🏀 Bama vs Arkansas

[TheChief]

Glad to see the team escape with the win after almost blowing the halftime lead once again.

I had to listen to the first half of the game on Sirius, and when I got to watch in the second the color commentator sounded like Bob Knight. Pretty sure that's who it was. I am no Bob Knight fan. However, it was obvious that he really knows what he's talking about. He had no small criticism of numerous instances where he would not have coached the team, especially on offense, the way Grant had. He mentioned movement or lack therof. Who was inbounding and who was receiving the inbounds. Often, when he would mention a situtation, bad outcomes were the result for Bama. The lasting impression was not complimentary for Grant.

When your team is scoring in the 50's consistently, something is wrong. Maybe Grant simply cannot coach offense. Perhaps Bobby Knight could be hired as an offensive advisor for a while and coach up Grant.

 

[bamaraider]

Bob Knight sounded like he screamed out his vocal chords before he got to the game.

I'm never on pessimistic side, but this win feels like a loss. No reason for us for to have blown that lead and played the way we did in the 2nd half. We literally sat around dribbling the ball almost at half court and waited until the shot clock got down to around 28 to start actually making our moves to attack the basket...Pitiful..Then we in bounded the passes, Nick Jacobs couldn't hang on to them and Arkansas scored off of his turnovers. We had 17 total turnovers. Perimeter shots were better though, we did draw some fortunate fouls while in the paint.

I watched the Michigan State versus Indiana game. I know we are nowhere near the talent or depth that both of those schools have; but, they always have a at least 2-3 guys in motion setting up their passes/screens in way to get an open shot. We seem to have only one guy doing that while the other guy just sits there holding the ball...

One thing positive thing I can take away from this game is the progression of Pollard.

 

[MunchyOs]

When your team is scoring in the 50's consistently, something is wrong. Maybe Grant simply cannot coach offense. Perhaps Bobby Knight could be hired as an offensive advisor for a while and coach up Grant.

This

 

[TheChief]

Raider, I didn't watch enough to see Pollard, but that is good news. Watching him in Knoxville in person, I could tell what an athletic presence he is. Good post, good info.

From what it sounded like on the radio, it seems like Moose is progressing as well. But while players are improving, the team just does not run a good offense. I agree about the likes of Indiana. Bama doesn't look like they are playing the same game as top teams. There is no resemblance.

 

[psychojoe]

Earlier this season I thought we were a pretty good ball handling team, but in the second half of the UT game and all of last night we were careless with passes and dribbling.

I disagree a little on the low scores. Because of our depth issues, especially inside, we are trying to make it a fewer posession game by working the shot clock down in each posession. That being said, besides the turnovers, we had several posessions last night where we ran the shot clock down to under 5 seconds and the best shot we got was a contested three.

 

[TideAlum05]

Why do we always stop running offense at the end of games? Why have Releford run the clock down at the halfcourt line with the other 4 players are completely stationary? Does Grant not understand that going up by 2 scores is a good thing?

 

[bamaraider]

Why do we always stop running offense at the end of games? Why have Releford run the clock down at the halfcourt line with the other 4 players are completely stationary? Does Grant not understand that going up by 2 scores is a good thing?

Stressful..Very stressful...They were in foul trouble, should have let Steele or Levi drive in more in the paint.

 

[TheChief]

PJ, that makes total sense. It would be justification for the long possessions. I would not doubt that is AG's rationale.

However, I watched BYU and St. Mary's the other night, and they've got guys playing 35 minutes a game. They play dang hard and they sure don't run a slow down. There are shots going up (and going in) in ten seconds. Does one's game fall off THAT dramatically by getting "tired" at the end of a game? They never go more than a minute or two at one stretch without a breather.

 

[bamaraider]

Mizzou had only 7 scholarship players last year if I'm not mistaken