| MBB/WBB Alabama Secures Seventh Consecutive Home Victory Over a Ranked Foe with 83-79 Win Over No. 22 Mississippi State

[#80]

If you listen to CAJ's interview with SECN he made an interesting comment he said we have another 2-3 levels to go to but it's not time yet.

 

[TerryP]

If you listen to CAJ's interview with SECN he made an interesting comment he said we have another 2-3 levels to go to but it's not time yet.

Johnson: 'We were resilient'

 

[BamaFan334]

Great great win! We allowed Mississippi State back in, but we dominated the game. Mississippi State's defense appeared inpenetrable with how the could spread out, but appear to leave very little open space. Our boys are scoring more points and last night showed we can put up points. Mississippi State is a very scrappy team, so it was amazing to see us hang and weather their comeback.

The crazy thing here is they scored over 50 points from the paint last night. (A lot like the approach to Baylor.) What makes it even more strange is when we consider how many offensive rebounds State pulled down.

We can play with anyone. If my memory serves me correctly, we have been in every single game this year, and have given away atleast three games. Our free throw percentage wad great in the first half, but boy did we drop off in the second half. We must get better here. We'll eventually need those extra points.

I thought about this earlier and I'm not sure if I remember the numbers correctly. In the second half they were 13 of 24 (vs 9-12 in the first half) but most importantly is how they closed. I want to say they made 7 of their last 10.

Needed: A big man to back up Hall. "Letting them back in the game" happens to coincide with Hall being pulled due to the number of fouls early in the second half.

Is Daniel Giddens hurt, or did he simply fall behind Galin Smith and Alex Reese? Reese can shoot the three ball, so he is a little different.

 

[50+yeartidefan]

I watched and have been to Bama home game....
....you arent going to win anything if you cant convert at the charity stripe
....you have to control the Defensive boards...
....you have to take good shots when you are open....
....you got to quit giving the ball away on stupid turnovers...
That Game almost slipped away with msu getting offensive rebounds and bamas poor free throw shooting.... just luck msu shot poorly from charity stripe....late in game... see how game goes in Starkville in a couple of weeks...
I don’t understand how college recruited bball players shoot so poorly.... bricks..
Look like shooting concrete blocks from charity stripe
My take from my (somewhat limited, I know).... observation

 

[TerryP]

@BamaFan334, the last I recall hearing about an injury with DG was against Auburn in the SECT last year (unless I've missed something. Lord knows it was a LONG night.)

Just passed in the rotation is likely the most accurate descriptor. They're not getting a lot out of Galin to date as well. Is it because both are looking so far up when it comes to Hall? I'd say it's worth consideration.

 

[BamaFan334]

@BamaFan334, the last I recall hearing about an injury with DG was against Auburn in the SECT last year (unless I've missed something. Lord knows it was a LONG night.)

Just passed in the rotation is likely the most accurate descriptor. They're not getting a lot out of Galin to date as well. Is it because both are looking so far up when it comes to Hall? I'd say it's worth consideration.

I felt Smith has played well the last two games, and I even feel Giddons played well for us last year. I definitely thought with a year of development he would be a great player for us. He's like 6'11 and built like Patrick Young for the Florida gators, muscle man. Couldn't hurt to throw him out there if he is healthy.

 

[TUSKtimes]

We've made a habit of late 10 point leads this season with various results. It would seem prudent to play more small ball with the late lead. Why not have AJ Jr. come in for ball control? We seem to be having way too many turnovers when the heat is on and another senior guard out there makes sense to me.

 

[TerryP]

We've made a habit of late 10 point leads this season with various results. It would seem prudent to play more small ball with the late lead. Why not have AJ Jr. come in for ball control? We seem to be having way too many turnovers when the heat is on and another senior guard out there makes sense to me.

AJ Jr. has been the best ball control guy to date.

What's interesting to me is Bama is 3rd in the conference in turnovers and they are spread out pretty evenly among those contributing.

I'll post some of the things compiled here soon...but it's also noteworthy how this team has improved on offense in spite of what some fans suggest. KenPom has Bama at #39 on adjusted offense the highest ranking in CAJ's tenure.

 

[TUSKtimes]

AJ Jr. has been the best ball control guy to date.

What's interesting to me is Bama is 3rd in the conference in turnovers and they are spread out pretty evenly among those contributing.

I'll post some of the things compiled here soon...but it's also noteworthy how this team has improved on offense in spite of what some fans suggest. KenPom has Bama at #39 on adjusted offense the highest ranking in CAJ's tenure.

It's been more than painful to watch our guys coming down the stretch this season. I still don't get what AJ's strategy was against the Dawgs. We're hanging on to a precarious 3 point lead with plenty of time left and there's Hebert Jones shooting free throws. I mean, at that point how about some preventive measures other than someone shooting free throws at around 50%? It's getting hard to even comprehend that our coach has a plan in crunch time.

 

[BamaFan334]

AJ Jr. has been the best ball control guy to date.

What's interesting to me is Bama is 3rd in the conference in turnovers and they are spread out pretty evenly among those contributing.

I'll post some of the things compiled here soon...but it's also noteworthy how this team has improved on offense in spite of what some fans suggest. KenPom has Bama at #39 on adjusted offense the highest ranking in CAJ's tenure.

It's been more than painful to watch our guys coming down the stretch this season. I still don't get what AJ's strategy was against the Dawgs. We're hanging on to a precarious 3 point lead with plenty of time left and there's Hebert Jones shooting free throws. I mean, at that point how about some preventive measures other than someone shooting free throws at around 50%? It's getting hard to even comprehend that our coach has a plan in crunch time.

He's in for defensive support and with a three point lead, he's a guy you want defending at like 6'9 with a reach over 7 foot if I recall correctly. I feel like he catches a lot of flack for no good reason. I like Herb and think he's a solid player for us. Still young too, only a sophomore. From my experience even our point guards have trouble handling the ball and turn it over, so to act like Herb is a problem is not really fair. Petty, Lewis, and Ingram all have had costly turnovers late in games.

So much focus in college basketball is on the one and done guys that it creates unfair criticism for guys that maybe are four year guys and need to develop. There is nothing wrong with staying in college all four years to develop as a basketball player. Herbert is in a place where his defense is great and his offense is catching up. I think he's more of an asset than a liability. We need four year guys like him and Dazon to help anchor a program trying to build consistancy.

 

[TUSKtimes]

He's in for defensive support and with a three point lead, he's a guy you want defending at like 6'9 with a reach over 7 foot if I recall correctly. I feel like he catches a lot of flack for no good reason. I like Herb and think he's a solid player for us. Still young too, only a sophomore. From my experience even our point guards have trouble handling the ball and turn it over, so to act like Herb is a problem is not really fair. Petty, Lewis, and Ingram all have had costly turnovers late in games.

I wish you wouldn't completely miss my point on this. Whether Herbert is a good defensive player or not isn't the point here. If I'm down late in a game I'm looking for all the less than 50% free throw players on the opponent's team, aren't you? The other side of the coin for us is ball handling. Yes, watching Ingram handle the ball is stressful. Watching any of our guys not named Lewis handle the ball is stressful. Watching Ingram continue to attack the rim late regardless of whether a rim protector is there or not is even more painful, especially knowing that the clock is our real enemy at that point. I suspect he laid on the floor for as long as he did out of sheer embarrassment.

I'm not talking about Jones specifically or any other player. I'm more discussing small ball, which would include AJ Jr and what our strategy is with Avery coming down the stretch, if any actually exist. If we get beat playing to some type of strategy that plays to our strength, fine, but we're not.

 

[BamaFan334]

He's in for defensive support and with a three point lead, he's a guy you want defending at like 6'9 with a reach over 7 foot if I recall correctly. I feel like he catches a lot of flack for no good reason. I like Herb and think he's a solid player for us. Still young too, only a sophomore. From my experience even our point guards have trouble handling the ball and turn it over, so to act like Herb is a problem is not really fair. Petty, Lewis, and Ingram all have had costly turnovers late in games.

I wish you wouldn't completely miss my point on this. Whether Herbert is a good defensive player or not isn't the point here. If I'm down late in a game I'm looking for all the less than 50% free throw players on the opponent's team, aren't you? The other side of the coin for us is ball handling. Yes, watching Ingram handle the ball is stressful. Watching any of our guys not named Lewis handle the ball is stressful. Watching Ingram continue to attack the rim late regardless of whether a rim protector is there or not is even more painful, especially knowing that the clock is our real enemy at that point. I suspect he laid on the floor for as long as he did out of sheer embarrassment.

I'm not talking about Jones specifically or any other player. I'm more discussing small ball, which would include AJ Jr and what our strategy is with Avery coming down the stretch, if any actually exist. If we get beat playing to some type of strategy that plays to our strength, fine, but we're not.

I don't think I missed your point at all. I don't think we have five guys killing it from the free throw line. The statistics were shown in the Tennessee thread, so what do you do? You put in a guy that can defend from all over the court in case there is a situation where the opposing team gets the ball with a chance to tie or win. He also has height, agility, and length. Who else do you prefer we have on the court? I don't think there is a team in the NCAA that has ever put five high percentage free throw shooters on the court to close a game out or hold on to a game. Reason, because I don't think any team has five guys that shoot as well from the charity stripe that can still offer you a competitive edge if things don't go the way you plan.

I completely agree, as did most of us here, and the commentators, that they couldn't believe we were attacking the rim with under a minute to go. Yes, that was not a smart idea. But we did, and we had a guy out there that could defend when mental lapses happen. I still don't see an issue with who we had out there, because who else did we have? The team shot lights out in the first half from the line, and everyone fumbled coming down the stretch. Sure, he missed two as underlined, but a rebound, made two free throws, and a block were a major help.

 

[50+yeartidefan]

What happens and what the strategy is .....so different....
But I don’t understand why college bball players ( at bama) aren’t shooting higher
% at charity stripe...
Why? Can see a game here or there...but shit...most every game... or even a player here or there...but .......
Mystery of the universe i guess
See wht happens at AU Saturday

 

[TerryP]

But I don’t understand why college bball players ( at bama) aren’t shooting higher
% at charity stripe...
Why? Can see a game here or there...but shit...most every game... or even a player here or there...but .......
Mystery of the universe i guess

I believe the number for Bama is roughly 68% to date. Do you hold the same curiosity for why Duke is shooting a lower percentage? Kansas as well? It's not indigenous to Bama, it's habitual in basketball.

You can go back to some of the best free throw shooting teams at Bama and find your upperclassman leading the way. Those same players, when they were frosh and sophomores, weren't spectacular by any means.

If we look at the all-time leaders you'll find a higher starting point their early years but still see the growth. Rele was a .750 guy and he left as a .850 guy. Jemareo Davidson came in shooting .550 - .575 and left in the .775 range.

FWIW, Bama has only one game below the .500 mark this season, two below .600. Last year there was a total of eight below that .600 mark, three at or below .500. There's been improvement in several areas, and this is one of them.

 

[Max]

I believe the number for Bama is roughly 68% to date. Do you hold the same curiosity for why Duke is shooting a lower percentage? Kansas as well? It's not indigenous to Bama, it's habitual in basketball.

I read a note that said last year was the second time in history that the average free throw percentage across the NCAA was above .700. It's happened one other time, in 2016. That stat was cited in a Ken Pomeroy article on The Athletic.

 

[TUSKtimes]

Who else do you prefer we have on the court? I don't think there is a team in the NCAA that has ever put five high percentage free throw shooters on the court to close a game out or hold on to a game. Reason, because I don't think any team has five guys that shoot as well from the charity stripe that can still offer you a competitive edge if things don't go the way you plan.

Well, I've mentioned AJ Jr. and small ball about 10 times already, so why don't we start there? The free throw line was mentioned as was turnovers. Dribbling the ball and making smart passes requires a different skill set entirely, would you agree? lt would also require enough muscle memory and mental aptitude to know exactly how to finish games without giving them away. In those circumstances, the coach should have practiced this stuff so well with the team that even end-bound passes we are running screens and picks to give our best ball handlers and free throw shooters opportunities to get the ball and (kill clock) and (toe the line).

This panic stuff we are seeing from Ingram and others is because they aren't sure what they want to do. After 4 seasons, why isn't Ingram sure what he wants to do? It's a lot harder to run your offense when your opponent is trying to get back in the game. They start trapping the ball and crashing the boards, and we still look like we are playing with the same players and pace.

 

[JoseyWalesTheOutlaw]

Who else do you prefer we have on the court? I don't think there is a team in the NCAA that has ever put five high percentage free throw shooters on the court to close a game out or hold on to a game. Reason, because I don't think any team has five guys that shoot as well from the charity stripe that can still offer you a competitive edge if things don't go the way you plan.

Well, I've mentioned AJ Jr. and small ball about 10 times already, so why don't we start there? The free throw line was mentioned as was turnovers. Dribbling the ball and making smart passes requires a different skill set entirely, would you agree? lt would also require enough muscle memory and mental aptitude to know exactly how to finish games without giving them away. In those circumstances, the coach should have practiced this stuff so well with the team that even end-bound passes we are running screens and picks to give our best ball handlers and free throw shooters opportunities to get the ball and (kill clock) and (toe the line).

This panic stuff we are seeing from Ingram and others is because they aren't sure what they want to do. After 4 seasons, why isn't Ingram sure what he wants to do? It's a lot harder to run your offense when your opponent is trying to get back in the game. They start trapping the ball and crashing the boards, and we still look like we are playing with the same players and pace.

So you're questioning the BB IQ of our team? Is that you're story? JMO but the reason Bama can't get to that next level isn't because of athletes or even talent.

 

[TerryP]

So you're questioning the BB IQ of our team? Is that you're story? JMO but the reason Bama can't get to that next level isn't because of athletes or even talent.

So you're questioning the BB IQ of Avery?

 

[TUSKtimes]

So you're questioning the BB IQ of our team? Is that you're story? JMO but the reason Bama can't get to that next level isn't because of athletes or even talent.

What is the BB IQ of any basketball team? Bama is praised in football because they are ready for onside kicks and 4th and 11s in punting situations. Who is responsible for those FB IQs in those situations coming down the stretch?

 

[Sgt. Lincoln Osiris]

Baylor beat OU last night 77-47.......

...on the road.

A loss is still a loss, but losing narrowly to a solid Baylor team will actually help our RPI (or whatever it is they rank with now). Not helping nearly as much as a win, but a "good loss" should still actually boost us a little.