TIDE BEATS ARIZONA 76-73
'Bama stumbles but does not fall...

 

Lewis checks Coleman 

   Earlier, we speculated that what Alabama did today would give us an idea of what we could expect for the remainder of the season. Would the Tide continue to play horrible defense and throw in a poor offense for no extra charge, or would the Tide dig down inside themselves and prove they were not going to go belly up? Alabama chose the dig-deep idea and came away with a key non-conference win over a solid Arizona team. Arizona isn't a great team, but at the end of the year, I'd bet they go dancing.

       

   The Tide shot out of the gate with great shooting and even better defense. Once again the Tide had a 19-point lead in the first half and then seemed to lose focus. Arizona cut the lead to nine at half-time. The big question loomed. What this going to be a repeat of Georgia State or could the Tide find something better? Alabama had shown some real movement on offense, good spacing, and team-work for the first 15 minutes of the first half. The final half was too much one on one. The result was Arizona got additional shots. 

     

      In the second half, the Tide started by controlling the boards. If you control the glass you win more than you lose. The second half was brought to you courtesy of Kira Lewis and Don'ta Hall. The big post player played harder than he has played all season. He dominated the boards and followed anyone who drove to the glass for some nice putbacks, including a thunder dunk when the Tide needed one. There were four lead changes. When Kira Lewis made a step-three the Tide took a five-point lead with 13.2 seconds left. He brushed a Hall screen and had just enough room and time make that basket. 

• Alex Reese continues to impress. He made two nice threes, hit a baby hook, and made his free throws. He is a pleasant surprise. The weight program and nutrition program has made him ready to rock 'n roll.
• Kira Lewis controlled the Bama effort in the second half. He scored 13 of his game-high 20 in the second half.
• Don'ta pulled down 9 rebounds, and made key free throws down the stretch. 
• John Petty is finding ways to help. His rebounding and ball handling give the Tide a new dimension. His shooting is abysmal. Herb Jones is hurting Bama's offense. His defense remains solid. 

      Bama put aside a devastating loss to Georgia State with fortitude down the stretch to beat a good PAC-12 team. Alabama plays Liberty in Huntsville next up.

TODAY COULD TELL US ABOUT 'BAMA


    You are coming off an embarrassing loss. You are playing at home on the weekend, and your players are saying all the right things about confidence, work ethic, and getting back in the saddle again so to speak. You have a personable coach who is much loved, but whose fourth-year #buckleup program isn't showing much juice. Fans are split about what to do. One thing is abundantly clear - Tide fans want a winning program. Can this team and coach deliver the wins?

    With a noon tipoff, there should be a sizeable crowd. Perhaps even large when the after church crowd makes an appearance. Heavens knows my love for Alabama basketball. If older fans got seats on the number of games attended, I'd get a seat on the far end of the bench. So much is at stake this year for our program and our coach.

    Surprisingly, the Crimson finds itself a 1.5 point favorite. That is two made free throws and a bunny underneath. What we need to look at today is leadership. Who will take control of the Alabama offense? Alabama doesn't have a real "go to" guy, although Kira Lewis, Jr. is going to be that man. It would be nice to allow him to develop his game at the division one level without additional pressure. Alabama can't afford to do that in my opinion. Let him shoot. 

    Alabama showed in the first half of the last game, that is the Dr. Jekyll half, they can make three-point baskets.  Unfortunately, the Tide also showed in the Mr. Hyde half they can't make anything.  Devoid of leadership, the Tide slowly wasted a 22-point lead and lost. Sorry 'Bama you look pretty pathetic on the free throw line. Sorry, Avery, you didn't do much to instill a vote of confidence from your fanbase.

    I think today will show us a great deal about this season. Arizona is a good, but not great squad. They lost two games this year. One was to Gonzaga and the other to Auburn. Alabama lost to three lesser-known teams. Like you, my heart and voice will be with 'Bama. My head is less than certain we will win. 

breaking news: the line just moved to 3

TIME TO WELCOME BACK #5

justin Coleman returns to the Tuscaloosa with a better gig

 I remember Justin Coleman well. He was a high school superstar from Birmingham at Wenonah High School.  Justin earned four-stars as a recruit. Coleman was quick as a waterbug on a hot summer day. He was always listed a 5 feet 10 inches. No pun intended but that's a stretch. He as a great player and after flirting with Kansas he chose Alabama. I left Alabama and  I'm not sure anyone understood why.  Avery Johnson and Justin were a perfect fit. A quintessential point-guard being coached by an NBA guard turned Coach was a match made in heaven. So what caused him to leave? 

          After his sophomore season, Justin was competing with Dazon Ingram and Avery Johnson, Jr. He was much better (IMO) than either of those players. My first thought was Coleman was a victim of the coach deciding to play Junior. I am only speculating. One thing seems apparent. Coach Johnson was going to make Dazon Ingram his point guard. At least until 'Bama signed Sexton. Justin transferred to Samford in Birmingham. After graduated he took the grad transfer option and signed with Arizona. Some in Birmingham tried to convince him to go back to Alabama. How ironic would that have been? I'm not sure you can do that, but why not. At Alabama, he wore #5. For the record, both coach and player have said Justin wanted to be closer to home. Johnson has heaped praise on Coleman since that time. Again, this is speculation on my part. At any rate, the crowd favorite left for little Samford.

      Coleman is averaging 11.8 ppg for Arizona. His Wildcats have lost two games this season. One was to Auburn and the other Gonzaga. Those are two great teams. I think Arizona will be favored. Alabama will try to repair an already broken season. After a great first half against Georgia State, the Tide played the worst half of basketball I have seen a Tide team play. And I've seen some stinkers.  Alabama cannot afford to lose any additional pre-SEC games if they want to make the NCAA. A home loss would be very harmful with the Selection Committee.  Alabama needs to step it up. One thing Tide fans can expect is a better game. A second bad game is unlikely. 

From the baseline:

Oklahoma edged out Witchita State by 32.

Justin Colman is one of two Alabama natives on the Arizona roster. Dylan Smith of Mobile is the other. He is a transfer, a redshirt junior, who started his career at UNC Ashville. He and Coleman have been friends since high school.

Arizona had a tough game with Utah Valley.  Arizona was down 41-29 at the half. Key three point shooting put the Wolverines away. The game was a home game for Arizona and the showed the Tide how to beat them.

Justin Coleman, in the role of a sixth man, had 15 off the bench

The future for Bama?

Chances of Alabama making the NCAA  if Bama loses today - 2/10. 

          

PLEASE QUIT HOPING...


   One thing I've always learned about Alabama basketball is to expect disappointment. In the end, that is how it ends for Alabama basketball fans. Sure, there are moments of jubilation and excitement, but the conclusion is always the same. Over the years you become wary of hope. Hope springs eternal? At Alabama, all a hoop fan has is hope. A German philosopher once warned us that the reality of hope is the worst of all evils because it prolongs the torment of men. It has been with me. 


     The sad truth about Alabama basketball is it falls just short of good and on the high end of mediocrity. What a horrible place to be. I often wonder why that's the plight of Alabama. How is it that the football program wallows in money and fame and basketball has never been more than a footnote? Several reasons I suspect, but all could be overcome by money, facilities, and hiring a basketball coach in the same category as Nick Saban. Make a list of the top ten coaches in America and hire one. 

      That also means building a modern, first-class basketball arena. It means paying a coach 7 million a year, give or take. I believe the giving side is more likely. The athletic department has the money. This might mean a little stooping and begging, in my opinion, to convince a coach to come to a football school. I remember telling Hootie Ingram two things in 1992. Coach made a mistake. He has given too much to the University to be summarily dismissed and would take 20 years to recover. I was wrong about the second part. We are now in year 26 of our famine. 

     Can Coach Johnson gets this turned around? I hope so. Let's look at the record -

1st year - 18-15  and a first-round loss in the NIT. I thought Johnson did a great job given the circumstances he found at 'Bama

2nd year -19-15, a winning record in the SEC, and the NIT

3rd year - 18-15, a losing record in the SEC as in year 1. But a great finish behind Collin Sexton. Two games in NCAA

4th year - 5-2 with losses to Northeastern and Georgia State. Neither are marquee names, but each was picked to win their leagues. The loss to GS was a debacle in the second half. 

      I suppose it would be fair to say if he wins 20 games and gets into the NCAA it would be successful. At least by Alabama terms. I remained stunned that the AD doesn't expect more. Johnson has had three seasons to recruit his type players. Johnson is personable has had a good coaching record in the NBA. It has not transferred to the college level.

     He starts three-four star recruits and two five star recruits (taking the highest rating in any publication. Those type players should never give up a 22 point lead and have the sustained shooting problems the Tide experiences. I think it is fair to discuss what is going on in Alabama basketball. I think it helps Coach Johnson understand what is expected from his fans. 

    I am not trying to undermine Coach Johnson. We need results and not the hoopla. Winning brings results. Gimmicks sell a few tickets. Beating Arizona is a good team to begin winning again.  Practice free throws is another. Stop putting the ball into the hands of terrible free throw shooters so often. Stop playing everyone on the team. Find 8 or 9 men and work 'em up some. I may be a redneck from Blount County, but even I recognize what isn't working.
Hire Wimp as a consultant. I can't stand to listen to him so upset on the radio or TV.

And for stellar half-time entertainment. We have the Red Panda this Sunday

HOW BAD CAN IT GET ?

a complete second-half collapse spells trouble for Johnson...

   

Over sixty years of being a fan.

 Last week a poster asked a reasonable question - "Can we trust Avery Johnson to get the job done"?  The time has come to discuss whether the poster's point is true or not.  With a 22 point, first-half lead and still the Tide fell apart. The Alabama Crimson Tide was inept in the final 20 minutes. Georgia State hit a 24-foot three-point bomb at the buzzer. The shot was uncontested. Someone told me recently that watching Alabama basketball was something he could not do. Ain't that the truth? We will discuss some of the problems Alabama suffers throughout the week.

          #Buckleup was exciting. Avery Johnson is a master salesman. Tide hoop fans want him to succeed, but year four is going downhill.  Earlier in the year, I predicted 18 wins. That seems far too many tonight. I have been a Tide basketball fan for over 60 years. That is more than most of the fans on this board have been alive. I have seen the highs and lows. Those years give me a long time view and opinion of Alabama basketball. I have never seen anything like I saw in the last half of the Georgia State game. Kudos to Wimp Sanderson for not laughing out loud, or crying out loud - take your pick. So, perhaps it is time to start a reasonable discussion of whether Johnson can get the job done. What do you think? 

       Are we the worse team in SEC today?

         For those who didn't see my post about Bamabasketball.net - I won the right to use my old name after a lengthy struggle. 

     

State losses to Georgia

Georgia Bulldogs knocks State from Tournament with some great effort...   

     Mississippi State dug deep to find yet another way to lose not just a game, but an NCAA berth as well. A lot would have to happen for the Dogs to get a bid. State has already agreed to host the opening round in the NIT if not selected by the NCAA according to a source close to the AD's office. I'm sure that is a big letdown for Bulldog fans. Without a doubt, State is the most disappointing team in the SEC. Now rumors are all over the radio about Rick Stansbury losing his job. Are you crazy? Despite ending the regular season on a down note the Coach doesn't deserve to lose his job. How would that effect Alabama? I think that Pollard eliminates State. But how does this kid not give a serious look at Kentucky. Bama's best hope is that his personal relationship with Grant is as good as described.

Not just an SEC story
 but a national headline

    
Four big SEC stories ...
 Four stories stuck out this season in the SEC. All were completely different in scope but each was certainly newsworthy in their own right.

1. The breaking point shaving scandal at Auburn. This is going to give an NCAA already    upset with the SEC's sport success even more room to pass legislation that might hurt the league. This is a bigger story than trouble at Auburn. This could end up being the biggest basketball story of the decade. Auburn's problem isn't just with one basketball player. This is going to be one of those stories where the net could get larger. A Federal Investigation is a serious issue, and no stone will be left unturned to see if this is an endemic problem with the entire program. Let me stress there is nothing to indicate that at this time. 

     2 Kentucky's undefeated season in the Conference with young players. Whether you     like John Calipari or not you cannot take anything way from the job he's done with the Wildcats this season.


     3.The collapse of Mississippi State. The Dogs fall from grace was stunning. I know it made a lot of Alabama fans happy. I don't think I've ever seen a team with more talent play so poorly when it mattered the most.


4.The suspensions by Alabama's Anthony Grant of four players in the middle of a run for the NCAA. Grant stuck to his guns and the Tide managed to find a way to wade through troubled waters to an NCAA berth was outstanding.

    There were a couple of other stories worthy noting. Coach Martin's job in the second half of the season led the Vols to a second place in the SEC Tournament and many think they may make the NCAA despite a laughable start. 

     Tony Barbee's coaching job at Auburn deserves some special mention. Talk about a thankless job. He still kept the Tigers competitive. What a blow to his players to find out that one of their numbers may have betrayed the program. How bad was that.

      The same applies to a lesser degree to those players at Alabama who thought they'd put themselves ahead of their teammates, coaches, and fans. Releford has not recovered from his one game suspension, although I think there is something medical going on with him that has not been disclosed yet.

State losses to Georgia

Georgia Bulldogs knocks State from Tournament with some great effort...   

     Mississippi State dug deep to find yet another way to lose not just a game, but an NCAA berth as well. A lot would have to happen for the Dogs to get a bid. State has already agreed to host the opening round in the NIT if not selected by the NCAA according to a source close to the AD's office. I'm sure that is a big letdown for Bulldog fans. Without a doubt, State is the most disappointing team in the SEC. Now rumors are all over the radio about Rick Stansbury losing his job. Are you crazy? Despite ending the regular season on a down note the Coach doesn't deserve to lose his job. How would that effect Alabama? I think that Pollard eliminates State. But how does this kid not give a serious look at Kentucky. Bama's best hope is that his personal relationship with Grant is as good as described.

Not just an SEC story
 but a national headline

    
Four big SEC stories ...
 Four stories stuck out this season in the SEC. All were completely different in scope but each was certainly newsworthy in their own right.

1. The breaking point shaving scandal at Auburn. This is going to give an NCAA already    upset with the SEC's sport success even more room to pass legislation that might hurt the league. This is a bigger story than trouble at Auburn. This could end up being the biggest basketball story of the decade. Auburn's problem isn't just with one basketball player. This is going to be one of those stories where the net could get larger. A Federal Investigation is a serious issue, and no stone will be left unturned to see if this is an endemic problem with the entire program. Let me stress there is nothing to indicate that at this time.
2. Kentucky's undefeated season in the Conference with young players. Whether you like John Calipari or not you cannot take anything way from the job he's done with the Wildcats this season. 
3. The collapse of Mississippi State. The Dogs fall from grace was stunning. I know it made a lot of Alabama fans happy. I don't think I've ever seen a team with more talent play so poorly when it mattered the most.
4. The suspensions by Alabama's Anthony Grant of four players in the middle of a run for the NCAA. Grant stuck to his guns and the Tide managed to find a way to wade through troubled waters to an NCAA berth was outstanding.

    There were a couple of other stories worthy noting. Coach Martin's job in the second half of the season led the Vols to a second place in the SEC Tournament and many think they may make the NCAA despite a laughable start. 

     Tony Barbee's coaching job at Auburn deserves some special mention. Talk about a thankless job. He still kept the Tigers competitive. What a blow to his players to find out that one of their numbers may have betrayed the program. How bad was that.

      The same applies to a lesser degree to those players at Alabama who thought they'd put themselves ahead of their teammates, coaches, and fans. Releford has not recovered from his one game suspension, although I think there is something medical going on with him that has not been disclosed yet.