🏀 Alabama Men’s Basketball Defeats Mississippi State, 71-62

[BamaFan334]

Good win for our boys. Gotta win these types of games and the ones we should win, and we're in the tournament in my eyes.

 

[TheChief]

Tough road ahead. Twenty regular season wins...used to mean much. Losses to Kentucky, South Carolina, and another to Auburn and the Tide would be forced to win the remaining games to win 20 in the regular season. Two wins in the SEC Tourney and they would be 22-11 and maybe make the field.

Tennessee looks really good right now, maybe the best coached team in the league, all things considered. That ugly orange is considerably better than they were in December. Right now, I don't see us winning that game.

Barring a win over either Kentucky or South Carolina, or winning all the remaining games save for those two, I think this team lands in the NIT.

 

[TUSKtimes]

Every time I see this Kentucky group get hit in the mouth this season they fold. Kansas beat them with toughness and experience. Turning over 7 or 8 players every year isn't exactly winning NCs for Calipari.

 

[UA Press Release]

Alabama Men’s Basketball Defeats Mississippi State, 71-62


TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – The Alabama men's basketball team outscored Mississippi State 14-4 over the game's final six-plus minutes to pull out a 71-62 victory over Mississippi State in front of a sellout Coleman Coliseum crowd on Saturday night. With the win, the Tide improved to 13-7 on the season and 6-2 in Southeastern Conference play, which marks its best start in league play since the 2012-13 campaign.

"This was a hard fought victory for us tonight," Alabama head coach Avery Johnson said. "We had stretches where we really looked like a good basketball team and then we had stretches where we were playing around with the basketball. A couple of fast break opportunities we didn't convert and that is one of the reasons why we shot 32 percent from the field. But the flip side of that is we made our free throws tonight and this was a great night for us to make them.

"We have a lot of work to do, give Mississippi State credit. I told our team they are a much better basketball team then the one we played the first time. So fortunately, we were able to battle. We didn't rebound the ball well tonight and that is problematic. But it keeps us focused and humble. We will get back to the drawing board on Monday, they have earned a day off (Sunday), and we will see what happens in the next one."

The Tide set season highs in free throws attempted (36), free throws made (31) and free throw percentage (86 percent) en route to the nine-point victory. Redshirt freshman Dazon Ingram, who entered the contest as a 60-percent free throw shooter, went 12-of-12 from the line on his way to 15 points. Freshman Braxton Key led the Tide with 19 points while adding nine rebounds. Junior Riley Norris added 13 points, while senior Bola Olaniyan had a game-high 11 rebounds.

Alabama got out to a slow start including a three-minute stretch without a field goal. After trailing 13-12 midway through the first half, the Tide took its first lead of the night, 17-15, on a Riley Norris three-pointer with 8:10 to play. The teams then traded baskets with neither gaining more than a three-point lead. Alabama ended the half with a 10-2 run over the final 2:50 to turn a 24-27 deficit into a 34-29 lead at the break.

The Tide went a perfect 11-of-11 from the free throw line in the first 20 minutes and outrebounded the Bulldogs, 20-17. Alabama held Mississippi State (13-7, 4-4 SEC) to just 35 percent shooting, but struggled itself, shooting just 38 percent from the field and turning the ball over nine times.

Alabama kept up the momentum out of the break with a 7-0 run over the first 3:37 of the second half, but then went cold and failed to make a field goal for nearly five minutes. The Bulldogs took advantage, using a 17-5 run over a span of 4:14 to take a 58-57 lead with 6:05 to play. However, Key immediately answered with a three-point basket that began a run of 13 consecutive points by Alabama to take control of the game.

The Tide stayed perfect when holding the opposition to 62 points or less, improving to 12-0 in such contests. Alabama's defense collected seven blocks and scored 23 points off 18 Mississippi Staate turnovers.

Lamar Peter led Mississippi State with 13 points, while Schnider Herard ended with 12.

Alabama will travel to Arkansas for the lone meeting between the schools this year on Wednesday, Feb. 1. The Tide, which is 3-1 on the road in conference play, will tipoff against the Razorbacks at 6 p.m. CT on SEC Network.

 

[TerryP]

Turning over 7 or 8 players every year isn't exactly winning NCs for Calipari.

I don't see any UK fans complaining. I wouldn't be either.

Cal is in his eighth year in Lexington and if we look back at the past seven his teams have made it to the Elite 8 five of those seven years, four of those five years UK was in the Final Four, and two of those four years they are in the NC game (winning one.)

What he's doing is working.

 

[TUSKtimes]

I don't see any UK fans complaining. I wouldn't be either.

Cal is in his eighth year in Lexington and if we look back at the past seven his teams have made it to the Elite 8 five of those seven years, four of those five years UK was in the Final Four, and two of those four years they are in the NC game (winning one.)

What he's doing is working.

I don't see any UK fans period, so there is that. One NC with the talent on hand says it's been hard to finish what you start with freshman. And short of a major overhaul in attitude and toughness, I don't see it this year either. Cal likes to compare his program with Alabama football. The answer would then be, finish what you start.

 

[TerryP]

I don't see any UK fans period, so there is that. One NC with the talent on hand says it's been hard to finish what you start with freshman. And short of a major overhaul in attitude and toughness, I don't see it this year either. Cal likes to compare his program with Alabama football. The answer would then be, finish what you start.

You and I see UK completely differently. They do have their issues with youth but I didn't see that as the biggest contributor to the loss last night. In my eyes their struggles have come when they don't set their half-court offense. Sure, they can score 25-30 points a night in transition but if they don't establish that half-court game...they're looking at a three or four seed. That sucks, doesn't it? :devil: :sarcasm:

There's no doubt Kansas closed down the stretch. That shouldn't be a shock, to anyone. Hell, out of their starting five they've got two Jr's and two Sr's. The oldest guy starting at UK was their PG; a sophomore.

 

[TUSKtimes]

You and I see UK completely differently. They do have their issues with youth but I didn't see that as the biggest contributor to the loss last night. In my eyes their struggles have come when they don't set their half-court offense. Sure, they can score 25-30 points a night in transition but if they don't establish that half-court game...they're looking at a three or four seed. That sucks, doesn't it? :devil: :sarcasm:

There's no doubt Kansas closed down the stretch. That shouldn't be a shock, to anyone. Hell, out of their starting five they've got two Jr's and two Sr's. The oldest guy starting at UK was their PG; a sophomore.

The better teams will get you slowed down. When Kansas went to their zone look the derby was over. You would think Kentucky could unlock the mystery with their shooters but Monk, Fox, Willis, and company are disappearing. Even a much smaller Tennessee team was able to dominate the wildcats inside.

 

[TerryP]

The better teams will get you slowed down. When Kansas went to their zone look the derby was over. You would think Kentucky could unlock the mystery with their shooters but Monk, Fox, Willis, and company are disappearing. Even a much smaller Tennessee team was able to dominate the wildcats inside.

Again, we're seeing this differently.

I look at a one rebound difference between the two and I don't see being UT beind dominate inside. There were four of five more FG's that UT made inside of the paint--hardly dominate there either, in my opinion.

I'd readily agree UK would have been better off going to the post and then kicking it out but they didn't. They did have a lot of success with their big man--seven for eight, or eight for nine in FG's. When they've fed the big man inside and kicked it out to the likes of Fox, Willis, et. al., they are having more success. No doubt.

The difference in that game came in two areas. One, UK shooting 25% from the three point line and having 14 turnovers.

 

[RTB X Bot]

 

[TerryP]

^^^

 

[alagator]

Off topic question.

Does anyone know what's going on with Nick King?

 

[Max]

Off topic question.

Does anyone know what's going on with Nick King?

I've read some posts around different boards that say it is a leg injury. TIFWIW.

 

[TerryP]

I've read some posts around different boards that say it is a leg injury. TIFWIW.

Hale has a lower leg issue. King is dealing with a lung infection that's resulted in him dropping weight (more than a pound or two.) He's under an antibiotic regime now ... no time set for his return.

 

[TUSKtimes]

Again, we're seeing this differently.

I look at a one rebound difference between the two and I don't see being UT beind dominate inside. There were four of five more FG's that UT made inside of the paint--hardly dominate there either, in my opinion.

I'd readily agree UK would have been better off going to the post and then kicking it out but they didn't. They did have a lot of success with their big man--seven for eight, or eight for nine in FG's. When they've fed the big man inside and kicked it out to the likes of Fox, Willis, et. al., they are having more success. No doubt.

The difference in that game came in two areas. One, UK shooting 25% from the three point line and having 14 turnovers.

What business does Tennessee have with their size dominating this team in the paint? You just brushed off what ails this team, toughness, and defense. The stat of the game would have been that the vols were able to outscore the cats 42-28 inside the paint.

Kansas again challenged the freshmen's toughness and they weren't up for a fist fight, again. Toughness, defense, ugh.

 

[TerryP]

What business does Tennessee have with their size dominating this team in the paint? You just brushed off what ails this team, toughness, and defense. The stat of the game would have been that the vols were able to outscore the cats 42-28 inside the paint.

Kansas again challenged the freshmen's toughness and they weren't up for a fist fight, again. Toughness, defense, ugh.

I'm not brushing off anything. I'm seeing this differently than you.

Like I said earlier in this thread. It's true UT scored five or six more buckets inside the paint than UK. BUT, there's only a difference of one when it comes to rebounding totals. That's hardly domination--that's two teams playing evenly.

The difference in this game came outside the arc. UK had close to 15 more attempts at 3, but there was only a difference of one when it came to 3's made.

Kentucky had 15 or so turnovers and UT didn't break double digits in that stat.

If there's one thing UK did consistently against UT it was with their feet--toes specifically. I can't tell you how many jump shots I saw where one of the 'Cats were falling back with their toes pointed to the ceiling. Bad form leads to bad shooting leads to ... well, we saw. UK chalks another up on the right column.

You describe the difference between Kansas and Kentucky as toughness. I see it as a mental focus issue which led to turnovers. But, that's expected; or at least should be, right? On one hand we've got a Jayhawk roster filled with upper classman vs the youth in Lexington. One group, with experience, knew how to finish ... and on that point, we agree.

 

[TheChief]

What's a bit disappointing, or maybe encouraging with the class AJ has coming in, is that Kentucky can basically be at minimum a Great 8 team every season with primarily freshmen. And, maybe win the tournament once a decade.

That makes me wonder exactly how much development is really worth in the big scheme of things. I guess if it comes down to two versus four the one with the most experience wins... most of the time. However, if you're good at basketball, you're good as a freshman? Projects don't work?

Auburn - much younger than Bama
Tennessee - much younger than Bama
Kentucky - much younger than Bama

We'll see how those three go. We got round one already with Auburn. Hopefully home court is worth 21.

 

[TerryP]

is that Kentucky can basically be at minimum a Great 8 team every season with primarily freshmen

Kentucky is playing hockey now with frosh? :naughtydevil:

That makes me wonder exactly how much development is really worth in the big scheme of things

When you sign five guys who are in the top 15-20 in the nation, year in and year out, it's easy to see why they are having the success they do. There is no denying Cal can recruit.

 

[TheChief]

Kentucky is playing hockey now with frosh? :naughtydevil:

Great eight, elite eight... hey, I'm a Bama fan. What do we know about basketball and finals?

When you sign five guys who are in the top 15-20 in the nation, year in and year out, it's easy to see why they are having the success they do. There is no denying Cal can recruit.

Exactly right. Who needs development?

 

[Sgt. Lincoln Osiris]

Aye, I thought this was a thread about ALABAMA beating MSU?

GTFO with this Kentucky shit.