Improved LSU team... Every game is big for Tide
There are no inconsequential games for Alabama until the seasons ends now. There is no more games which provide some breathing room, or even one where Grant might try different lineups to fine tune his team. Alabama's four game losing streak has made them a team under the microscope. Every big win, like the Auburn road victory, helps Tide fans think we are probably in the NCAA. A loss means maybe not. This isn't a good position to be found late in the season. There are lots of games left, but none of them is unimportant. A road win over a much improved LSU team will boost the Tide's record to 17-7 (5-4) The Tigers are now 13-10 coming into the game. LSU is 3-6 in the league with their lone home loss to the Wildcats.
On Tuesday night, game one without suspended start Tony Mitchell, saw the Crimson Tide rally around each other to belt Auburn 68-50. It was a good road win. Double meaningful for the Tide who savored the road win, and the victim was a bonus. It keeps the Tide on a clear track for the NCAA. Now the Tide heads to the Bayou for a Saturday game with LSU. You can imagine the welcome the Tide will receive. I'm so excited about his game and the challenges that come with tip-off. Talk about a game of opportunities. I bet Anthony Grant is as nervous as a cat on a hot tin roof, but here is the game the coach can point too and say, "today proves a lot about us as a team." Two good road wins will propel the Tide into next week. Key games with Florida and Tennessee are next.
Friday night finds Bama once again without Tony Mitchell. The petucalent Tide star will sit out his second game of the year. You will remember that it was the suspension of JayMychal Green last season that put the Crimson Tide into a tail spin which eventually led to an NCAA snub. Lost in the fact was Alabama fighting back to have a 12-4 conference record, a win the SEC Western Division. It was a remarkable turnaround for the team. That is the only time a division winner has every been left out in the rain when the field was set for the Big Dance. Like the man said, "so what have you done for us lately?"
Lately comes tomorrow. The Tide will open with the same line up as they did against Auburn. That means Andrew Steele will be inserted in the starting five instead of Mitchell. Mitchell was not allowed to travel with team for the game. Green, Jacobs, Randolph, and Releford will likely round out the first five. The Tigers played # 1 Kentucky at home and lost but certainly did not get outclassed. You might think that Bama almost beat Kentucky in Rupp so there should be no trouble dispatching the Tigers. That isn't how the SEC works. The win over Auburn was only the 4th road win by any team not in the top 3 of the SEC. Tomorrow will be a back yard brawl between 2 schools that don't like each other in the least. You might recall Rod Grizzard standing on the scorers table in the Maravich Center giving the LSU crowd his opinion of how they acted. Needless to say, he wasn't exactly warmly received. That's the kind of rivalry it has become. The football rivalry is really recent when compared with the strained feelings between the two basketball programs. Alabama and LSU frequently go head to head for recruits such as Ralston Turner, an Alabama native.
In the first game the Tide beat the Tigers 69-53 in Tuscaloosa. The Tide jumped on the Tigers early and disrupted their game plan. Alabama shot 51% from the floor. If Alabama wins on Saturday they'll have to do without Tony Mitchell's 9 points and 11 rebounds in the first. It will take a joint effort by several players to make up the loss. Game one also a head to head battle between two of the best young points in the league. Releford had a 20 point night and only 2 turnovers as he ran the Bama offense. Anthony Hicky, the reigning Mr. Basketball, had 8 and Releford made his night miserable. Watch that battle.
The inside battle between JayMychal Green and Nick Jacobs will have their hands full with Ralston Turner, 6-11 Justin Hamilton who logged 36 minutes in game one, and Malcolm White. A key match up will be how LSU coach Trent Johnson decides to play Bama smaller lineup. One other thing in LSU's favor. National top ten recruit Johnny O'Bryant, 6-9 power forward who is very athletic and very active around the paint. The O'Braynt - Jacobs freshman showdown could be key. Likewise, Hamilton, has been a huge pickup for LSU . He is very tall, very strong, and shoots well. In the last match-up Trent Johnson tried to use Hamilton to draw fouls on Green. Alabama's defensive guard play really cut down on touches to Hamilton. Don't look for Turner to be a no show again. O'Bryant is a the unknown factor. LSU has the size and the home court. LSU is not a good three point shooting team. Bama is going to zone more than usual and offer some strong offside help to both Jacobs, and particularly Green inside. Bama must protect Green from foul trouble. He has been prone to be to active on the road at the defensive end. For Bama to win, Green and Releford and one other player need to step up. Last game it was Hankerson, before that it was Steele. The Tide may not have a singular player to replace Mitchell but the chemistry was good against Auburn, and the team is confident.
A Tide win gives them 17 for the year. With the remaining schedule the Tide should win more than 20 and get a berth. A loss to LSU makes it much harder. Bama is a 2 point favorite. A 2 point favorite on the road in the SEC. Hard to believe.
MY PICK: BAMA by 1
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| Trent Johnson took Stanford to national prominence. The man can coach... |
On Tuesday night, game one without suspended start Tony Mitchell, saw the Crimson Tide rally around each other to belt Auburn 68-50. It was a good road win. Double meaningful for the Tide who savored the road win, and the victim was a bonus. It keeps the Tide on a clear track for the NCAA. Now the Tide heads to the Bayou for a Saturday game with LSU. You can imagine the welcome the Tide will receive. I'm so excited about his game and the challenges that come with tip-off. Talk about a game of opportunities. I bet Anthony Grant is as nervous as a cat on a hot tin roof, but here is the game the coach can point too and say, "today proves a lot about us as a team." Two good road wins will propel the Tide into next week. Key games with Florida and Tennessee are next.
Friday night finds Bama once again without Tony Mitchell. The petucalent Tide star will sit out his second game of the year. You will remember that it was the suspension of JayMychal Green last season that put the Crimson Tide into a tail spin which eventually led to an NCAA snub. Lost in the fact was Alabama fighting back to have a 12-4 conference record, a win the SEC Western Division. It was a remarkable turnaround for the team. That is the only time a division winner has every been left out in the rain when the field was set for the Big Dance. Like the man said, "so what have you done for us lately?"
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| Grizzard stood on a table and heckled LSU fans after big Tide road win. |
In the first game the Tide beat the Tigers 69-53 in Tuscaloosa. The Tide jumped on the Tigers early and disrupted their game plan. Alabama shot 51% from the floor. If Alabama wins on Saturday they'll have to do without Tony Mitchell's 9 points and 11 rebounds in the first. It will take a joint effort by several players to make up the loss. Game one also a head to head battle between two of the best young points in the league. Releford had a 20 point night and only 2 turnovers as he ran the Bama offense. Anthony Hicky, the reigning Mr. Basketball, had 8 and Releford made his night miserable. Watch that battle.
A Tide win gives them 17 for the year. With the remaining schedule the Tide should win more than 20 and get a berth. A loss to LSU makes it much harder. Bama is a 2 point favorite. A 2 point favorite on the road in the SEC. Hard to believe.
MY PICK: BAMA by 1
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IMHO if we can shoot like we did in awbern, then we will win easily. Otherwise, it will be a tough, close game.
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