Gritty bunch win a key game...
Engstrom and Gueye hold down the middle...
Lacey heats up...
Tide has 15 steals against the Volunteers...
On Selection Sunday if you hear the name Alabama shouted out to America you probably can go back and thank a group of 'Bama players who knocked off Tennessee today 62-50. If you are a Tennessee Volunteer you have to wonder if you will ever beat the Tide in any sport. Saturday afternoon the Vols had there chance. Not only were Alabama's top 2 scorers and rebound leaders were suspended, but Nick Jacobs the # 3 inside Tide player was suffering from a dental surgery. Trevor Releford took a blow to the head in practice and had to sit out a day until the medical tests said he was fine. And finally, Andrew Steele was a little gimpy on a sore ankle suffered near the end of the Florida game. If the roof collapsed on Coleman Coliseum earlier in the day no one would have been surprised. It's been that kind of week.
The Volunteers came into the game with wins in their last four games including a big upset at Florida. You can't blame the 'Vols if they came in cocky. They were playing well, and Alabama was trying to keep their heads above the water. If someone told you on Friday the Tide would win by 12 whispers of "go take your meds" would have been heard. If someone told you that Bama would have been ahead by 17 in the second half you might have been involuntarily committed. Both things happened despite half the key players sitting and watching.
Did you know that Alabama had their lowest number of field goals in a single game making only 17? That was a small fall off from the 18 made earlier in the week against Florida.
Tennessee scored only 25 points in each half. A score in the 40's might have happened if the Tide didn't contest a couple of shots down the stretch.
Alabama won while shooting only 37%. The Tide only took 46 field goals. But Bama made 75% of their free throw attempts 23-30. Releford was 0-2.
Bama caused 17 turnovers and had 15 steals. 15 is a huge number.
The Tide won the battle of the boards 37-31, including 14 offensive boards.
Moussa and Carl combined for 9 points and 11 rebounds. Engstrom had 7 boards. Gueye blocked 6 shots including one by Stokes when the Vols were mounting a comeback in the second half.
Mr. Steady, Andrew Steele had 6 assists including a laser ray pass to Engstrom.
It was a solid team effort. When Bama needed a basket they always seemed to make one. The defense was so intense that Tennessee started to look shaky just inbounding the ball. Bama got 75% of the loose balls. The Crimson was everywhere on defense. Tennessee looked shocked at the pressure that the Tide threw at them in their full court press. The Vols just couldn't get in their offensive flow. Smokey had been going inside for the last four games. They won all four. The couldn't find any consistency with the Twin Towers European Version on the floor. Both Carl and Moussa have come a long way in the last few games In fact, all the players have improved. If Alabama can get their collective act together off the Court all that playing time will give the Tide improved depth.
The defense won the game. Here's what Grant had to say -
“Once again it goes to effort, style of play-wise. We had a tremendous effort on defense, which allowed us to create points off turnovers. We didn’t have a great day shooting but we played well on defense. We created 17 turnovers and 15 of those were steals. We were able to get to the line a lot. You know, Tennessee came in playing well offensively in terms of creating their own shots and making baskets. I think three or four of their players were scoring double-figures the past three games. Their shots didn’t fall and that played well for us on offense and defense.”
So now with an unexpected win which brought the Tide to 17-9 and 6-6. So what's next? Grant hinted a return of Mitchell and Green next week. The Tide has a road game with mecurial Arkansas on Tuesday and then home games with State and Aubie. Can the Tide win three? Maybe. The return of the duo would help on the road and with State. By the way Auburn beat State today.
Saturday nights is one of those games that a real fan will never forget.
Be sure to look at the article on the revamped selection process and how it helps Bama. It's on the upper right just above the ads.
www.tiderinsider.com
Engstrom and Gueye hold down the middle...
Lacey heats up...
Tide has 15 steals against the Volunteers...
On Selection Sunday if you hear the name Alabama shouted out to America you probably can go back and thank a group of 'Bama players who knocked off Tennessee today 62-50. If you are a Tennessee Volunteer you have to wonder if you will ever beat the Tide in any sport. Saturday afternoon the Vols had there chance. Not only were Alabama's top 2 scorers and rebound leaders were suspended, but Nick Jacobs the # 3 inside Tide player was suffering from a dental surgery. Trevor Releford took a blow to the head in practice and had to sit out a day until the medical tests said he was fine. And finally, Andrew Steele was a little gimpy on a sore ankle suffered near the end of the Florida game. If the roof collapsed on Coleman Coliseum earlier in the day no one would have been surprised. It's been that kind of week.
The Volunteers came into the game with wins in their last four games including a big upset at Florida. You can't blame the 'Vols if they came in cocky. They were playing well, and Alabama was trying to keep their heads above the water. If someone told you on Friday the Tide would win by 12 whispers of "go take your meds" would have been heard. If someone told you that Bama would have been ahead by 17 in the second half you might have been involuntarily committed. Both things happened despite half the key players sitting and watching.
Did you know that Alabama had their lowest number of field goals in a single game making only 17? That was a small fall off from the 18 made earlier in the week against Florida.
Tennessee scored only 25 points in each half. A score in the 40's might have happened if the Tide didn't contest a couple of shots down the stretch.
Alabama won while shooting only 37%. The Tide only took 46 field goals. But Bama made 75% of their free throw attempts 23-30. Releford was 0-2.
Bama caused 17 turnovers and had 15 steals. 15 is a huge number.
The Tide won the battle of the boards 37-31, including 14 offensive boards.
Moussa and Carl combined for 9 points and 11 rebounds. Engstrom had 7 boards. Gueye blocked 6 shots including one by Stokes when the Vols were mounting a comeback in the second half.
Mr. Steady, Andrew Steele had 6 assists including a laser ray pass to Engstrom.
It was a solid team effort. When Bama needed a basket they always seemed to make one. The defense was so intense that Tennessee started to look shaky just inbounding the ball. Bama got 75% of the loose balls. The Crimson was everywhere on defense. Tennessee looked shocked at the pressure that the Tide threw at them in their full court press. The Vols just couldn't get in their offensive flow. Smokey had been going inside for the last four games. They won all four. The couldn't find any consistency with the Twin Towers European Version on the floor. Both Carl and Moussa have come a long way in the last few games In fact, all the players have improved. If Alabama can get their collective act together off the Court all that playing time will give the Tide improved depth.
The defense won the game. Here's what Grant had to say -
“Once again it goes to effort, style of play-wise. We had a tremendous effort on defense, which allowed us to create points off turnovers. We didn’t have a great day shooting but we played well on defense. We created 17 turnovers and 15 of those were steals. We were able to get to the line a lot. You know, Tennessee came in playing well offensively in terms of creating their own shots and making baskets. I think three or four of their players were scoring double-figures the past three games. Their shots didn’t fall and that played well for us on offense and defense.”
So now with an unexpected win which brought the Tide to 17-9 and 6-6. So what's next? Grant hinted a return of Mitchell and Green next week. The Tide has a road game with mecurial Arkansas on Tuesday and then home games with State and Aubie. Can the Tide win three? Maybe. The return of the duo would help on the road and with State. By the way Auburn beat State today.
Saturday nights is one of those games that a real fan will never forget.
Be sure to look at the article on the revamped selection process and how it helps Bama. It's on the upper right just above the ads.
www.tiderinsider.com
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