and 9-11 in the conference.  They are capable of good games. They beat Illinois this season. 

      Maryland is not powerful inside, but they dominated UConn inside as their game neared the end. Expect Gary, Reese, and Rojas to get more time. The Terps made 9-18 from behind the arc. Galin Smith transferred to Maryland after playing at Alabama. He had one point yesterday. 

       If you want to find a silver lining in the Iona win, I'd suggest the Tide played about as bad as they could play and won. Iona is a decent team. They have a great coach. Bama could have lost but managed to cut down on turnovers in the second half and make a couple of downtown shots to build a lead. Only a couple of late threes by the Gaels kept the Tide from covering the line. The margin was 13. Bama is a 6.0 point favorite.

       Loyola whipped in Illinois. No upset in than one. It appears the Big10 was very over-rated. If you watched the game, it was clear that Loyola was the better team. They were ready from the opening whistles to beat the Illini. Illinois and Ohio State are out of the Tournament. Michigan State is gone. Purdue got the thumb early. This doesn't mean that the Big 10 can't win the Tournament. At any rate, the Big 10 is officially on notice. Four of their nine bids are now beaten. 

 Survive and advance...   

Quinerly leads comeback

   The defense allowed only 55 points. Despite Alabama's problems on offense for the first 30 minutes, the defense came to play. It was enough to keep Alabama in the game until the offense caught fire. No doubt, part of the reason the offense came around was that the defense wore out the Gaels. The final was 68-55, and it was enough to win and hopefully enough to let the Tide know that anyone in this Tournament might beat you. 

         I think Jahvon Quinerly, Alex Reese, and Herb Jones were the players of the game. Reese nailed a couple of three-point baskets to give the Tide a little breathing room, and his defense inside was outstanding. Reese finished with six points and three boards. He cut off Jr. Joseph from scoring when he kept passes coming inside from the perimeter. Iona had to eliminate the inside game and shoot threes. That helped tip the scales from a close game to giving a big edge to 'Bama. Alabama out boarded the Gaels by 12. Bama shot 47% from the floor overall. 

       The Tide has a lot of cleaning up to do.  Poor shooting and sloppy play plagued the Alabama for 3/4 of the game. The outside shooting is becoming a problem. John Petty, Jr. seems to lost his confidence. His free throw shooting off as well. He is showing the stress of his cold spell. To be fair,  his defense has been stellar, and his is rebounding well.  He is throwing ill-advised passes, and is trying to force his inside game in the absence of his outside game.  That might be good, but he is taking so many bad shots inside aren't helping the Tide.  You cannot fault his effort though. Alabama is waiting for him to explode from the outside. 

      I'll go ahead and say that Bama needs keep moving toward Reese and Gary for inside muscle. Bruner's mobility is not getting better.  He seem reluctant to mix it up inside. Alabama played its best ball with Reese at the post. At times Gary and Reese were on the floor together and the Tide looked much better inside. If the outside shooting doesn't get better, it might be better for Oats to consider both of them playing. I thought that Rojas gave great effort today. Quinerly is the man. He is a future All-American in my opinion. His steady play, outside shooting, and ability to slice and dice defenders on the outside is exceptional. He is Alabama's best player right now. 

   

Jones led all scorers  with 20

    It's hard to believe that Alabama's free throw shooting was so poor.  Had the Tide made their free throws, the Tide would have had a bigger margin in the first half, and it would have caused Iona to press to score even more.  Little things make a big difference in games. The Tide failed to protect the ball and hit their free throws. The Tide controlled the boards, and that kept them from getting beat. You might get away with that against a 15 seed, but not a lower seed. I'm betting that Nate Oats was pretty upset by the entire effort.  I watched his post-game press conference.  He wasn't very upbeat to say the least. 

       Once again, Herb Jones was the best player on the floor. His heady play on offense. He had 20 pts., 6 rebounds, made all four of his free throws, and had 3 assists. He defended three different positions, and had 3 steals. He was selected by most as the Player of the Game. Alabama had 14 turnovers, with 10 coming in the first half. Herb had 5 of those,  which was uncharacteristic for him. 

       Color me unimpressed with the Tide's Round one play. But I'm not concerned. I think Oats can get his players back on track. Shooting from the outside is problematic but it won't always be this bad. I wonder if Bam ahas some first game jitters. It wasn't like the Tide was used to playing in the NCAA. I felt like they were putting too much pressure on themselves. My guess things will be better.

      Alabama will play Maryland who upset UConn  63-54.  Alabama will be a favorite in that game. 

       

 UPSETS RULE DAY ONE OF THE TOURNAMENT   

Oats will have them ready

    Cinderella is in the building.  Day one of the NCAA Tournament showed us three things.  First, the gap between  Power Five conferences and the so-called lesser leagues is shrinking. Second, the three-point shot makes anything possible in a game, and lastly, there are great players at all NCAA school levels.  The saying that on any given night is absolutely true. 

       The Big 10, as been a particular victim of what I'm talking about.  First, Michigan State, who had beaten Ohio State,  Michigan, and Illinois, lost to UCLA. All of those teams have been in the top-five ranked teams this year.  Ohio State, or should we say Lohio State, lost to Oral Roberts University. If you watched the game, it seemed the better team won. It didn't seem like much of an upset.  You can see that the three things noted in my opening paragraph were all there in Ohio State's loss. Finally, Purdue took one on the chin from, wait for it, North Texas State. The Mean Green scored the first 11 points in Overtime to knock-off the Boilermakers. 

       The ACC looks vulnerable. Four ACC teams lost on day one. Georgia Tech, Clemson, North Carolina, and Virginia Tech all lost. Only Syracuse won to keep the ACC from a complete shutout.  The decline of the ACC is stunning. Tobacco Road weeps. The rest of the nation chuckles at a league that got more publicity than they have deserved in the past. 

      The SEC saw Tennessee get embarrassed. Those who follow my posts know that I haven't had much respect for the Vols this season. I think Fulkeson's loss hurt Tennessee, but I also think they would have lost with him on the court. The rocket-hot start to their season ended with losses after losses and seemingly no answer to find why. Here's a reason - they can't make enough three-point shots. Arkansas struggled early with Colgate before running up the margin of victory. The game was up for grabs with seven minutes left. It looks like the Hogs and Arkansas are on a collision course. 

      I hope the Alabama players understand what is going on. Cinderella is alive and well.  On any given night is more than a trendy saying, and no team is exempt from being beaten. I'm not even sure most of these losses were upsets. Bama has the talent to beat Iona. But the Tide better not walk in the Hinkle Fieldhouse thinking about the next game.  

HOW THE TIDE WINS:

1. Keep the turnovers down to around ten, and cause 15 or more turnovers.

2. Stick to the game plan. Score in the paint to open the outside shooting.

3. Forty percent from the outside would be great. 

4. Make seventy-five percent or more from the free-throw line.

5. Control the boards and get some second-chance scores.

6. Run, run, and then run some more. Wear down the lesser talent

7.  Keep making the extra pass on the perimeter.

8. Get ready to play defense on the outside. 

9  Don't look ahead. 

10.Get off to a solid start and don't let Iona think they can win.

PRIMO WILL NOT DRESS FOR THE GAME. 

BAMA BY 15 

Pick's Picks:

• I like Colorado over Georgetown, but this one is a close
• Florida State over UNC-Greensboro - another close one
• Kansas over Eastern Washington - no runaway here though
• LSU over St. Bonnie - you never know about LSU, do you?
• Michigan over Texas Southern - Should be one-sided, but...
• Creighton and Santa Barbara - I'm picking UCSB to win
• Alabama over Iona - Not even close
• Southern Cal over Drake - could be close
• UConn over Maryland - UConn hits its stride
• Virginia over Ohio - This could be upset, but Virginia 
• Missouri over Oklahoma - two up and down teams
• Gonzaga over Norfolk State - the Zags
• BYU and UCLA - I like BYU, but UCLA can win
• Texas over Abilene Christian - I like Texas
• Oregan over VCU - PAC 12 shows some power.

 If you make enough threes, you can beat anyone.

    It bears repeating. If you make enough three-point shots, you can beat anyone. That is what Oral Roberts and Oregon State did today. I'll be honest, I've never understood why anyone thought Tennessee was a good team. Their guard play is abysmal. Without Fulkerson and Pons working in tandem, their inside game is okay, not great.  The Tennessee guards and small forwards play a mid-range game, and as Nate Oats might say, that will get you beat. 

       All this talk about the PAC 12  being a weak league needs to stop.  The Bruins beat Michigan State, who beat Michigan, Illinois, and Ohio State. Oregon State took away Tennessee's manhood. The Vols had no perimeter defense. The Beavers will continue to win as long as they make those triples. 

       I have been wondering why Kenpom.com keeps ranking the Big10 teams so highly. Something seems to have happened to his algorithm. Somehow the Big 10's pre-season ratings kept them up near the top. Perhaps he'll tell us what happened. That doesn't mean that the Illini are not a great team. The same could be said for Michigan. It seems to me the Big10 is now suspect.  As I was writing this, Wisconson was beating UNC by 15. Maybe the remaining teams in the Big10 can show the league is worthy. Message to Alabama  - take nothing for granted. 

        The NCAA matching Arkansas-Florida in the second round is ridiculous. The special exception rule allowing BYU to not play on Sunday is unfair to teams. Here's one thing we should know about this Tournament. The difference between Power Five guys and other leagues is shrinking. The three-point shot is a great equalizer.  

Alabama is getting national attention... 

     The Crimson Tide is getting attention from the national media. Several sportscasters have picked Alabama to reach the Final Four and even win the Title. I'm curious to see how other SEC schools do in their first games. I think if the Tide shots the rock from downtown, they can beat anyone.  It's time for a Petty comeback. In early games, we see teams from smaller conferences shoot well and put pressure on power five teams. It always happens. Three-pointers can make a big difference. 

        Alabama can't take Iona for granted. Any given night is true. Pitino can coach. The talent level is in Bama's favor, and so is the number of games the Tide has played. COVID took a lot of practice time away from the Gaels. I think it is important for Alabama to come out and set the pace of the game immediately.  I like Bama by a bunch.

        So far, my brackets are 100%. That includes two coin-flips to pick a winner. I'm sure I have plenty of bad picks ahead. I did pick UCLA to beat the Spartans of Michigan State. What a great game. I also picked Virginia Tech to beat the Gators. That one is close right now. I'm pulling for all the SEC teams. 

        I'll have the match-ups of the game tomorrow morning.

        

 Can 'Bama win the national championship in hoops?   

       

Oats is SEC Coach of the Year

           I've answered this question before, but I'll answer it again for 'Bama fans who haven't read my past responses.  Yes, they can. If Alabama shoots well from the outside, they can beat anyone in the NCAA. I'm not joking or trying to be a homer.  If Alabama has a run of games where they shoot above 40% from downtown, they can take down any team in the NCAA field this year.  That includes Michigan.        I've answered this question before, but I'll answer it again for 'Bama fans who haven't read my past responses.  Yes, they can. If Alabama shoots well from the outside, they can beat anyone in the NCAA. I'm not joking or trying to be a homer.  If Alabama has a run of games where they shoot above 40% from downtown, they can take down any team in the NCAA field this year.  That includes Michigan. 

       

Sankey enjoys the postgame.

   What separates this year's team from last year is the defense. Alabama's defense is rated 3rd by Kenpom.com. KenPom has become a site where fans can see how their team compares to others. I don't exactly understand who they arrive at their numbers. I don't always agree with their conclusions. Overall, it seems the site offers unbiased ratings (not rakings) based on mathematics. I am not sure how you arrive at the luck category, however.  His love for the Big10 is difficult to understand. I'm not intimating the Big10 isn't a great league. They have 10 teams ranked in the first ten.  Hmm? He lists Michigan #2. All of his ratings are based upon his proprietary algorithm. 

         Another internet site I like is warrennolan.com. It is an easy site to gather information such as the NET, RPI, SOS, and RPI numbers.  He also predicts scores.  He projects that Alabama will beat Iona 86-60 with a 90% to win the first-round game.  His over/under is 146. No doubt, the Tide is a heavy favorite in the Iona game.        

     The SEC got six teams in the Tournament.  Alabama, Arkansas, Tennessee, LSU, Missouri, and Florida got invitations. Ole Miss is on stand-by should some teams encounter COVID problems.  By the way, Ole Miss and Mississippi State got invitations to play in the NIT.  The Rebels open up with Louisiana Tech, and the Bulldogs open with Saint Louis University. The MSU-SLU game could be a good one. 

           This is a great chance for the SEC to show the NCAA that it isn't football only. It isn't just Kentucky. Don't look now, but the SEC is turning into a decidedly "west division," so to speak. Alabama, Arkansas, and LSU seem to be decidedly better than their "eastern" counterparts.  Auburn is a much better basketball school regardless of how it happened. I'm not condoning the allegations against LSU.  No one should.  The main thing that has happened to the SEC is great coaches throughout the league. No one really knew about Nate Oats.  Everyone does know. His "gimmick" offense has led to the best defense in the SEC.  I'm betting the SEC does well in the year's rendition of the NCAAT.  What do you think?

       

 Alabama plays Iona in the famed Hinkle Fieldhouse ... 

The movie Hoosiers was filmed in Hinkle.

   If you love basketball, you'll already know about the Hinkle Fieldhouse. It's where the Butler Bulldogs play their home games. Butler is a  basketball mad University in a basketball mad state. Let's go a step further.  If you love basketball, you surely loved the movie Hoosiers. It starred Gene Hackman, Barbara Hershey, and co-starred Dennis Hopper.  The movie was based upon a true story about a small Indiana High School in Milan, Indiana. The school actually won the 1954 Indiana State High School Championship. Think of it this way - a single A high school in Alabama won against a 7A school.[

       One of the best scenes was when Milan first saw the Butler Fieldhouse as it was then called.  The small-town players were awestruck at the size of the arena. Gene Hackman had his players measure the height of the basket and the dimensions of the lane. They were, of course, the same as in Milan High. Alabama takes on Iona on the same floor. How ironic that barely the respected Alabama basketball team and tiny Iona College will play in the NCAA Tournament's first round in that arena.  I'm really looking forward to the game. 

      Bama is a 16 point favorite to beat the Gaels. That seems odd to think about a Pitino-coached team being such a dog. Here's an oddity about Iona. They have played only 11 teams. A seven-game winning streak at the season's end was key to the Gael's season. In the MAAC championship game, they beat Fairfield to win a berth to the NCAAT.  

     Bama should win this game somewhere around the previously mentioned point-spread. Nate Oats talked about Rick Pitino, " I respect him," Oats said. "I remember having his coaching tapes when I was back in high school and I knew I wanted to coach. He's a Hall of Fame coach, been doing it at a high level for a long time. Got a lot of respect for what he's done."  

      Jimmy Chitwood is wearing the Crimson and White this weekend.

    

Alabama # 5 in the final AP Poll...  

Jahvon with his MVP Award

     Javon Quinerly was named the Most Valuable Player of the SECTournament. You'll hear no disagreement from me. I wonder if a non-starter has ever been named as the MVP.  I can't think of another one who did this.  For three games,  Quinerly did everything possible to help the Tide win the Tournament. He scored 14  points, made 3-7 from downtown, and provided leadership when it appeared that LSU might beat the Tide. He came off the bench in his sixth-man role and settled the Tide down his leadership.  JQ is ready to Roll for sure.

          “I have full faith that we can take this thing, take the NCAA tournament by storm, win the whole thing,” Quinerly said. “I know how hard we work. I know we have one of the -- we have the best coaching staff in the country who just prepares us each and every game." I have full faith if we lock in and do what we have to do, we'll be crowned again. We have the best coaching staff in the Country,

SEC ALL-TOURNAMENT TEAM 2021

1. Jahvon Quinerly, Alabama

2. Herb Jones, Alabama

3. Yves Pons, Tennessee

4. Trendon Watford, LSU

5. Javonte Smart, LSU

     You have to admire how Nate Oats has prepared his team for each set of challenges they faced. Now, they prepare for the biggest test of them all, the NCAA Tournament. If you read what Quinerely told us about the upcoming tournament, you have to be impressed. Another college coach told me that Oats is a tournament coach. If this proves to be true, Alabama is going to impress a lot of recruits. 

     Oats has some things to fix before the Iona game. Shooting drills are important. Quinerly and Shackleford are shooting well. Keon Ellis has been making some big three-point baskets.  Reese has made a couple. What Alabama needs is for Petty to step up and make some threes. His shooting slump continues. I think his defense is hurting his shooting touch.  Does he have tired legs? One thing is true. Shooters have to shoot. He won't break out of the slump by taking fewer shots.  But he needs to take better shots, in my opinion.  Reese played a great defensive game against LSU.  He was as tough as nails. He drilled a three from the corner and then told Watford about it. I did notice that after the game, the pair embraced.  The pre-game dust-up caused an already emotional game to be taken to a different level. I think that helps LSU more than 'Bama.

     The second problem that needs to be addressed is Jordan Bruner. He's not near 100% and wasn't comfortable crashing the boards against the last three opponents.  He is now wearing two knee braces. Bama needs him to rebound and make layups on the inside. Juwan Gary has announced his arrival. He is a vicious inside scrapper. He needs all the minutes he can get. Finally,  Joshua Primo's knee kept him out of the LSU game. Will he be ready for the Iona game, or will Oats rest him? I'm betting he'll rest him to let his knee get well. A great SEC season for Bama ended in perfection.

    Ironic, the last play came down to 'Bama's defense vs. LSU's offense. I felt good about that after Herb made the go-ahead basket. 

BAMA FINISHES THE AP SEASON RANKED 5TH

Check out Warren Nolan basketball and see their mathematical projection for the 'Bama v. Iona game. It surprised me.

Justin Thomas just won the Players Championship. His first statement was about Bama winning the SEC Tournament. Roll Tide Roll J.T.

 ALABAMA IS THE CHAMPION !!!!   

Yes, we are.

      What a great game. 'Bama wins 80-79. Once again the number 80 is magical for the Tide.  Despite Trendon Watford's 30 points and dominating performance, he missed the one that meant the most.  The Tigers missed a put-back and the celebration began.  Alabama's record is now 24-6 and 19-2 2 against SEC opponents. Alabama now awaits the Selection Committees' announcement about the Tournament. Look for Alabama to be a two-seed and not a one. The Selection Committee is in love with the Big 10

        Tip-of-Hat Award to Keon Ellis. Ellis drained a huge three-pointer from the corner and then blocked what appeared to be a sure lay-up. He also came down with the ball in the final moments of the game. For the game, Ellis had 14 points, 5 rebounds, and only 1 turnover. Jaden Shackleford led the 'Bama scoring with 21, including 5 three-point baskets, and 4 assists. It was his three-point shooting that kept the Tide alive in the second half. Jahvon Quinerly may have had his best game. He had 14 points, 5 rebounds, and 4 assists.  Quinerly and Shackleford each had only 1 turnover. Herb Jones had 13 points, 11 boards, and 6 assists, and no turnovers. It was his best game this season. He is going to be key in the NCAA's due to Bruner's obvious liabilities.

       This team has never say die attitude. Petty was as happy as if he'd played a great game. Oats had his team stick to their game-plan and it worked.  Alabama is a great team. This is a special year. We are lucky to have been able to see it.

 Alabama plays for the SEC Tournament Championship at High Noon

     The SEC Tournament Championship tees off at noon today.  The Alabama Crimson Tide, the regular SEC Championship winner, tries to add another jewel to a kingly season crown. With a record of 23-6, Nate Oates will try to add one more SEC win to his record. The Crimson and White have won 18 SEC games this season. Alabama keeps its hopes for a one-seed alive with a win today.  In a Big10 insane media world, the Tide hopes to secure a better seed, an easier opening game in the first round of the NCAA Tournament, and playing the winner of the 8-9 seed game.  Today, the players have only one thing on their minds. They want to beat LSU  for the 3rd time in one season.  Tide fans are aware of the LSU football rivalry, but basketball fans feel the same about basketball. 

     There is an old saying in basketball. It's difficult to beat any team three times in one season. This one will be difficult. It will probably be war under the boards, but other things come into play.  Today, it doesn't matter that Will Wade and LSU have some real problems. Their players still want to win. We should all be thankful that Nate Oats and the University have avoided the pay-for-play scandals and sex abuse scandals plaguing LSU.  For Alabama, the season has been rebuilding and trying to establish a different mindset for the basketball program. This mission is not done, but great strides are being made.  In my mind, today's game is a step forward, showing that you can win without cheating, and having unselfish senior players still matter in a sport dominated by one and done.  So what does Alabama need to do today to win?

HOW BAMA WINS:

1. Alabama needs to stay committed to its game plan. First, make the twos around the basket, and then make the threes. If the Tide does this, it clears to the road for a chance to win.

2. If Alabama makes a high percentage of their three-point attempts, they will win.

3. The often stated, make your free throws.  The Tide won the game at the line against Tennessee.

4.  Control the defensive glass. Don't give LSU second chances. If Alabama can do this, they can run and score.

5.  Try to get some second-chance points off the glass. A dozen or so offensive rebounds would be huge for Alabama.  

6.  Keep the turnovers down to ten. Against Tennessee, the Tide's mistakes in the first half almost beat them. In the second half, the Tide had 5 turnovers, and it helped the scoring opportunities.

7.   Alabama needs to get off to a better start. LSU isn't the kind of team that is going to give up a big lead because they can score.

8.  The extra-pass on offense is so important. Alabama needs to stay committed to doing that.

9.  The scalded dog run for your life fast breaks are important. 

10. LSU may be more fatigued than Alabama. In the last game, several Tiger players played over 36 minutes. Alabama didn't have to do that. Keep the pedal to the medal is important to  'Bama.

Jones and Quinerly lead Tide to win over Tennessee  73-68...   

     It was a remarkable comeback. The Tide was down 15 points in the second half.  The Tide pumped up the defensive volume in the second half. The Vols couldn't find an answer, and when Keon Ellis dropped in two free throws, the Tide finished a 20-point swing to win 73-68. To be technical, the Tide won the game by making 16-19 free throws. Alabama made the freebies when they mattered most. In the second half Jahvon Quinerly, Herb Jones, and Keon Ellis all made big shots. Jones, who had 21 points and 13 rebounds to control the Tide offense in the last 20 minutes. Quinerly worked his magic on the inside speed and quickness. 

 

Quinerly played a great game.

      But it was Jones who led the Tide to the win. If you watched the game it is easy to understand why Jones is valuable to the Tide. Tennessee kept Alabama out of the big shot offense, but once again Alabama showed the basketball world they are about more than three point baskets. Alabama turned the corner in the second half with a defensive chance. Jones was given the assignment of defending K. Johnson. In the first half Johnson had 16. In the second half he had only four. That was big for the Tide. Alabama didn't hit the three-ball but they fought and scraped for anything they could make. They made enough to win.

    Alabama will play LSU in the final. The Tigers beat Arkansas 78-71. 

     

Tide takes on Tennessee at Noon today.

Fulkerson out with a facial fracture and concussion. Primo unlikely... 

   While no official word has been given by the AD about Joshua Primo's injury, it appears he will not play today. With 12 minutes left in the second half to the Mississippi State game, Primo was on the receiving end of an Iverson Molinari dive for a loose ball. The freshman could not put any weight on his leg as he was escorted to the locker room. Nate Oats said he was taken to the hospital immediately. 

     John Fulkerson has knocked senseless by two blows to his head thrown by Florida's Omar Payne. Payne was ejected from the game. It was clearly an intentional blow.  News reports are that Fulkerson has a fracture to a facial bone and a concussion.  Tennessee AD reports he will not play today. 

     Alabama is a 3 1/2 point favorite at 9:45 am. Some houses have the Tide, a 4 point favorite.  The winner of today's game will advance to the finals of the SEC Tournament played on Sunday. The winner will face either LSU or Arkansas. Arkansas is listed as a 4 point favorite in that game. 

     For Alabama, the question is who will start in place of Primo. My source tells me that it will be Keon Ellis or Jahvon Quinerly.  Oats likes JQ coming off the bench as the 6th man, but we'll see. The Tide starters' remainders are Petty, Jr., Herb Jones, Jason Bruner, and Jaden Shackleford. This is a  more talented team than Bama played earlier in the season. 

HOW DOES THE TIDE WIN?

1.  Alabama needs to keep Pons away from the basket when Shackleford or Quinerly drives the lane. 

2.  Bama needs to get early fouls on Pons to negate his shot-blocking. The loss of Fulkerson will help the Tide in the paint,  but Pons is a load.

3.  Downtown shots need to fall early and often.  

4.  Keep the turnovers down to 10

5.  Run the floor like a scalded dog, and try to wear down the Vols. Most Tn. players logged in the 30 + minutes against Florida.

6.  Make 75% or better from the line.

7.   Play the same aggressive defense shown against State. 

 Look for Darius Miles to get some extra minutes today. He's ready

Update:  Primo has an MCL sprain according to UA AD's office. He will miss today but can return in a week or so.

Alabama destroys Mississippi State 85-48

        If this had been a prize fight, someone would have thrown in the towel. Alabama played the best defensive basketball game I've ever seen. The Bulldogs had 19 points at the half and were lucky to have scored that many. The Tide defense was so stifling Mississippi State couldn't run their offense. The Tide blocked shots, deflected passes, got all the fifty-fifty balls, stole everything they touched. 

     

      When Mississippi State got the ball inside, Alabama's quick hands stopped the Bulldogs from shooting. After the first 12 minutes, you could see Ben Howland's team surrender. If you ever wondered how good the Tide defense really is, you saw Exhibit 1.  Alabama wasn't red-hot from the outside, but they held Mississippi State to 1-19 from downtown. The Tide's switches on ball screens and back screens were nearly perfect. Nate Oats had to be happy with the team's performance.

     Alabama shot 48% from the floor, 36.1 % from beyond the arc, 8-8 from the free-throw line.  The Tide had only 9 turnovers and an outstanding 20 assists. 11 steals, and 7 blocked shots. State out-boarded the Tide by 9,  but several were after the game was in hand. Quinerly led the Tide in scoring with 14.  No news yet on Primo's knee injury.  Juwan Gary was a force inside. He kept Ado and Smith off the glass. He had 11 points. All things totaled with was the best performance the Tide has had on both ends of the floor since early in the season.

     Alabama now takes on Tennessee. Fulkerson sustained a head injury, and according to Rick Barnes he is unlikely for tomorrow. Arkansas edged out Missouri 70-64. This was posted prior to the last game between LSU and Ole Miss.  

 Alabama starts its post-season Friday against Mississippi State...

     

    After a 21-6 regular season, the Alabama Crimson Tide carries high expectations into the post-season. Mississippi State moves to 15-1 3 with a dramatic win over Kentucky 74-73. Iverson Molinari hit two big three-pointers and then two free throws in the last minute to eliminate the Wildcats. State hopes to secure an NIT bid. The Tide is projected as a two-seed right now but wants to move up to a one by winning the SEC Tournament. 

     Not only has did the Tide win the SEC championship, but it suddenly finds itself in relatively good health. This season, Jones, Rojas, Quinerly, Bruner, and Gary missed games due to injury or illness. Nate Oates has been known as a tournament coach and looks to see the Tide regain their offensive punch going into the post-season. I've spoken with three former SEC coaches, and each report that if the Tide can beat anyone, if they regain their shooting touch. The second half of the recent Georgia game saw the Tide make 8 three-point baskets. Joshua Primo had 11 in that game, and hopefully, he can return to earlier season form.  

     Alabama has beaten State twice this season.  The Bulldogs have caused some problems for Alabama's drive and dish offense.  The inside size and length of State make it less likely for State to collapse its interior defense.  I think Miss. State is going to force Alabama to run, force interior layups, and hop Ado or Smith gets into foul trouble. Alabama needs to cut down on their turnovers.  Miss. State had 19 turnovers against Kentucky and Alabama would like to cause that in today's game. Alabama should win this game. More after the game. 

       

 Hoop Heaven arrives again...

    Remember last year when the Tide was getting ready to take the floor for their first game in the SEC Tournament?  A moment later, the SEC canceled it all.  And then the NCAA canceled the national tournament. For a hoops first basketball fan, it was a stunning blow.  Here we are a year later, and today the SEC Tournament has its first full day of games. Yesterday, Vanderbilt beat Texas A&M to advance to round two. Here are my picks for today.

   Game 1 - Mississippi State vs. Kentucky at 11 CST-  I'm taking Kentucky for two reasons. First, the officials will do everything they can to bump the Wildcats to the Alabama game. The second reason is that State seems to have cashed it in for the year. If the Bulldogs can pull themselves together and win a couple of games, they might get an NIT bid.  I have a good friend who told me that Kentucky is now better than Alabama and Arkansas. You have to love Kentucky fans, but that ain't happening.   

   Game 2 -  Vanderbilt vs. Florida - at 2:00 PM CST - Vandy got here by beating the SEC's worst team.  TAMU was so racked by COVID protocols they never got started this season. No-fault of the Aggies, but Vandy was too much for them. Florida ended up playing on day two by losing to Tennessee in the final game of the season.  Guess who the Gators will play after beating Vandy? Yep, it's Tennessee, and Tre Manne will be back. Vandy may have some slight advantage by playing the day before. Vandy is without Dylan Disu, the 6-9 power forward. The Commodores lose 15 ppg and almost 10 boards. It might be close for a half. 

I'll have more after the first two games. 

     Way to go, Mississippi State. Molinar won the game for Bulldogs, and we can put the Wildcats to rest...

    Game 3 - Missouri vs. Georgia - I'm picking Missouri to win this one. The Tiger's inside size and length may be too much for the Bulldogs. Wheeler is one heck of a player, but his supporting cast is hot and cold.  Tilman and Smith will control the boards. Smith and Pinson are good enough to offset Wheeler.  Missouri can win a better seed in the National Tournament by making it to the SEC's finals.  This one might be close for a half or so, but Coach Martin will have the answers down the stretch.

   Game 4 - Ole Miss vs.  South Carolina - The money guys like Ole Miss, and I think they are right. Ole Miss needs three wins in the SEC Tournament to have any chance to make it to the NCAA's. DeVontae Shuler is a great offensive and defensive threat. That being said, never underestimate Frank Martin.  I like Ole Miss. 

 

PICKNROLL's  PICKS  FOR THE AWARDS

FIRST TEAM ALL-SEC 

• Herb Jones, 6-8 forward from the University of Alabama
• Moses Moody, 6-7 forward/guard from the University of Arkansas
• Tre Manne -6-2 guard from the Unversity of  FloridaDevonta 
• Devonta Schuler, 6-3 guard from the University of Mississippi
• Savir Wheeler,  5-9 guard from the University of Georgia

   All of the above players had two things in common. They are great players, and they were the heart and soul of their teams. 

SECOND TEAM ALL SEC

• John  Petty, Jr, 6-5 senior two-guard from the University of Alabama
• Jerimiah Tilman, 6-11 post from the University of Missouri
• Jevonta Smart, 6-4 guard from the  Louisiana State University
• Jaden Shackleford, 6-4 guard from the University of Alabama
• Trendon Watford -6-9 post from the Louisiana State University. 
• Cameron Thomas, 6-4 guard, Louisiana State University
•   

Honorable Mention -  Jackson, Boston UKentucky, Pippen, Vanderbilt, Smith, Missouri,  Castleton, Florida, Stewart, Miss. State. Quinerly, Al., Lawson, Florida

SOUTHEASTERN PLAYER OF THE YEAR - 

Herb Jones - University of Alabama

Moses Moody was a close second place.

DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR -

Herb Jones - University of Alabama

How outstanding and rare: The Player of the Year and Defensive Player of the Year, and it wasn't close. Jones was also named to the AP 3rd team.

SOUTHEASTERN CONFERENCE COACH OF THE YEAR -

Nate Oats - University of Alabama

Eric Musselman - Univesity of Arkansas was a close second. 

I usually don't make a freshman list,\ but I'll say that if I did a top-five Joshua Primo, and Moses Malone would be there. 

    

Some thoughts around the NCAA...

'Bama is now # 6 in the AP

     Alabama knocks the socks off the SEC, and now many media types are sleeping with Eric Musselman.  We'll see about that later next week, won't we? Here's my thought, if Alabama shoots well, they beat the Razorbacks. If they don't, it wouldn't surprise me that Arkansas might win. You know, it's possible they won't shoot well. It happens to everyone. Take overrated Michigan. They shot poorly against Illinois and then against (gasp) Michigan State. That's two late losses that might cause them to lose their number one seed.  

         I really like Houston. So, they have to heave in a miracle shot to beat a mediocre Memphis team. You know, the one that Penny bought. Penny vs.Kelvin. It's Wade vs. Pearl, a different conference. I don't know why TV announcers are so concerned about telling about LSU and Auburn having a letter of infractions from the NCAA. The Tiger/Tiger match-up is the one where it's the already buying players vs. having your assistant coach buying players.  It's the truth. I heard via the grapevine that AU has three or four players who want to know if their services are needed in a league that makes really strong-ass offers. I think Thor and Cooper are gone. Flannagan is also on the list.  It begs the question, if you have three players who think they are ready to play in the NBA, how did Pearl lose so many games. I've also heard that one five-star recruit is having second thoughts.  I kind of doubt that one, but the NCAA needs to make some decisions so recruits who are thinking about attending several schools know what the future might be.  That's fair, and it's terrifically unfair not to do so. But never confuse fairness with money. The NCAA is all about money and the perception of fairness. Please note the perception word drop.  If you are going to govern college athletics, make sure that rules are followed. It's not all about making bank deposits. These coaches are millionaires. Kick a few out for cheating; you'd be stunned at the effect that might have on the others.

    Can you remember when everyone was upset that Trendon Watford decided to go to LSU? How ya feeling now? I don't know how he'd fit in at Alabama because I haven't really paid any attention to his three-point shooting. I haven't heard an announcer scream, "and there's another three from Trendon Watford." Will Wade ought to be fired for having so much talent and losing as many games as he lost this year.  Tennessee secured the fourth seed in the SEC by beat Florida on Sunday. But guess who they are likely to play in the quarterfinals? That would be Florida, and Tre Mann will probably not miss the game. He had a migraine headache before the Kentucky game. 

    Well, sad as it may seem to Aubies, the Tiger basketball season is over. They fought hard,  though.  Fouth all the way to the end. LOL. In my opinion, Will Wade and Bruce Peart are on the clock. The NCAA is under increasing pressure from other member institutions to do something with Arizona, Auburn, LSU, and Oklahoma State have been out on bail. Time to give them their penalties. All were caught up in the FBI probe. I'm betting a new attitude in the FBI might move this forward. 

      Good to see Alabama back at number six in the AP.  It seems the AP voters are mirroring the NET ratings closer.  Ohio State keeps losing, but AP voters just won't vote out of the Top Ten.  Michigan has lost a couple. Illinois won a couple, and the Big Ten continues to lead the nation in good teams. Incidentally, after Alabama the SEC, the Razorbacks are number 8. No other SEC teams were in the top 25. We all have favorite teams beyond our love of Alabama.  For basketball,  UCLA, Loyola, and St. Johns are my favorites. 

Alabama wins number 21 in Athens 89-79   

JQ had 18 and control of the offense 

     The Tide gave Georgia a stay of execution with a sub-par first half.  Alabama was down 36-30. The second half opened with Herb Jones settling the offense down. The Tide fought off a determined Georgia effort behind his leadership trying to pull off a late-season upset. In the end, the Tide made eight three-point shots and relied on balance scoring to preserve their projected two-see. Alabama had five players in double figures, led by Jahvon Quinerly's 18-points. The Tide caused  19 'Dawg turnovers. Bama had 21. The game's game's first ten minutes looked like it was played on a slip 'n slide. Neither team could hang on to the ball, but Georgia jumped to a 14 point lead. The Tide cut that to six by half-time and then opened up a double-digit lead they didn't relinquish. The Bulldogs cut that lead to 3 very late in the second half but Alabama stretched that lead to 10 for a  final score of 89-79. The Tide made their free throws and got some big boards to ice the win.

     Alabama finishes the season with an SEC record of 16-2 and 21-6 record overall. It appears the Tide will play Kentucky in their first game on Friday. Alabama will play the winner of the 8-9 seed winner. That is Mississippi State vs. Kentucky. The Wildcats will be a prohibitive favorite. The Tide could add three additional wins to their total by winning the SEC Tournament. That would push their record to 24-6, and it is possible that Alabama would finish with a one-seed. If Joe Lunardi is correct, the Tide is the top two-seed at this time. 

     I don't think Alabama is playing their best overall basketball right now.They are playing their best defense, however.It is easier to play defense game to game  than offense. I believe the Tide will find their shooting  touch again. They did in the second-half. Bama made eight triples in the runaway second-half that saw Alabama scored 59 points. The Tide needs to clean up their turnovers. 20 plus turnovers won't beat many quality teams.The Gonzaga's of the hoop world  will chew up a team that  makes that many careless mistakes.