'Bama's Last Stand?

Alabama needs a win against Arkansas in worst way...

    

I guess its a little too late to say now or never; however, at 12:30 Saturday afternoon it is literally now or forget it this season for the Crimson Tide. The Tide has lost four games in succession, which at one point in this season would have seemed impossible. Now five in a row doesn't seem unlikely. Anthony Grant made a rare, and refreshing admission that he was going back to square one to find out what he was doing wrong as the head coach, We can only hope the players do the same.

        Expect the team to play better on Saturday. Can they play any worse? There is no more bottom to flush out for 'Bama. The Tide has become a bottom feed, a spoiler, an under-achiever . Whether they continue to be the butt of jokes is up to the players. Regardless of how much the coach or some writers warn people about being over charged with expectations, it is hard for fans to lower those hopes. Enter four freshman and exit two serious seniors who had a lot to do with last years success even though credit eluded them, and here's what you get.

      This team has lost its chemistry. Expect some changes in the rotation this weekend. Expect one starter to not hear his named announced as one of the five. That is punishment to a player. I'd love to see Green, Releford, Randolph, Mitchell, and Jacobs start one game, or get some meaningful minutes as a group. 'Bama has good outside shooters. Cooper has been building a wall with the bricks he's put up. He didn't do that in high school. Lacey has missed some shots so badly I bet Jack Doss can't believe it. In my opinion, only Randolph has played up to expectations. The point of Lacey is to score from the outside. If he isn't making threes what's his role? Eblen is a much more steady back up point when Releford rests.

      Sooner or later Coach Grant is going to have to come to the conclusion that he's got to let the shooters shoot a lot more. Regardless, of how good your defense might be you still have to score. When you have averaged giving up under 58 points on the season and have lost your last four in row, a light needs to go off in your head somewhere. This team will always be a defensive team, but I believe Coach is going to have to find some balance regardless of his comfort level. We all know that shooters have to shoot.

     Alabama can still get to the NCAA. They can still finish hot at the end which is the best thing you can do. Or, they can roll over and die. I still don't think an Anthony Grant team can do that. Bama by 11.