Bama Game Thread: Elite 8 Postgame Bama v Duke

[CrimsonRuss]

Aight @Bazza its up to yall!!! Go Gators!

 

[BAMAVILLE]

 

[OconeeTide]

It could be worse, we could of lost to Mcneese in the first round.

 

[teamplayer]

Officiating didn’t cause us to lose tonight… it was the continual combination of lack of size at guard and defensive inconsistency. These two things have lost is games throughout the year and it was what took us down tonight.

Duke made a change this past offseason that we need to replicate - they eliminated the small guards from their roster (6’5” is their shortest player). Auburn has done the same thing and so has Florida. Will be very interesting to see what roster construction looks like next year.

Another excellent year… but one that will go down as underachievement considering the expectations created inside the program. It’s a testament to Nate Oats that we’re at this point. Prior to 2019, “success” was to make the tourney. Today, it’s to make the Final Four. Look forward to the off-season and RTR!

I can't be disappointed with 28 wins and an elite 8 appearance. Roll Tide!

 

[BamaMoon]

Zakai Zeigler says hello

The point is those guys can be neutralized with bigger guards. Zeigler is amazing. So was Mark. So is Aiden.

But, I think the point is legit. Small guards are going to be seen less and less if Duke's roster is the way championship teams are going to be built.

 

[BamaMoon]

Man, this is why I love CNO.

He's so transparent taking blame for regular season losses that probably impacted our seeding in the Dance. He's right, don't lose to UT on the buzzer beater and Ole Miss back in the regular season and we are probably a #1 seed and NOT playing Duke tonight and you have a much better chance to get to the FF.

And then to hear him talk about how to build a roster and the vision he has for getting players into his system and developing them for the NBA. And I love him saying, "There's a lot of players (portal/recruits) who want to play for us."

He's got a vision for how to get us to the top. He believes we are one of the best programs in the country. I think CNO is like a young 2000 CNS coming out of Michigan State with a vision to take LSU to NC contention. Nate will get it done!

 

[BamaFossil]

Great season!! Thanks and congratulations to the entire team and CNO for what they accomplished!

 

[bama579]

"Thank You" and Hardhat Award to CajunCrimson for what you do for this board.

 

[CrimSonami]

As much as I would have loved to move on to our second consecutive F4 this season is still very much a success. Losing our best sharp-shooter in LW and other players being limited and/or unavailable prevented total cohesion.
I believe we lost last night to what should have been the the overall 1-seed. And IIRC every year since CNO arrived we have lost to the eventual champions. I’ll take it!
ROLL TIDE!!!!!

 

[Tideflyer]

I go back to the Wimp and CM days. Some fun times and teams, but I think this may be the best basketball program Alabama has ever had.

 

[day-day]

...
I believe we lost last night to what should have been the the overall 1-seed. And IIRC every year since CNO arrived we have lost to the eventual champions. ...

Bama lost to UCONN in NCAA's last season and lost to UCONN the year before during regular season. Other than that, I don't think Bama played other championship teams in previous seasons under Oats.

 

[ga tide man #9]

There's an old saying in basketball that comes to mind after tonight's game: "You can't teach size."

I agree with those who are saying our roster has got to get bigger. The 6 foot guard is going the way of the dodo.

Potentially the remaining guards on our roster (if they all come back) Philon, Holloway, Wrightsell and Mallet. While there’s talent it doesn’t really makes us a lot bigger

 

[Slowpoke Catracho]

Another great season for Alabama Basketball! Need to play better Defense and hit the shots! RTR!

 

[Bazza]

I'm really sorry for your loss last night, guys.

I really thought you'd get the win.

Maybe just one player away from winning a championship, but to be honest, you had what you needed last night - just a combination of going up against a team that was very good and showed why and then the ball just wasn't going in for you on a lot of shots.

We can analyze the game to death but what's important as @CajunCrimson said is to celebrate how far Bama basketball has come and be proud of that.

With Coach Oats your potential is limitless.

Respect to the team, staff, and fans for a great season!

RTR!

 

[cthorne22]

Unfortunately, the season always ends the same way.
Alabama is talented and looks unstoppable when 3s are falling. But...
A suspect defense
An opponent with a rim protector
3s aren't falling
No other scoring option since post up and mid-range is non-existent (and discouraged)
The other team kills you with the mid-range part of the floor (Duke only made 6 3s)

I love math but I will never believe ignoring the mid-range part of the offense is the answer

 

[bamaga]

The team looked out of sync from the opening tip, Duke had something to do with that, but the team didn’t play well. They lost the game in the first two minutes, imo. Duke dictated the game, we didn’t adjust well enough

 

[AlexanderFan]

I think it’s apparent which way college basketball is going… the days of a speed-based team being effective is slowly disappearing.

The point is those guys can be neutralized with bigger guards. Zeigler is amazing. So was Mark. So is Aiden.

But, I think the point is legit. Small guards are going to be seen less and less if Duke's roster is the way championship teams are going to be built.

You guys act like 6’6” guards with above average speed grow on trees.

Look, anyone but duke and our guards are at the free throw line all night. duke is duke, their guard bowled over Sears and got a jump ball out of it. Holding, pulling, shoving all game long. duke had the recipe: our guys don’t respond to contact well.

 

[CrimSonami]

Unfortunately, the season always ends the same way.
Alabama is talented and looks unstoppable when 3s are falling. But...
A suspect defense
An opponent with a rim protector
3s aren't falling
No other scoring option since post up and mid-range is non-existent (and discouraged)
The other team kills you with the mid-range part of the floor (Duke only made 6 3s)

I love math but I will never believe ignoring the mid-range part of the offense is the answer

Missed dunks (don’t get that) and layups expecting contact set the tone in the first 10 minutes. Duke moves really well so pushing us off the 3-line was almost perfectly executed all night. Their length gave us real problems, as those type teams do, so yes an established midrange game might have helped but that ain’t the CNO game that has us in the CBB spotlight. Duke is a very good team as well as getting the benefit of the Zebras on the majority of calls/no-calls due to the BlueBlood status they enjoy. That’s a very real thing, although many won’t admit it. Nobody knows what a foul is anymore or how to adjust because they aren’t called consistently. We need bigger, taller guards that fit CNO’s needs. Having one small guard on the floor is fine but teams like Duke can shut down the dribble drive that’s usually a big part of Bama B-Ball. CNO will get us back to the F4 sooner than later. Just gotta find the right combo of size and talent. And I think he will.
ROLL TIDE!

 

[Slowpoke Catracho]

I really think playing better Defense on a "Pick and Roll" would've changed the game.

 

[Bpilktree]

I think people are over reacting to the size issue. We start 6”1, 6”4, 6”4 6”11, 6”11. That isn’t a small team. Florida is 6”2, 6”3, 6”4 6”9, 6”11. Sears and Holliday are shorter but as a whole the roster is good size. Honestly I still don’t like to hammer on a guy but I think the envision was for Stevenson to start in a game like this where other team has size this year instead of Philon to give us even more size. However his play just didn’t materialize this season to give him starts.