Crimson Red Sports

Alabama will return to Tuscaloosa where it begins a two-game homestand on Saturday afternoon when it welcomes the LSU Tigers. It will be the first of two meetings between the common rivals, as the Tide plays the return game in Baton Rouge, La., on Feb. 17 at 8 p.m. CT.

Saturday's game against LSU is officially sold out, which marks the second sellout this season (Kentucky). In addition, the game vs. Auburn on Feb. 27 is also a sellout, which gives the Tide three sellouts on the year. The last time an Alabama team had three or more sellouts in the same season came in 2010-11 (4 sellouts).

http://www.rolltide.com/sports/m-baskbl/spec-rel/012216aaa.html

It will be another very physical game and hopefully Bama has worked on their free throw shooting. LSU has a very good team and a win for Bama here could turn this team around.

LSU's star player, Simmons, is as good as any player in the SEC and you might say anywhere in the country. For those that haven't seen him play, you will be impressed.

Alabama can beat LSU. We have to get some D and Taylor has to stay out of foul trouble. I think Hale & Norris could have big games. Important game for Tide.




 :popcorn2:

A win would be huge! 

Block by Taylor, 3 by Norris. 7-5 LSU. Need to put the D on Simmons. Taylor scores. 7-7.




 :clap:

Norris hustling everywhere. Edwards 3. 14-11 Tide.

We're missing too many shots under the basket. We have great energy & hustle right now. Hale showing more effort around the basket & shooting.

I like seeing we are playing tight in the first half. RTR!

Norris 5 points 6 rebounds, Edwards 14 points, Obasohan 9 points, Taylor 5 points.
Tide 41 LSU 36 Half



 :popcorn2:

Tide 10/14 FT, LSU 4/7  6 point difference for Alabama!!




 :o :o :o :o :o :o :o :o :o :o :o :o :o :o :o :o :o :o 

Tide 41 LSU 36 Half

LSU is a very good team.  Bama is playing well to get a half-time lead.   :clap:

Obasohan with 2 really bad shots in back to back possessions plus he dribbles too much! He's trying to win the game by himself & ends up killing team. Frustrating!!




 :wall: :wall: :wall:

Bama lost 72-70. This was a game we should have won. Our offense in the last two minutes was terrible. We have to get better than this. At the end of the game we played like a team expecting to lose. CAJ has to get some confidence in this team.

We fall to 10-9 on the season and 1-5 id SEC play.

Grant is still installed in the team. 5 years of play is hard to get out in one year. CAJ is going to have to get his recruits in here before we go to winning games. RTR!

Same-old   same-old.  Sad.

Now, for an event bigger than the Super Bowl:



THE GOOD

Points in paint: Tide 18  LSU 14
Personal Fouls: Tide 12  LSU 19
3 point shooting: 10/25  40%
Norris 10 points 10 rebounds
Sold out 15,000 +
7 blocked shots


THE BAD

4 players played over 30 minutes each
Tide using 7 man rotation
Rebounds: Tide 34  LSU 39
Obasohan dribbling too much
Coleman 1/6 FG's
FT 12/19 Tide


AND THE UGLY

Losing like this in front of sellout of 15,000 at home
Offensive ineptness in last one or two minutes of game
Tide 1-5 in SEC




http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AkxckKWHBcM

Adding to MD's post:

GOOD
Edwards 14 1st half points
Offensive rebounds Bama 13 LSU 12

Bad
Shot 39% from the field in 2nd haf
Edwards 3 2nd half points
Fast Break Points Bama 2 LSU 10
8 Points from the bench
Hale 2 for 10 from field, 1 for 8 on 3 pointers
Kessens 3 points
1st win for LSU in Tuscaloosa since 2004

UGLY
Last field goal was with 3:25 to play
Only 1 point the final 3:25 (Obasohan FT)

Edwards is an example of our extreme inconsistency. A player will be hot in the 1st half, but disappear in the 2nd. Playing basically a 7 man rotation leads to few bench points but also leads to tired players, which might impact play late in the game. I think the offense may have stalled at the end because Obasohan tried to take over the game and spent way too much time dribbling & looking for a shot. Was that CAJ's idea because it led to everyone standing around watching Obas. Not sure what happened but we need everyone moving & looking for a shot.

You know it takes a mindset to play Basketball just like football. It will take a year or 2 to get the Grant BB out of these guys. RTR!

It was another "almost " game as Bama came very close to beating a very good team. I have to give LSU some credit for accepting the challenge that Bama gave them and doing what all good basketball teams do in a close game, apply good pressure and make your shots, free throws and field goals.

I applaud the Bama team as well for accepting the LSU challenge yesterday and almost pulling out a huge win. Bama should have won the game but went stone cold shooting the last 3 minutes of the game which usually gets any team beat in a close game. I was proud of them though as I watched the look of agony on their faces as the final second ticked off the clock. I was sad for the team, especially Obasohan as he tried in desperation to get off a good shot as the clock ticked away.

Bama is a team of very average players that CAJ and staff are trying their best to develop into a respectable basketball team. CAJ played and coached in the NBA and knows what it takes to be a championship player and team but regardless of how much you know, you have to have the caliber of players that you can teach those needed skills to. I watch him during the games as he is constantly coaching the players on both ends of the floor. He keeps his composure with them when the mistakes happen but is very demonstrative in showing them how they should do it. The players seem very confused at times with the level of play that they are trying to learn. I am not trying to belittle the players at all but just trying to make a point that they are not ready for his style of coaching due to their lack of good skills. CAJ and staff are trying their best to teach these young men but they need some time and I can promise you, they will become better players. I can see some big improvement already in some of them but there are some that have a way to go.

The SEC, as a conference, seems to be  much improved this year, something that it hasn't been for the past few years. Bama's conference record this year isn't very good but they have lost to some good teams and beat the #1 conference team at that time, South Carolina, in a blowout. Does this mean Bama is a good team and should be beating the other teams that they have lost to, no. It only means that Bama is good enough to pull off some upsets at times. Time is the main ingredient in the recipe for Bama to become a good team and I'm not talking about a week or two. Bama will win some more games this season but they won't win any championships, yet. I use the yet word because I believe at this point and time next year, Bama will be much improved and in the hunt for those championships.

CAJ is doing his best to try and give us fans the winning team that he promised but I don't think CAJ realized the quality of the players that CAG left him when he made those promises. I applaud him and his staff for their efforts in trying to develop this team but sometimes it just isn't meant to be in a short term and this season is one of them. It's like the old saying that we've all heard or said, "just wait until next year." ;) RTR!!!   

I've said before that the Grant Effect could take at least 2-3 years to flush away. I know fans are hoping for immediate results but it's going to take time. I find it frustrating, too, but expect better down the road.



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