Crimson Red Sports

Alabama played well but needs falls to Arizona in the closing 2 minutes. Our young team needs to learn how to close out a game. We led 40-38 at the half. We lead for most of the 2nd half. We were tied with 2 minutes to go.

Arizona is very good. They have a freshman big guy who is 7-1 250 lbs. He scored 29 points and had 18 rebounds. They shoot the ball as good as I have seen. They shot 51% from the field and were 8-16 on three pointers.

We played well. Sexton scored 30 points and was 15-16 from the FT line. Hall got a double double with 15 points and 12 boards. Petty had 13, Ingram 10 and Giddens 8. As a team we were 24-28 from the line for 86%. We were 10-24 from 3 point line with Petty hitting 4-10 and Sexton 3-6.

We have a long break for finals before playing Mercer in Huntsville. Key should be back by then.

Game Story: http://www.al.com/alabamabasketball/index.ssf/2017/12/strong_showing_from_alabama_in.html#incart_river_index

Box Score LinK: http://www.rolltide.com/documents/2017/12/10//ALA_ARZ_Final.pdf

We missed Key last night. We are not getting much from Norris. Too much hanging around the 3 point line and not aggressive on the boards. He is a good defender. We are best when we have Hall and Giddens in the game at the same time right now. I think a line-up of Sexton, Petty, Ingram, Hall and Key will be very effective with all 5 being scorers. That will give us Giddens, Norris and Jones as first off the bench. Giddens and Norris are not helping Hall on the glass. Key averaged 6 boards last year. Ingram at 6-5 is very aggressive on the glass. He got 7 boards last night.

We have Mercer in Huntsville on 12-19 and Texas in B'ham on 12/22 left before conference play begins. We need both of those games.

After last nights game we are 7-3. We have played a very difficult schedule. Our RPI is 26. Our strength of schedule is 10.

As a comparison Auburn is 8-1. Their RPI is 62 and their SOS is 222.

 :clap: :clap: this news pmull does not worry me like it use to. We can make the Big Dance with losses like Duke had yesterday with our schedule if we come through conference play in good shape. TY sire for this information. RTR!

I thought their big men were the difference.  The one could shoot from inside and out.  He even hit a 3 pointer.

They played two 7 footers together most of the night. Ayton is the 7-1 250 lb center that hurt us. He played 36 minutes and scored 29 points. He hit several 12-15 ft jump shoots and one 3 pointer but he was a force around the basket. Hard to believe he is a freshman.

Trier, the 6-5 junior guard hurt us just as bad. He had 25 points, 14-16 from the line along with 6 assists. They said Ayton is expected to be the #1 player taken in the draft. Trier is a first rounder. That was no ordinary team we were playing. They were very much like a Kentucky team. Big front line with very good guards.

We played very well and I thought we were going to win.  We had some poor shot selection by the pups in the final minutes that cost us the game.  They will learn to make better choices as the season goes along.  I fully expect us to make the tournament and be competitive, especially after Key returns.  I think we will be a Sweet 16 team at least, and who knows what will happen by the time those pups get a full year of experience under their belts.

And Donta Hall is having a monster year.  He made some key free throws last night too.

I do love hearing the explanation by you all who got to watch it. TY to you all. RTR!

I thought both teams played well.  Arizona was pre-season #3 based on the talent on their team.  Hard to win on the road against that talent; Bama was 2 minutes away from a win but couldn't finish. 

I really like how much Hale has improved under CAJ.

Bama has a young, talented team now.  They just need to keep on learning. 

Hall's development into a dominant force has been my favorite part of this season. Sexton is fun, but he's one and done; we knew that from that start. Hall has worked hard and become a great player.

This is only the first of the year. When these guys learn to play together and have experience they will be a good team. RTR!

We are off due to final exams until the 19th. After 10 games where are we?


RPI 27
SOS 9
Record 7-3 No bad losses and several good wins.

We play Mercer (113 RPI) on the 19th in Huntsville and Texas (88 RPI) on the 22nd to close out the non-conference schedule before SEC play begins against Texas A&M at home on 12/30.

I think with Key coming back, we'll see a stronger team. We'll need him against Texas and then the conference games. I hope Petty can find the form that he had in earlier games. That would give Bama a 4 headed monster with Sexton, Petty, Key and Hall. Ingram is usually a solid player on top of that, and with AJ Jr and company, we have depth off the bench for the first time in years.

Think I'll buckle up.

I believe we are getting there. After this length of time under the other guy we were wonder if we would ever win again. Now we have hope of big things. Lot more fun. RTR!

I agree with Hall playing better this year.  He seems to be more confident with the ball in his hands.  I wish he would develop that 12-15 foot jump shot.

I'm just happy he can hit the 2-3 footer this year.  :lol2:

Hall has developed some touch around the basket. I am equally impressed with his free throw shooting. He was a 40% shooter last year. This year his shot looks better and his percentage is way up. Getting 8-12 points a game from him in SEC play would be huge.