🏀 Men's Basketball Returns Home to Face Vanderbilt Saturday Night

[Alabama Men's Basketball]

Alabama, winners of two of its last three games, will begin a stretch playing four of its next six games at home as the Tide returns to Coleman Coliseum on Saturday night when it hosts the Vanderbilt Commodores. The game will tip off at 7 p.m. CT and will air on ESPNU.

From Rolltide.com—Continue reading...

 

[psychojoe]

Word is that Obasahon will be back, but Tarrant is still out.

 

[Bamabww]

Alabama trying to keep head above water

Cecil Hurt
TideSports.com Columnist

Neither Alabama nor Vanderbilt is close to the top of the SEC basketball race, but that doesn't diminish the importance to tonight's game at Coleman Coliseum for two teams trying to keep their head above water.

The Crimson Tide can pull back to .500 in SEC play for the first time since Jan. 27 if it can back up last Tuesday's win at Mississippi State with a second straight victory tonight. Meanwhile, Vanderbilt is looking for a quick turnaround as psychological salve for a Thursday night overtime loss to rival Tennessee, a game the Commodores appeared to have in hand in regulation.

"We've been impressed watching Vanderbilt on film," Alabama coach Anthony Grant said. "They're a very talented team. They're extremely well coached. I've got a lot of respect for Coach (Kevin) Stallings and what he does. You look at their games. They've had a chance to win just about every game they've played. They're obviously coming off of a tough defeat against Tennessee. They had the game won in regulation and a couple of plays didn't go their way, and they lost in overtime.

"This is a team that's very explosive offensively and very solid defensively. They've got perimeter shooting that's as good as anybody in our league. In the front court, Damian Jones is one of the premier bigs in our league. (James) Siakam plays extremely physical and does all the things that help his team win."

The Commodores also have the leading freshman scorer in the league in guard Riley LaChance (12.5 ppg), a 3-point shooting specialist.

Grant had better news in the injury department on Friday, although Ricky Tarrant continues to be out "indefinitely" and will not play against the Commodores.

"We're beginning to get a little healthier," Grant said. "I think Retin (Obasohan) will be available for this game (after missing two games with A hand infection.) We're looking forward to getting it going tomorrow."
Senior forward Rodney Cooper needs just nine points tonight to become the 48th player in Alabama history to score 1,000 points in his career. Cooper has scored exactly nine points in each of Alabama's last two games. If he matches that, he will join teammate Levi Randolph, who passed the 1,000-point plateau earlier this season.

https://alabama.rivals.com/content.asp?CID=1736848

 

[TheChief]

Anyone going to fool with watching this game tonight? Does it really matter?

If Bama makes the tourney, they're out in round one. If they make the NIT, who cares? They're not going to win the SEC.

Is the game tonight even interesting on any level?

 

[Bamabww]

@TheChief , understand what you're saying but I'll watch just to see if any adjustments have been made. We have a chance to have two 1000 points players in the same game. And I like college basketball.

 

[TheChief]

Good points @Bamabww Someone would have to really love Tide to keep watching them play basketball.

Men's basketball is the only Bama sport that when the season begins it's easy to reason "This team has no chance to ever win a national championship nor play for one. Never have; never will."

 

[252BAMA]

Box Score of this game looks as if it was played in Nashville. Vandy - 17 fouls, Bama - 24 fouls. Vandy 28-35 FTM-A, Bama 11-17 FTM-A. :eyeroll:

http://scores.espn.go.com/ncb/boxscore?gameId=400597394

 

[UAgrad93]

Can we officially stick a fork in Grant now? He is done!!

 

[Bamabww]

Alabama falls at home to Vanderbilt

Cecil Hurt
TideSports.com Columnist

There were no flowers from the University of Alabama basketball team, no chocolates or frilly cards on Valentine's Day. Just another disappointing loss.

The Vanderbilt Commodores, one notch above the league cellar, shot 52 percent in the second half and pulled away from Alabama down the stretch for a 76-68 win. Vanderbilt won for the first time on the road in league play and kept the Crimson Tide from reaching the .500 mark in league play.

Alabama head coach Anthony Grant acknowledged the implications of the Crimson Tide's third home loss of the SEC season.

"It's February," Grant said. We've got six games to play. I hope (the players) realize that an opportunity was wasted today."

"Our defense today was not good enough to win," Grant said. "In the second half, we weren't good enough for a defensive standpoint. They shot the ball extremely well and it is going to be tough to win anywhere when you give up numbers like that.

"Give them credit. They were able to get what they wanted and we couldn't get them out of a rhythm. We didn't get back to our spots, didn't match up defensively. Matthew Fisher-Jones got a lot of catch and shoot looks. Damian Jones played extremely well. Some other guys stepped up."

Alabama also squandered opportunities. The Crimson Tide dominated the backboards in the first half and had a one-and-one free throw opportunity to take a seven-point lead with nine seconds to go in the half.

Instead, Retin Obasohan missed the free throw, Michael Kessens fouled at the other end and drew a technical for arguing the call. Vanderbilt made four free throws, Alabama threw away the inbounds pass and was fortunate to get to the locker room with a 33-32 lead.

"We went on a little run late in the first half and then didn't close the half very well," Grant said.

Alabama (15-10, 5-7 SEC)still led 63-61 with 4:18 when Levi Randolph hit a 3-pointer but Vanderbilt closed the game with a 15-5 run.

"We just didn't have the energy or the effort that they needed," Randolph said.

The Commodores shot well and managed to get to the foul line, attempting 35 free throws (and making 28) to just 17 attempts for UA.

Damian Jones led the inside attack for Vanderbilt, scoring 20 points and grabbing seven rebounds. Randolph led Alabama with 15 points. Shannon Hale and Obasohan added 10 each for UA.

https://alabama.rivals.com/content.asp?CID=1737098

 

[TheChief]

Why not just keep him? Think how much a real coach would cost the university. The school is obviously not concerned about basketball or they would have fired him last year.

What makes anyone think he will be fired this year? He's doing better than last year. Look at the class of recruits he has coming in. There's no one to hire. There's no one better. It wasn't his fault because so many players left the program. But, but, but, but, but, but, but...

@TerryP has it been worth the buyout watching the team play this year? Should they keep him?

 

[TerryP]

@TerryP has it been worth the buyout watching the team play this year? Should they keep him?

I did mention the buyout last year on more than one occasion. However, when the financial numbers were released in the later part of the fiscal year for the basketball program I also pointed out there was enough of a surplus where the Athletic Department could buy him out without that big of a dent.

FWIW, this past weekend shed more light on what's going on with fan support and I know it's not lost on Battle. It's sad, in a way, that didn't offer a buy one get one deal early on this season...or, earlier on in Grant's tenure. As stated repeatedly, Grant hasn't built a support base like those Patterson, Murphy, and like the one we're seeing Curry build.

 

[alabama mike]

There is no reason we should have lost this game at home against a very young Vanderbilt team.

 

[Bamabww]

I hope (the players) realize that an opportunity was wasted today."

I just don't know how to take this statement. It bothers me in fact.

 

[alabama mike]

I just don't know how to take this statement. It bothers me in fact.

@Bamabww It doesn't help either when the coach sits on the bench and shows no fire or emotion. Look at the lack of fans in CC, the huge disconnect between CAG and high school coaches in the state, the lack of developing a big and horrid outside shooting.

 

[psychojoe]

I think that is what bothers me most about him now. It is as if losing does not bother him, or at least not enough to show. The team reflects the personality of the coach. Tarrant is really the only guy that shows some fire and emotion out there, and who knows when he will be able to come back. This was a game that was ours to win, but when winning time came we did not show up and Vandy did.

 

[TheChief]

He has begun to pout on the bench again this year. I don't like it when he's sullen. Maybe he should throw a chair.

 

[psychojoe]

Maybe not a totally Bobby Knight move, but a full scale, Wimp Style temper tantrum would encourage me.

 

[UAgrad93]

I don't think a Wimp tantrum by Grant could get me motivated to take a crap! We all know it would be so fake that everyone would laugh!!