BAMA'S SMALL LINEUP BEATS THE VOL'S
This is as bad as it can get. I hope. On top of the all the other problems Nick Jacobs caught elbow and it developed an infection which required dental work. He didn’t play. As a fan I’d like to suggest to our remaining plays not to take any airplane flights, don’t jaywalk anywhere, and have someone taste your food before eating. I am almost afraid to ask what else can happen. Please let this be the end to all the drama, injuries, and discipline problems this season. No way the Tide could win. No way in the world. The Tide did win 62-50 and for all of you Johnny jump- off the wagon types - Anthony Grant can coach. Wow, how proud can Tide fans be about the defensive minded survivors of the gang that can’t shoot straight?
Having to play without your best inside players is not exactly a great formula to win a game. At the end of the first half Alabama was ahead 29-25. Only a very late run in the last 2 minutes of the half got it that close. The Tide was up by 10 at the 2:28 mark. Engstrom was playing some solid minutes. Gueye did the same for the Tide. The main thing that Alabama did in the first half to play the Vols off their game with rugged man to man defense. Lacey scored 12 points in the first half. The Tide had 7 turnovers but caused 5. The Tide controlled the boards in the first half pulling down 20 to Tennessee’s 12. The Tide also made 10-11 from the line. Alabama shot only 33.% from the field but held the Vols to 36%. If you are a Tide fan surely your heart started wondering if this was going to be a stunning upset, or would Tennessee make adjustments in the locker at halftime like Florida was able to do. Tennessee may not have seen this group of Tide players on the offensive end, but the defense had to look familiar. The Tide’s effort on defense was nothing short of inspiring. The Tide also had 4 steals in the first half to Tennessee’s 2. Tennessee’s best player, Jarnell Stokes only played around 3 minutes due to foul trouble. Eight straight Tennessee offensive possession had led to 4 missed shots, and 4 turnovers. There was going to be a point in this game when one good run would decide the issue.
Tennessee made adjustments to start the second half. Tennessee was going to go inside to get Tide big men in foul trouble. With 17 minutes left in the second both Tide big men had 3 each. They both would ultimately foul out. Alabama had 5 teams fouls at the 16:00 mark and that might end up being big. Tennessee might win this game but Alabama wasn’t going to just hand it over. You could almost sense a change in momentum in the Coliseum. Tennessee was starting to play better. The question was whether or not the Tide could pick it up again.
. The question was whether or not the Tide could pick it up again. When Trevor Lacey hit a baseline layup with 12:31 the Tide was up by a score of 39-33. The Tide defense was coming up with almost every 50/50 loose ball. When Tennessee took it inside they found a lot of Crimson hands slapping for the ball. Tennessee was starting to look very much like a team that was worried.
And then... Bama went on a run. The demon defense that Alabama was playing on the Tennessee end of the court was paying dividends. The run went to 15-2 and a 12 point lead. Bama led 47-35 and then Releford hit one of his unnameable lays ups and the lead had grown to 14. A tremendous steal and a touchdown pass to other end of the floor found a wide open Trevor Lacey. Bama then had a 15 point lead and the run had grown to 18-3 with 7 minutes to play.
Bama was doing two things on defense. They were contesting every three point shot by anticipating them. The Tide had also cut off the inside to Jarnell Stokes. Tennessee couldn’t make a basket. The Tide was in the face of any Tennessee player who looked like he even thought they might shoot. A big block by Moussa on Stokes seemed to stun the Vols. When Tennessee called a time out the there was 5:44 and Alabama had a 52-37 lead. Stoke finally scored an inside basket and the lead was 15. Releford nailed 2 freebies and it was again 15 with 4:35. For Bama it was now ball control and run the clock. Tennessee cut the lead to 13 with 3:00 minutes remaining.
Bama was going to shoot a lot of free throws down the stretch. Since Bama had no big me in the game except for Engstrom the ball handlers were already in the lineup. Bama spread the floor with 2:55 and when Andrew Steele dropped in a runner with seconds left on the shot clock and the Volunteers were looked like they might be done. To Tennessee’s credit they didn’t quit. They cut the 15 point lead to 10 with 2 minutes left. Now it was just a matter if the Tide could make their free throws. Grant chose to keep the ball in the hands of Trevor Releford. TR made 2 free throws and the lead was 12.Rodney Cooper came in for Engstrom who got foul number 5. He was the closest thing to big man for the Tide. Bingo - he nailed a three and the Tide was up 15 again. The final score was Alabama 62-50. Bama won without their top two scorers and rebounders. Chew on that for a minute. Full story tomorrow. The Tide moves to 17-9 which sounds a whole lot better than 16-10.
By the way it was Prostrate Awareness Day. Write them a check. Even if it is just a dollar, less than the cost of a soft drink. Let’s see just how much money the readers of TiderInsider can raise.
Having to play without your best inside players is not exactly a great formula to win a game. At the end of the first half Alabama was ahead 29-25. Only a very late run in the last 2 minutes of the half got it that close. The Tide was up by 10 at the 2:28 mark. Engstrom was playing some solid minutes. Gueye did the same for the Tide. The main thing that Alabama did in the first half to play the Vols off their game with rugged man to man defense. Lacey scored 12 points in the first half. The Tide had 7 turnovers but caused 5. The Tide controlled the boards in the first half pulling down 20 to Tennessee’s 12. The Tide also made 10-11 from the line. Alabama shot only 33.% from the field but held the Vols to 36%. If you are a Tide fan surely your heart started wondering if this was going to be a stunning upset, or would Tennessee make adjustments in the locker at halftime like Florida was able to do. Tennessee may not have seen this group of Tide players on the offensive end, but the defense had to look familiar. The Tide’s effort on defense was nothing short of inspiring. The Tide also had 4 steals in the first half to Tennessee’s 2. Tennessee’s best player, Jarnell Stokes only played around 3 minutes due to foul trouble. Eight straight Tennessee offensive possession had led to 4 missed shots, and 4 turnovers. There was going to be a point in this game when one good run would decide the issue.
Tennessee made adjustments to start the second half. Tennessee was going to go inside to get Tide big men in foul trouble. With 17 minutes left in the second both Tide big men had 3 each. They both would ultimately foul out. Alabama had 5 teams fouls at the 16:00 mark and that might end up being big. Tennessee might win this game but Alabama wasn’t going to just hand it over. You could almost sense a change in momentum in the Coliseum. Tennessee was starting to play better. The question was whether or not the Tide could pick it up again.
. The question was whether or not the Tide could pick it up again. When Trevor Lacey hit a baseline layup with 12:31 the Tide was up by a score of 39-33. The Tide defense was coming up with almost every 50/50 loose ball. When Tennessee took it inside they found a lot of Crimson hands slapping for the ball. Tennessee was starting to look very much like a team that was worried.
And then... Bama went on a run. The demon defense that Alabama was playing on the Tennessee end of the court was paying dividends. The run went to 15-2 and a 12 point lead. Bama led 47-35 and then Releford hit one of his unnameable lays ups and the lead had grown to 14. A tremendous steal and a touchdown pass to other end of the floor found a wide open Trevor Lacey. Bama then had a 15 point lead and the run had grown to 18-3 with 7 minutes to play.
Bama was doing two things on defense. They were contesting every three point shot by anticipating them. The Tide had also cut off the inside to Jarnell Stokes. Tennessee couldn’t make a basket. The Tide was in the face of any Tennessee player who looked like he even thought they might shoot. A big block by Moussa on Stokes seemed to stun the Vols. When Tennessee called a time out the there was 5:44 and Alabama had a 52-37 lead. Stoke finally scored an inside basket and the lead was 15. Releford nailed 2 freebies and it was again 15 with 4:35. For Bama it was now ball control and run the clock. Tennessee cut the lead to 13 with 3:00 minutes remaining.
Bama was going to shoot a lot of free throws down the stretch. Since Bama had no big me in the game except for Engstrom the ball handlers were already in the lineup. Bama spread the floor with 2:55 and when Andrew Steele dropped in a runner with seconds left on the shot clock and the Volunteers were looked like they might be done. To Tennessee’s credit they didn’t quit. They cut the 15 point lead to 10 with 2 minutes left. Now it was just a matter if the Tide could make their free throws. Grant chose to keep the ball in the hands of Trevor Releford. TR made 2 free throws and the lead was 12.Rodney Cooper came in for Engstrom who got foul number 5. He was the closest thing to big man for the Tide. Bingo - he nailed a three and the Tide was up 15 again. The final score was Alabama 62-50. Bama won without their top two scorers and rebounders. Chew on that for a minute. Full story tomorrow. The Tide moves to 17-9 which sounds a whole lot better than 16-10.
By the way it was Prostrate Awareness Day. Write them a check. Even if it is just a dollar, less than the cost of a soft drink. Let’s see just how much money the readers of TiderInsider can raise.
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