Crimson Red Sports

With 4 games to go in their regular season, 2 at home and 2 on the road, and then the SEC tournament following, can this Bama team find a way to make it to the Big Dance. There are some saying it is possible and there are more saying it is very doubtful. The SEC is not as strong of a conference this year as it has been in past years but there are some saying that it is very possible for 5 teams from the conference to make it to the tournament. As we all know, the SEC will get no favors from the Tournament Committee as history will support that and Bama will have to almost win the last 4 games of their regular season to get any kind of possibility of getting in. I say that in realizing of the things that have happened in the selections of past years.

There is one difference in the team this year that might add some weight to the decision making of the committee, Avery Johnson. CAJ has gotten a lot of love from the game commentators all season and even yesterday, Dick Vital was praising CAJ and how he will bring the program back to the top again. That is high praises coming from the right places that might give the team a little slack when the selections begin.

CAJ has had his hands full this year in trying to get the team to perform to their capabilities. The team has looked awful for the most part this year with less than average shooting and turnovers. If the team had been just an average team in shooting their free throws, I think they would have won enough games, Kentucky in mind, that would have them solid in making the tournament. That is all hindsight though and something good needed to happen for the team to find some new energy and possibly win their way in and maybe that has happened.

Bama played LSU yesterday, a team that isn't that good and Bama was favored by 13 points. This year, point spreads hasn't meant much to the team especially if they were favored, because of their up and down performances. CAJ has addressed his decisions to change the practices to help at the free throw line but how do you correct the turnovers, that is basically mental issues. Well, he did something that most fans have been asking for for a long time, he indefinitely suspended Hale. There was one other thing that CAJ changed as well. Mama has seemed to be a better team on the road than they have been at home all year for what ever reason. I stated earlier that turnovers are usually mental mistakes and why is it that the team plays better on the road than they do at home. My opinion is they are in an indifferent environment when they are on the road prior to the game, a hotel. It sounds a little crazy but CAJ picked up on this and the team stayed in a hotel Friday night instead of at their own place of living. Did it make a difference yesterday, I think it did. The team played with an intensity, on both ends of the court, that the fans have not seen in Coleman this year. Granted that LSU is not a very good team but Bama has struggled at home all season regardless of who they were playing.

This being said, we can only wait for the next home games to come and see how the team responds to the changes on the team. Will the team stay in a hotel for the next home game, I think so because they won so convincingly and coaches  are a little superstitious when it comes to winning and losing. Bama has win both home games and winning one on the road would be great as well. I think it would then boil down to how many Bama can win in the SEC tournament, maybe one would do it.

Anyway, for a team that seemed to have no chance in making the Big Dance this year, there is now some hope it might just happen. The team, as a whole, got a glimpse of how well they are capable of playing yesterday and they need to ask themselves, did the changes that CAJ made make that difference in their level of play. They need to buy into anything at this point in time that seems to make a difference regardless of what it is. I also think that the removal of the cancer on the team, Hale, might have been a big factor as well. JMHO 

I think we have a chance to make the NCAA Tournament but we must play more consistent than we have all year.

I have been saying for awhile I expect us to finish 11-7 in SEC play 18-12 overall. That means we go 2-2 to finish the regular season. Win two games in the SEC Tourney and we are on the NCAA bubble at 20-13. All four remaining games (UGA, @ A&M, Ole Miss, @ UT) are winnable. If we go 3-1 finishing the regular season 12-6 19-11 we are on the bubble with one SECT win and in with two SECT wins. If we win all four 13-5 20-10 I think we are in regardless of the SECT.

Which team shows up to play UGA at home on Thursday. The team that looked terrible but found a way to win at Mizzou or the team that played their best game of the year against LSU yesterday. A&M looked good against the barners yesterday. This will be a difficult road trip with a quick turn around after a Thursday game.

The TV announcers yesterday said 4 SEC teams would get in and maybe a 5th. They showed a chart with UK, FLA & USCe in. Arkansas and Alabama in the next block with work to do and Ole Miss in the third block as unlikely. No other teams mentioned. We need to finish ahead of Arkansas for several reasons. They hold the tie breaker on us beating us badly at their place. The top 4 teams get a bye until Friday in the SECT. We need to be in the top 4.

Just last week the discussion was will we make the NIT. What a diffience a week and two wins make.

It was announced yesterday that Senior Shannon Hale has been suspended from the team.   :clap: I think this is a positive move by CAJ. Hale did not play hard and made stupid mistakes when he got in the game. The technical he got in OT against USCe almost took away our best road win in years.

CAJ let them play yesterday. It wasn't all "half court, run the clock down" type of game. They were loose , having fun, and it showed. They did a great job of getting the ball to the big men for easy baskets. They also got into some rhythm and made some outside shots.

In the post game interview, CAJ hinted that we might see more of that. I hope so. I think that style of ball will give them a fighting chance to make it to the dance.

It's always fun when you can hit 3 pointers. Hitting from the perimeter opens up the interior (around the basket). Before we all get carried away, LSU has lost 13 straight. They ain't UK or Florida, for sure. Can we win the next 4 straight, I think so, but it won't be easy. I think we were doing great in driving to the basket & cutting down on our 3 point shot attempts in previous games. We need a combination of driving the ball, 3 pointers, and rebounding. We can do it if the guys step up their intensity. Finally, why was Hale suspended?

Conduct detrimental to the team.


http://www.al.com/alabamabasketball/index.ssf/2017/02/alabama_forward_shannon_hale_s.html#incart_river_index

We need Ar'Mond Davis to play like he did yesterday. In recent weeks he is getting more playing time. He was huge in the 4 OT win at South Carolina. He played well again yesterday. Sometimes it is hard for a JUCO transfer to fit right in. I think the team and Ar'Mond are getting comfortable with each other.

Well I know when we played BB it was more fun when Coach Robinson let us go play and have fun. When he put us in that pass and pass offense for burning time it was dull as crap. Playing right out and shooting 3's and drop it in to the low men in the paint it is really good. RTR!

I wonder if he had an attitude problem or was a problem in the locker room?


 :dunno:

It's been a disappointing up and down season, but tournament or not I'm pleased with what CAJ is doing. The team has played hard and hasn't given up during the stretches where they were losing more than winning.  In reality this team lacks elite talent and I think they've overachieved.

The core of this team will be back next year more experienced and more familiar with each other and CAJ. And there are some pretty good recruits coming in too.  I think by next year the team will be ready to challenge for a top-3 spot in the SEC and be a sweet-16 caliber team.

Jerry Palm with CBS Bracketology has us in his "last four in". We are an 11 seed playing Rhode Island in the East Regional play in game in his most recent projections.

http://www.cbssports.com/collegebasketball/bracketology

Good points. Returning players of note are Ingram, Key, & Norris. Plus, Davis & Hall who could contribute. The jury is still out on Johnson, Jr. Plus, a highly ranked class of 5 players.



 :clap: :clap: :clap:

It will be nice if we can get to that point and play R.I. and get in the Big Dance. RTR!

That would be more than fine with me. I think just getting to the Dance this year would be a huge step for this team. If we can get that nod, get a win in the playoff game, and then MAYBE pull one off in the next round, that would be a great way to go into next season.

That'd be a gift.  TAKE IT NOW.

Right, we need to win the next 4 games, then win at least one in the tournament.  Can we do that?  I'm dubious, but hopeful.

 :popcorn2:

I think winning 3 of last four and getting to semifinals of SEC Tournament is realistic, and would be just enough to get in.

I don't get to see us play so I don't know about the real chances of winning out or anything but I sure would love to see us in the Big Dance wherever we could get. RTR!

Still a long way to go.  Bama was put in by one commentator after Syracuse lost to GT and was taken out, but Syracuse beat Duke last night.   ???