Tide shows they can contend...
Steele, Green, Mitchell, and Releford set the tone for big win...
The term "must win game" is pretty much a misnomer in my opinion. Still, I'm glad the Crimson Tide seemed to play like they had to win or else. The or else would have been 5 losses in a row, and 2-5 in the Conference. Those are numbers from which you won't return. So when Alabama beat Arkansas on Saturday it stopped the bleeding, but we are yet to learn if the patient will live to the ripe of age of post season play. It also gives Alabama one week to rest and get ready for another "must win game". This one features the Ole Miss Rebels. A win would even the Conference record at 4-4 and overall to 15-7. Those are not glorious numbers but they could be worse. The Crimson Tide is a beat up bunch right now and some time off is just what they need.
Grant shook up the lineup as we predicted. He didn't start Green. Alabama started three freshmen. Nick Jacobs whose game is improving consistently, Trevor Lacey, whose three point game has left him, and Levi Randolph whose overall play has been a consistent for Grant and the Tide. Randolph has a lot of untapped offensive wealth he needs to show the SEC. Levi is old school. He'll pass up a shot if he thinks someone has a better one. For a superstar high school player that isn't always easy to do. Both Randolph and Lacey have become real team players. Jacobs gets on the blocks and does one thing. He becomes physical. Whether its a drop step or that little hook he's going toward the baseline. One of the highlights of this season has been to watch the unselfish play of all four of our first year players. While the freshmen got a lot of hype on TV for starting, it was the the old hands who steadied the ship. Releford,Green,Steele, and Mitchell each played different roles in the win but their performances were invaluable. Releford led the scorers with 18. Green had 14 with 10 rebounds, and Mitchell had 11. Andrew Steele came off the bench to score 11 points but his major contribution was his ball handling and free throw shooting when the game was on the line. His pass to Mitchell and then back cutting his defender for a big layup was a thing of beauty.
The Tide started slowly in both halves. They finished on a nice run to take a 37-30 half time lead. That lead evaporated when Arkansas took a 47-45 lead in the second half. Just when it looked Mr. Hyde was back, the team kept their cool, shot the ball well, and nailed free throws that sealed the fate of Arkansas. Releford, Green, Mitchell, and Steele all knocked down big free throws. All totaled the Tide made 80% of their freebies. The defense was swarming. If a Razorback got close to the sideline he was double teamed time and time again. The Arkansas team, under Anderson has revived Nolen Richardson's 40 minutes of hell. On Saturday, it was the 'hogs who got burned by their own medicine. The Arkansas team had 16 turnovers. That was one less than Alabama. The visitors also scored 24 points off turnovers compared by the 16 by Bama. But it was when the turnovers occurred. When the game was on the line it was the Crimson Tide that played better ball security and Arkansas made some mistakes. All in all it was a good day for the Tide.
The Good:
Andrew Steele had a career high 11 points, 6 assists, 6 rebounds, and only 1 turnover in 29 minutes of play.
Trevor Releford had a game high 18 points. He had 2 assists, 4 boards, and 2 steals. He was the Man.
JayMychal drive you crazy and then he has a game like Saturday. 14 points, 8 rebounds, 2 blocked shots, and 1 big steal. His 4 turnovers were a team high.
Nick Jacobs had a great game. 6 points, 4 rebounds, and 3 blocked shots
Tony Mitchell had 11 points, 6 boards, 2 blocks ,and 3 steals. He shows signs of life.
Bama shot 50% from the field on 25-50, and 20-25 from the line for 80%. Tide won the battle of the boards by 5 and in the last 10 minutes it seemed that Green got everything missed.
The Bad:
Never turn your back to the ball. Right guys? A free basket when Steele turned his back and felt his rear end throw a perfect pass to the Arkansas inbound passer.
Too Many Turnovers: Green needs to cut down on his errors.
Outside shooting: I have no idea why good shooters go 2-15. Losses loom with this type shooting.
The Ugly:
These flagrant fouls have got to stop. They are childish and set a bad example for the younger players. Leadership is a lot of things and behavior on the floor is one of those things. Green is not a thug and he is fast building a reputation as one, and a whiner to the officials. Not good.
Unforced errors: No reason for them to continue.
Steele, Green, Mitchell, and Releford set the tone for big win...
The Tide started slowly in both halves. They finished on a nice run to take a 37-30 half time lead. That lead evaporated when Arkansas took a 47-45 lead in the second half. Just when it looked Mr. Hyde was back, the team kept their cool, shot the ball well, and nailed free throws that sealed the fate of Arkansas. Releford, Green, Mitchell, and Steele all knocked down big free throws. All totaled the Tide made 80% of their freebies. The defense was swarming. If a Razorback got close to the sideline he was double teamed time and time again. The Arkansas team, under Anderson has revived Nolen Richardson's 40 minutes of hell. On Saturday, it was the 'hogs who got burned by their own medicine. The Arkansas team had 16 turnovers. That was one less than Alabama. The visitors also scored 24 points off turnovers compared by the 16 by Bama. But it was when the turnovers occurred. When the game was on the line it was the Crimson Tide that played better ball security and Arkansas made some mistakes. All in all it was a good day for the Tide.
The Good:
Andrew Steele had a career high 11 points, 6 assists, 6 rebounds, and only 1 turnover in 29 minutes of play.
Trevor Releford had a game high 18 points. He had 2 assists, 4 boards, and 2 steals. He was the Man.
JayMychal drive you crazy and then he has a game like Saturday. 14 points, 8 rebounds, 2 blocked shots, and 1 big steal. His 4 turnovers were a team high.
Nick Jacobs had a great game. 6 points, 4 rebounds, and 3 blocked shots
Tony Mitchell had 11 points, 6 boards, 2 blocks ,and 3 steals. He shows signs of life.
Bama shot 50% from the field on 25-50, and 20-25 from the line for 80%. Tide won the battle of the boards by 5 and in the last 10 minutes it seemed that Green got everything missed.
The fans are a great sixth man. Attendance: sellout at 12:30 on Saturday is classy
The Bad:
Never turn your back to the ball. Right guys? A free basket when Steele turned his back and felt his rear end throw a perfect pass to the Arkansas inbound passer.
Too Many Turnovers: Green needs to cut down on his errors.
Outside shooting: I have no idea why good shooters go 2-15. Losses loom with this type shooting.
The Ugly:
These flagrant fouls have got to stop. They are childish and set a bad example for the younger players. Leadership is a lot of things and behavior on the floor is one of those things. Green is not a thug and he is fast building a reputation as one, and a whiner to the officials. Not good.
Unforced errors: No reason for them to continue.
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