🏀 2021 - '22 Basketball season starts tonight. [ Alabama wins its season opener, 93-64, over La. Tech.

[rocknthefreeworld]

So, I am not much of a basketball fan. I watch Bama off and on and pretty much nothing else. Compared to last year, they looked way more consistent. Bench depth is obviously key in that but the players seemed way more into what Oates was selling than even the team from last year. MIght be a special year.

 

[Rolltide24]

Duke is playing a 7’ 242lbs center, 6’9” 242 lbs forward and a 6’10” 250lbs forward. Big thick guys. Very different from our line-up. Would be an interesting matchup.

 

[TerryP]

So, I am not much of a basketball fan. I watch Bama off and on and pretty much nothing else. Compared to last year, they looked way more consistent. Bench depth is obviously key in that but the players seemed way more into what Oates was selling than even the team from last year. MIght be a special year.

This season we'll work on that.

My viewing habits are different for basketball—collegiate only remains—than they are for football. I'll keep track of a few games but likely won't sit down and watch one unless its specific teams. UK / Duke from last night is an example. UVA's defense is always fun to watch.

"Might be a special year" is a sentence that's intriguing. Last season was a special season. If they repeated what they accomplished last season this year? I'd call it a special season again.

As fans, it'll be a fun season.

 

[TerryP]

Duke is playing a 7’ 242lbs center, 6’9” 242 lbs forward and a 6’10” 250lbs forward. Big thick guys. Very different from our line-up. Would be an interesting matchup.

Take a look at the size Arkansas can put on the court this season.

Saturday, did you happen to catch the bit with Cubelic, Musselman and Conner Vanover (7'3", 220 forward?) It was another reason to hate on Musselman (freakin' blocking pad thing was stupid) if you needed another.

 

[TerryP]

 

[TerryP]

Chris Stewart did call him Hefty Lefty...

I mentioned him earlier mentioning I'd miss seeing Tchikou and how he'd do against his size. I see the combo of Tchikou and Bediako ... a lot of length there, ya know? In a physical game in the paint? I got questions there.

Really nice opening win... Ellis was +37. Davison played really well (12 pts, 6 rebounds, 6 assists). I don't see too many lulls on the offensive end this season, even when the 3's aren't falling. Stay healthy and it'll be another fun year...

Ellis had a solid night only to be beaten out on the "Hard Hat" award by Gary? I was hoping he'd grab one more board last night. We'd have seen two guys with double-double's. (Gary again.)

Back underneath ... loved the offensive boards early.

As a side note...perspective kind of thing.

Whether you think it's too early for Bracketology™ or not I like following these things. I have been since the end of last season.

La. Tech, CUSA team, received almost half of the pre-season votes to win their conference this season. As I recall UAB had eight votes, La Tech had six.

Underlying point here is back to the OOC competition: a real good chance this is a team that dances in March. We've seen season opening wins against some underwhelming competition. That's a solid win over a good ball team.

 

[50+yeartidefan]

I mentioned him earlier mentioning I'd miss seeing Tchikou and how he'd do against his size. I see the combo of Tchikou and Bediako ... a lot of length there, ya know? In a physical game in the paint? I got questions there.




Ellis had a solid night only to be beaten out on the "Hard Hat" award by Gary? I was hoping he'd grab one more board last night. We'd have seen two guys with double-double's. (Gary again.)

Back underneath ... loved the offensive boards early.

As a side note...perspective kind of thing.

Whether you think it's too early for Bracketology™ or not I like following these things. I have been since the end of last season.

La. Tech, CUSA team, received almost half of the pre-season votes to win their conference this season. As I recall UAB had eight votes, La Tech had six.

Underlying point here is back to the OOC competition: a real good chance this is a team that dances in March. We've seen season opening wins against some underwhelming competition. That's a solid win over a good ball team.

I don’t know how good LT is....poor offensive rebounding...poor positioning on O boards....poor 3 pt shooting....( unless it picked up when i called it a nite)..
Maybe...hope bama is that good...

 

[mando]

Did not get to see but the last few minutes of the game will go back and watch tonight. I will say it was good to see a decisive score. Hopefully that reflected how good the team played. Certainly a good start now on to some REALLY tough games with 3 of 4 from last years final four.

 

[PurlJam]

Did not get to see but the last few minutes of the game will go back and watch tonight. I will say it was good to see a decisive score. Hopefully that reflected how good the team played. Certainly a good start now on to some REALLY tough games with 3 of 4 from last years final four.

Ditto.... not too far back this would have been an ugly 53-51 win or loss.

 

[TerryP]

I don’t know how good LT is....poor offensive rebounding...poor positioning on O boards....poor 3 pt shooting....( unless it picked up when i called it a nite)..

A final four NIT team last season who returned all five starters. It's a good ball team.

When you have right at half of the coaches in your conference, CUSA, pick you to win the conference: it's a good ball team.

All that said this is a legitimately good Alabama basketball team.

Check this out:

In the last couple of hours I've watched an intereview with Shack on SECSports.com following last nights win.

On SEC Now, I saw two Alabama players highlighted as part of their 'yearly awards.' It was freshman of the year and most exciting, or impactful, player, I think. Something along those lines; defined as game changers in the end. Davison and Quinnerly were the two they said were the best in the SEC.

In this thread we're talking about the two guys who were the backbone of last nights win: Ellis and Gary.

If one really wants to be picky today out of Gary, Ellis, JQ, Shack, and Davison we'll take Shack out of the group: he might be the result of media availability. That's four other guys on this roster being discussed as the core of the team.

 

[PurlJam]

After watching JD Davison, whew, that kid has got some major skills and will still make some freshman mistakes, but damn he's quick and smooth with the ball. Pretty sure he's a one and done, gonna enjoy watching him this season though.

 

[TerryP]

I don’t know how good LT is....poor offensive rebounding...poor positioning on O boards....poor 3 pt shooting....( unless it picked up when i called it a nite)..
Maybe...hope bama is that good...

I don't think of him as a contributor. I wanted to see what he looked like around a guy like Lofton.

One of the questions I have is based in thinking "we're going to see them run into a team, big underneath, and see foul trouble." If they need minutes, can they get a few from him? I could have seen that last night. Que Será, Será.

 

[rocknthefreeworld]

"Might be a special year" is a sentence that's intriguing. Last season was a special season. If they repeated what they accomplished last season this year? I'd call it a special season again.

That was my point. Last season was special, but we have seen success followed immediately by a drop off ever since Gottfried left. This year being special would indicate the team can maintain or even build on the level of play seen last year. I'd love to be saying it might be a special year every year. Basketball is way different than football in how there are so many one and done guys.

 

[BamaFan334]

I really enjoyed the game. Like others have said, these used to be close games we would need to hit free throws to win, but we played our game and the intensity could be felt from my bedroom as Ellis was a lot of fun to watch. I wish we would watch the turnovers, and I still hate the baseline drive, leaving our feet, and kicking out to the perimeter, but that doesn't appear it will ever stop. If we watch the turnovers, we can be a Top 5 team. It was nice seeing us with some size down low and hitting those shots, but also seeing our guys hit the boards. It was a welcome sight. I can see where Louisiana Tech has some talent and will win some games. 6'7-275 was a big ole boy and he was pretty smooth down low from my perspective. They just couldn't answer a deep roster and the intensity brought to this game. If our guys can charge out of the stall like last night, we gonna have a fun season.

 

[Rolltide24]

Rojas didn’t have any fouls last night? Oh, wait…

 

[Destiny's Child]

I thought the boys looked pretty good last night all things considered. I think once Coach Oats figures out how to use our depth with our defensive pressure we are going to give folks a lot of problems.

I was not super impressed with 0 who was a transfer he struggled getting settled in. 10 is rail thin but long and athletic.. once he gains some confidence I think he will be good.

I was impressed with Gary and his all around effort on the offensive glass and his ability to handle the ball.. I hope he was just cramping and didnt get injured again.

JD, Ellis, JQ and Shack all played well and I also think Miles (if he can give good defensive effort) can be instant offense off the bench.

Overall, we could have put that game away early in the second half, lost our focus and let them cut the lead before pulling away. Our defense and depth is what won the game and as we improve could be a differentiator for us gong forward.

 

[mando]

let them cut the lead

Since I did not get to see it how close did we let them cut it to? Is this a relative thing or was it really getting to butt clenching close?

 

[TerryP]

I was not super impressed with 0 who was a transfer he struggled getting settled in. 10 is rail thin but long and athletic.. once he gains some confidence I think he will be good.

0 - Noah Gurley.

I live in SoCon territory; tend to catch their basketball news often with Wofford, The Citadel, Mercer, Furman, etc. I knew his name before I'd heard anything about the connection and interest to Bama.

He was a strong ball player the three years he was at Furman. All SoCon three times in fact. He's been a 50% guy from the floor, 35% or so from three. A solid player from what I've seen before Bama: 10-12 point a game guy.

He's a role player here, right? Ambrose-Hylton's the other forward there in the rotation. He got a few minutes last night; less than half of Gurley's.

I like his potential this season.

 

[TerryP]

Since I did not get to see it how close did we let them cut it to?

At the beginning of the second half they had a bit of a run and pulled within 12. Within three or four minutes it was back to 15.

 

[TerryP]

@mando

Just scroll through this...

Alabama 93-64 Louisiana Tech (Nov 9, 2021) Play-by-Play - ESPN

Play-by-play action for the Alabama Crimson Tide vs. Louisiana Tech Bulldogs NCAAM game from November 9, 2021 on ESPN.

www.espn.com