Much of the excitement about the upcoming 2011-12 University of Alabama basketball season is based on a strong core of returning players, something that both JaMychal Green and Tony Mitchell talked about after Tuesday night's Tuscaloosa Tip-off Club team banquet. But even with those two stars and more coming back, the departing senior class will be tougher to replace than statistics might indicate.
That was evident both from the awards selected by the Crimson Tide coaching staff and the post-banquet highlight film, which put the senior group - Chris Hines, Senario Hillman and Charvez Davis, as well as walk-on Juastin Luquire - in perspective.
While it was Mitchell, Green and freshman point guard Trevor Releford making the spectacular plays, time and again it was the quiet contribution of Hines, Hillman and Davis that made the difference.
Both Mitchell and Green talked about their decisions to forego any professional aspirations and instead try to be the same sort of leaders for next year's Crimson Tide team.
"Just watching the (highlight) video made me think that," Green said. "I've been concentrating on finishing the semester strong, but it made me think about my senior year. I am ready to get started."
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