Alabama ready to start the second half of the SEC schedule...

 

Ellis will get more playing time.

    Will Wade's LSU Tigers are teeing off tonight with Alabama to salvage their basketball season. Wade has seen his players get blown off the floor by the Tide, and he has seen the Tigers choke in the final minute to give up a seven-point lead to Texas Tech and lose. What do the two games have in common? LSU played bad defense in both. I'd be surprised if LSU allowed the Tide to shoot threes like before. The Tigers are going to give a lot more attention to the perimeter. That means that Jones and Qiunerly need to make the Tigers pay for giving up the lane. It also means  LSU is going to give up some lay-ups. You better believe that LSU will be ready for game two. 

     

Bama needs a healthy Jones. 

     The question for Alabama remains the health of Herb Jones. Two days ago, Nate Oats reported that Jones was hurt, but he would play. I haven't seen anything that would indicate h3 wouldn't. I also haven't seen anything that says he is better. In the Oklahoma game, he was clearly limited. Whether or not he is closer to full speed remains to be seen. James Rojas has been limited as well. If Jones can't go, it means that Jahvon Quinerly will need to play. In the last game, he just couldn't play his dribble and drive game. If push comes to shove, Shackleford and Primo can play the point.  Bama doesn't want either of them to be forced into that role because it limits their shooting. 

   

Reese needs a good game.

      A lot of pressure will be on John Petty, Jr. He needs to step it up tonight. When Bama can play Petty, Shackleford, and Primo on the outside, it means Alabama can't be double-teamed. Alex Reese needs to continue to shoot well from the outside and look for those chances to take his defender to the rack. Alabama needs to hit the boards.  Better rebounding can win the game for Alabama. Reese needs to get some boards tonight.

     I think LSU is going to challenge the outside shooting tonight.  They are going to risk giving up the lane to try to cut down on the threes. That's why Jones and Quinerly need to play.  If either can deliver the dribble drain, it means the Tigers will have to offer some help off the perimeter. If Darius Days cannot play, it might give Alabama some help off the glass. Alabama needs to get some second-chance baskets and control the defensive boards. If the numbers show that the Tide is at least breaking even, it will be big. Keep in mind that LSU was having their own problems under the boards. They've now lost their top rebounder. Days will take 12 ppg and 8 rebounds to the pine tonight.

  KEYS TO VICTORY:

1.  The Tide needs to speed up their game 

2.  Alabama needs to rebound better on both ends of the floor.

3.  John Petty, Jr. needs to shoot up to his potential

4.  Josh Primo needs to step up tonight

5. Jones, Quineraly, and Rojas need to play up to previous games (if possible)

6. Keon Ellis needs to come off the bench to play defense and rebound. 

    He can let it go from the outside.

6. Alex Reese needs to shot well and board up well.

7  Juwan Gary needs to give some quality minutes inside.

8. Keon Ambrose-Hylton needs to be a warrior inside.

      Alabama opens as an 8.5 point favorite, which surprised me. I wonder if that means that Jones, Rojas, and Quinerly are better. Look for Keon Ellis to play more minutes. Juwan Gary will get his chance inside tonight.

       LSU SHOULD BE EMBARRASSED TO ALLOW WADE TO CONTINUE COACHING. HE IS AN ADMITTED CHEATER. I NORMALLY WOULD NOT DISCUSS THIS BUT THE NCAA SHOULD BE EQUALLY EMBARRASSED TO ALLOW LSU TO PLAY WITHOUT SUFFERING PENALTIES. 

 Updates as needed.