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

[Sgt. Lincoln Osiris]

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.

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.

Great win. Roll Tide.

Also of note is HOW we won. 3 wasn't working (1/15), but we scored 50+ points in the paint, which means we were able to penetrate the D and take the ball from the perimeter to the rim. I liked the change up with posting Petty up some also.

We also held onto the win by making foul shots in the final minute.

 

[BamaFan334]

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.

Well if he doesn't put his own son in the game during these times, that must tell you something. If a guy is guarded or double teamed on an inbounds pass, you can't get him the ball. I have zero doubts Coach wants Kira to have the ball, BUT, he cannot account for solid defense on the inbound play. You're speaking as if we are playing against no one and can call our shots. Mississippi State was battling, they knew to take out the point guard and make one of our bigs take the inbounds pass, it's common defensive basketball. And I'll say it again, you cannot have a small lineup in the game when the game is on the line and the other team is charging offensively. Especially the way the were out-rebounding us.

 

[JoseyWalesTheOutlaw]

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?

No sir.....the players playing the game

 

[Elderfalsedemigod]

Well it seems a top 25 win in basketball ain't what it used to be

 

[50+yeartidefan]

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.

I watched some of vs Tennessee and it looked like they were shooting concrete blocks... and almost let msu game get away with poor shooting..only msu shot worse...At end of game...
Maybe you are right @TerryP ....as they get older they will shoot better...don’t know why though...
still a mystery....why shooting is so poor...no Defense...not far from rim... whatever
....and missing first of 1 and 1 should count as 2 misses in stats......

 

[TUSKtimes]

Well if he doesn't put his own son in the game during these times, that must tell you something. If a guy is guarded or double teamed on an inbounds pass, you can't get him the ball. I have zero doubts Coach wants Kira to have the ball, BUT, he cannot account for solid defense on the inbound play. You're speaking as if we are playing against no one and can call our shots. Mississippi State was battling, they knew to take out the point guard and make one of our bigs take the inbounds pass, it's common defensive basketball. And I'll say it again, you cannot have a small lineup in the game when the game is on the line and the other team is charging offensively. Especially the way the were out-rebounding us.

Translation: What winning principles work for football doesn't apply to basketball at Bama. That's pretty much SEC basketball around these parts for many a year.

 

[TerryP]

Maybe you are right @TerryP ....as they get older they will shoot better...don’t know why though...
still a mystery....why shooting is so poor...no Defense...not far from rim... whatever

A while back we had a pretty long discussion here about the evolution of the game. Specifically, about how teams were concentrating on the three instead of other aspects of the game like a high post offensive approach, etc. I'm growing more and more of the opinion it's how these kids are coached coming up through their middle and high school years. I see emphasis on how spectacular they can dunk the ball and how well they do shooting the three ball. What I see missing is that mid-range jump shot. Along the same lines, while they aren't working as much on the 15 footers, they aren't working a lot from the line either.

I see it no different than football with teams using their best athlete at quarterback, that same kid being recruited as a quarterback, but he's simply not schooled enough on the fundamentals of said position. I'm seeing a lot of great athletes on the floor along with fewer and fewer true basketball players.

 

[50+yeartidefan]

Maybe you are right @TerryP ....as they get older they will shoot better...don’t know why though...
still a mystery....why shooting is so poor...no Defense...not far from rim... whatever

A while back we had a pretty long discussion here about the evolution of the game. Specifically, about how teams were concentrating on the three instead of other aspects of the game like a high post offensive approach, etc. I'm growing more and more of the opinion it's how these kids are coached coming up through their middle and high school years. I see emphasis on how spectacular they can dunk the ball and how well they do shooting the three ball. What I see missing is that mid-range jump shot. Along the same lines, while they aren't working as much on the 15 footers, they aren't working a lot from the line either.

I see it no different than football with teams using their best athlete at quarterback, that same kid being recruited as a quarterback, but he's simply not schooled enough on the fundamentals of said position. I'm seeing a lot of great athletes on the floor along with fewer and fewer true basketball players.

Dang right...the short range jump shot...thats a 2....is a missing link...as is using backboard for short inside shots....
The dunk....the slam...the after scream at the camera...modern day bball