Crimson Red Sports

Anyone heard anything about how Jacobs shoulder is doing?

Cecil Hurt said a few weeks ago the injury was minor and he will be good to go this season. He was seen with a arm in a sling and the rumor got started kind of like AJ wearing a boot before the VT game.

I really like the potential of a game with Duke at MSG. How many starters to we have returning this season?

We have a good group coming back. Three starters return. I excited about this years team. We have three new comers that should help out the vets.

The 2013-14 Alabama men's basketball season is officially underway as the team held its first two practices of the year at Coleman Coliseum.

The Crimson Tide's first official practice was held on Saturday, Sept. 28, with the second session of the new season on Monday afternoon in the basketball practice facility.

New NCAA rules for this season moved the start of team practice earlier in the fall - from 30 days prior to the first game of the season to 42 days. The Crimson Tide's first game will be on Nov. 8 in Dallas, Texas against Oklahoma.

Here is an update on a couple of former Bama players:

JaMychal Green has been signed by the Clippers and is fighting to get a roster spot. http://www.al.com/alabamabasketball/index.ssf/2013/10/jamychal_green_fighting_for_an.html

Buck Johnson to oversee athlectics for Birmingham City Schools. Buck was a great college player for Bama under Wimp Sanderson. http://highschoolsports.al.com/news/article/562167525801678627/breaking-birmingham-city-schools/#incart_flyout_hssports

Anyone heard anything about how Jacobs shoulder is doing?

I listened to Chris Stewart's talk show today and the were duscussing the baskeball team. They said the first practice went very well and up tempo. There was nothing mentioned about any injuries. They did talk about the two transfers that have to sit out this year and was very impressed with their game. They felt like having to practice against them will help a lot in team preparation.

I received my invite to a team practice and dinner with the team yesterday, October 22nd, I'm really looking forward to it.

Junior Rodney Cooper will play more of a small forward role after playing power forward a year ago. Junior Levi Randolph could play "any of the three perimeter positions," Grant said.

Then there's junior Nick Jacobs.

Expect to see him more at his natural power forward position after transforming his body in the offseason.

Grant estimates he lost between 25-30 pounds and is much more mobile on the floor.

"I think he's made a commitment physically to get himself where he needs to be to help our team and do what he's capable of doing," Grant said.

The Tide will also get junior Carl Engstrom back at full strength after tearing both his ACL and MCL. The 7-foot-1 center was starting before the early-season injury a year ago. Grant said his recovery moved faster than expected and he was fully cleared over the summer.

This Alabama team isn't going to be what it could've been because Trevor Lacey -- the only Crimson Tide player to start every game last season -- transferred to North Carolina State this summer, and because Devonta Pollard -- a former five-star recruit -- got caught up in a kidnapping scheme and withdrew from school. That's a pair of one-time heralded Alabama signees who are now out of the program earlier than anybody could've reasonably anticipated, and it's a setback as Anthony Grant enters his fifth season in Tuscaloosa. But there's still enough on the roster -- like Trevor Releford, Rodney Cooper and Levi Randolph -- to keep Alabama in the top half of the SEC, and, if things break properly, Grant could find himself in the NCAA tournament for the second time in three seasons.