🏀 Tonight's Game - Must Win

[TheChief]

Mississippi State is the lowest rated RPI team Bama will face from here on out. I don't see how anyone could say this isn't a must win game if Bama wants an NCAA bid. Of course, they'd have to win several more games, but I would think without winning tonight Bama has no chance at making the tourney.

Bama has won four in a row against the Bulldogs. They haven't won five in a row since the mid 1980's.

 

[TheChief]

Thinking further, Bama could win out and win two in the SEC tourney to finish 23 and 10. They would have wins versus Georgia and Texas A and M and Vandy. They could get in. Without winning tonight, I wouldn't think their chances against those teams is good at all.


So, tonight is a game they need in the worst way.

 

[psychojoe]

Our backs are definitely against the wall, and we go over there down one player for sure, possibly as many as three unavailable. The Hump has never been an easy place to play for us, and this is the best State team in at least four years. I would go as far as to say that if we do not win this one we have to win the SEC tournament to dance.

 

[TheChief]

PJ, we both know winning the SEC Tourney is out of the question. Ain't happening.

 

[psychojoe]

Only if UK is abducted by space aliens.

 

[alabama mike]

I have to agree, it's a must win game for a CHANCE at the tournament and possibly Grant's job.

 

[psychojoe]

Well, one down, so now the next one is a must win game. Not really a thing of beauty, although the decision to slow things down was wise IMO because of the depleted roster.

 

[Bamabww]

Scared me to death on the inbounds plays there at the end. In the post game press conference Grant said something to the effect "we've got guys who are still learning to play with each other." We have been weak on inbounding the ball all year. But a win is a win and like you said, now the next one is a must win.

 

[bama alum]

Scared me to death on the inbounds plays there at the end. In the post game press conference Grant said something to the effect "we've got guys who are still learning to play with each other." We have been weak on inbounding the ball all year. But a win is a win and like you said, now the next one is a must win.

Holy crap! Even the talking heads were saying that one of Alabama's weaknesses was a good in-bounder. Sooooo....To whom does Grant give that job? Oyy... And Riley was playing hot potato with the ball.

:bandhead:

 

[alabama mike]

UGLY!

 

[psychojoe]

Cooper has been the inbounder for the last couple of years. Looks like we need to design some inbounds plays to put the ball in Levi's hands on the move, or have a second player moving to catch a quick pass from whoever receives the inbounds pass. Norris and Coleman aren't used to being ut there in that game situation. It is not much of a plan to catch the pass and then wait for the defense to come to you

 

[UAgrad93]

It was hard to watch those last 6 minutes. The inbounds gaffs were killing me. I honestly had 9th graders that could inbound better. @psychojoe, I think Levi should be the inbounder with maybe Hale or Norris setting picks and then rolling to the ball. A quick give and return to Levi would work wonders.

 

[psychojoe]

It was hard to watch those last 6 minutes. The inbounds gaffs were killing me. I honestly had 9th graders that could inbound better. @psychojoe, I think Levi should be the inbounder with maybe Hale or Norris setting picks and then rolling to the ball. A quick give and return to Levi would work wonders.

Spot on target. You never attack the press by being static, or even getting it to a ball handler, and letting him try to dribble through it, unless it is man to man pressure. We had trouble with Auburn's pressure with a full roster available, and it is hard to believe that we have not worked out this problem since then.

In Wimp's day they used 8 defenders in practice when working against the press, using managers, assistant coaches, whoever was available. Obviously Norris had not practiced for this situation, and he was terrified to have the ball in his hands. We can't even use the idea of finding a big target with the inbounds pass, since Taylor is weak at the foul line. Maybe we need to work on throwing over the top of the press. The old home run ball, if successful, does tend to back off the press.

 

[TheChief]

Anyone else remember Bobby Knight, during a broadcast last year, criticizing Alabama's inbounding plays?

Maybe someone could tape a broadcast and show it to the coaches. They might learn something.

 

[psychojoe]

Chief, I don't remember that one, but Knight, even though he can be obnoxious, has probably forgotten more basketball than any of our coaches have ever known. We are weak at getting it in bounds against the press, and weak on inbounding on the offensive end. Our most successful inbounds play on the offensive end has been when a defender chances too close to the inbounder with his back turned, and the inbounder bounced it off his backside and gotten a lay up. We need a better scoring play therre than relying on a defensive boo boo.

I wish Knight were still doing the SEC games. I believe that he is doing Big 12 hoops this year.

 

[psychojoe]

Chief, I don't remember that one, but Knight, even though he can be obnoxious, has probably forgotten more basketball than any of our coaches have ever known. We are weak at getting it in bounds against the press, and weak on inbounding on the offensive end. Our most successful inbounds play on the offensive end has been when a defender chances too close to the inbounder with his back turned, and the inbounder bounced it off his backside and gotten a lay up. We need a better scoring play therre than relying on a defensive boo boo.

 

[TheChief]

PJ, I ran that play (the pass to myself off of a defender's derriere) once in grade school... closest I ever came to getting beaten up during a game. Maybe because I was laughing so hard.

Maybe that's where our players learned the play, on the playground in grade school. We followed that gem with the play where the in-bounder says, "Wait, you take it out" then we throw it to the guy coming to take the ball out and he gets the easy lay in. Maybe the Tide will learn that play next.

 

[psychojoe]

It irked me no end that after two straight turnovers that cut our lead from 8 to 4, we took our last time out and still could not get the ball in bounds. If you aren't going to make an adjustment then why take the time out.

 

[rolltide69]

The time out was for the camera to be on Grant and his pretty white pressed shirt. This guy has got to go. Looks like it not going to get any better. This game was lost with 1.2 seconds left in the first half. Had a chance or two to put them away probably and we go into bad judgement role.