Alabama soars to 8th in Coaches Poll...     

              

    

Oats has 'em headed in the right direction

    From an afterthought, the Crimson Tide finds itself number eight in the Coaches Poll. The Tide has also been voted number nine in the Associated Press Poll. Nat Oats has brought some magic to Tuscaloosa. It is a shame that this team cannot play before 15,000 fans.  I can't imagine how loud Coleman Coliseum might sound. It might be the groundbreaking for a new arena. Brackets now have Alabama a two or three seed. That's high cotton, to use a proverbial Southern phrase. All of this is well and good, but Nat Oats will tell his team the next thing on the agenda is Kentucky.

KENTUCKY WILL WANT TO EVEN THE SCORE

       Kentucky comes to Tuscaloosa on Tuesday night.  They'll be ready. They are not going to just lay down for Alabama because of a season that has gone awry. Kentucky basketball, despite its problems, is still Kentucky basketball. That means they will be well-coached, and they have a court full of five-star recruits. What Kentucky doesn't have is experience.  They gain that every game they play.  Alabama spanked the Wildcats the last time they played. It was a rare home loss for Kentucky.  For Alabama, it was 20 point-win in Lexington. Alabama could finish the first half of their SEC   season without a loss. The Tide would be 14-3, and the odd's on favorite to win the SEC. Here's an observation. Never underestimate talent. Never. 

     Alabama will be without Jordan Bruner, who suffered a knee injury in the first Kentucky game. The status of James Rojas remains unknown at this time. Two sources close to the program have indicated it will be a game-time decision.  The Mississippi State game left a couple of Alabama players bumped and proved.  With no SEC losses, the Tide is entering uncharted territory for this team. Alabama handled the pressure of being the  SEC leader in a tight game with State.  The Wildcats have better inside talent than State and some potentially outstanding guards.  LSU suffered another loss to the Wildcats in Lexington 82-69. 

GREAT INSIDE PLAY AND TALENTED  GUARDS

     Kentucky is similar to State. With two superlative inside players and two good guards, it surprises experts that Kentucky failed to make many three-pointers against 'Bama in the first game.  If Kentucky shots well from outside, Alabama will have their hands full. Brandon Boston, Jr., a highly-touted five-star guard,  scored 18 against LSU. Boston was Kentucky's top recruit, and his slow start has raised the ire of Kentucky fans. Alabama will need to shut down Boston. Herb Jones will probably defend him unless Oats puts Joshua Primo guard on guard.  This would allow Jones to defend one of the two Kentucky inside players. Devin Askew, guard, another five-star, has a good mid-range jump shot. He is a nice ball-handler. It Will likely start at the point for the Wildcats. He had 12 against the Tide in the last game. He is averaging 6 ppg. 

     In the last game, Kentucky gave 'Bama all they could handle inside. Five-star Oliver Sarr scored 6-points and pulled down 5 boards. He averages 10.2 per game. He's 7-0 and weighs 240. Jacob Toppin, 6-9 and weighs 200 lbs., is another KU five-star. He is averaging 6 ppg. Davion Mintz, 6-3 and 190 lb. He is a senior point guard. He is averaging almost 10 ppg. Kentucky looks like they have turned the corner. Bama must play better than they did in the Miss. State game. I think Kentucky will come ready to play with a lot of confidence after the LSU win. 

I like Bama by 9. 

Updates when needed.