Game Thread: Alabama v. Kentucky

[cmmiller711]

We've got some fine athletes but few basketball players. I think Coach Grant will recruit well and have an outstanding career at Bama. He definitely knows how to get every ounce of effort out of his players.

sip

exactly... thats been the case for some time now. a roster full of freak athletes that dont understand basic offensive principles and are poor shooters, and then we'll have 2 maybe 3 guys that get the game. Not that i dont love and support them wholeheartedly. i just realize that the program emphasis has been much more on raw athletic ability, and less on passing and basketball IQ in recent years.

 

[CrimsonEyeshade]

One other thought: How good might MT have been if he'd received any kind of playing time or coaching in his first two years? I would love to have him back one more season.

We have one legitimate pure shooter on this team, but it goes to show what you can do when everybody plays hard.

What's frustrating about this year is pure effort kept almost every game close. We won a few late in the season because we did the little things: took care of the ball, finished at the rim, made free throws, took the right shots at the right time.

Had we done a slightly better job of that in the first half against Kentucky, we would have had a 15 point lead at the break. As it was, we embarrassed them with our effort.

How much of that effort passes on to next year's team will be a big question. Will there be any significant increase in basketball skills is another. But we should all be proud of our coaches and players.

 

[day-day]

One other thought: How good might MT have been if he'd received any kind of playing time or coaching in his first two years? I would love to have him back one more season.

....

Seems like every year Bama loses its most productive player. This probably happens with every team (experienced seniors and early NBA entries) but it gets frustrating. It would be nice to have Torrence back as the off-guard and have a gifted point guard. He was the best choice to play point this season because of his leadership and experience; he really developed as the year went along.

...
What's frustrating about this year is pure effort kept almost every game close. We won a few late in the season because we did the little things: took care of the ball, finished at the rim, made free throws, took the right shots at the right time.

Had we done a slightly better job of that in the first half against Kentucky, we would have had a 15 point lead at the break. As it was, we embarrassed them with our effort.

How much of that effort passes on to next year's team will be a big question. Will there be any significant increase in basketball skills is another. But we should all be proud of our coaches and players.

The returning players should start up next season with this type of play. Bama will be relying on some newcomers who hopefully have a good basketball IQ. Jemison and Steele will be valuable if they have the same understanding of the game.

 

[RamJamHam]

Coach Grant has done an outstanding job with what he had to start with this year. Over the last couple weeks, I think we could all start to see his team "get it" and start to understand what it takes to close out games in the SEC. I can't wait to see what his teams look like over the next 2 - 5 years. We ought to be competing on the weekends late in March, which is a really good thing.

For those who are moaning and groaning about the officials, two things. First, surely you understand that the team that is supposed to be better ALWAYS gets the benefit of the doubt, albeit subconsciously. Micheal Jordan always got the call because surely the only way he didn't score was because he got fouled. Second, if the SEC officials really purposely do this for UK in basketball, does that mean that all the football fans are right about us and Florida getting all the calls in football?

 

[Ldlane]

Coach Grant has done an outstanding job with what he had to start with this year. Over the last couple weeks, I think we could all start to see his team "get it" and start to understand what it takes to close out games in the SEC. I can't wait to see what his teams look like over the next 2 - 5 years. We ought to be competing on the weekends late in March, which is a really good thing.

For those who are moaning and groaning about the officials, two things. First, surely you understand that the team that is supposed to be better ALWAYS gets the benefit of the doubt, albeit subconsciously. Micheal Jordan always got the call because surely the only way he didn't score was because he got fouled. Second, if the SEC officials really purposely do this for UK in basketball, does that mean that all the football fans are right about us and Florida getting all the calls in football?

Of course, It would've helped if we shot better than .34 from the field (23 -66).

 

[BFANLC]

The missed foul shots and missed goals near the basket were key as well. If Bama hits half of those we win.