Crimson Red Sports

The University of Alabama men's basketball team returns to the road to face in-state Southeastern Conference rival Auburn in the first of two meetings between the programs this season. Tipoff at Auburn Arena is scheduled for 8 p.m. CST on ESPNU and the radio affiliates of the Crimson Tide Sports Network.

The Crimson Tide visits the Plains with a 15-7 overall record and a 4-4 record in SEC play after a thrilling, 69-67, double-overtime win against Mississippi on Saturday. Auburn returns home, where it is 12-1 this season, after playing three of its last four games on the road to amass a 13-10 overall mark and a 3-6 record in the SEC.

http://www.rolltide.com/sports/m-baskbl/spec-rel/020612aaa.html

(http://grfx.cstv.com/photos/schools/alab/sports/m-baskbl/auto_mainphoto/7411601.jpeg)

It will be interesting to see what tempo Bama chooses to play tonight. I'm also wondering if the officials will allow the same type of game as was allowed in the Ole Miss game, a bar room brawl. Somehow I get the feeling this game will be very physical though.  ;)

You want an understatement?  "Important game for Alabama."  :popcorn2:

This game reminds me of the Georgia Tech game earlier this year. We had come out of a bad 3 game stretch but righted the ship with a win over a decent Oklahoma State team. The GT game was on the road and J Green was out with a shoulder injury. I'm not sure what happened but I suppect CAG sat the young guys down and told them we have to have production out of them with JG out of the line up. I think he told them to play like it was high school. If the shot is open don't think about, take it. We came out on fire and beat GT bad. Randolph and Lacy had big nights.

Tonight's game is similar. We have come off a bad 4 game stretch but righted the ship with home wins over Arkansas and Ole Miss. We are on the road at Auburn and Tony Mitchell is out due to suspension. We need some guys to step up and help on the offensive end. It does not have to be one guy. In fact, it will be best if points are spread out. We will see a zone most of the night.

This is a big game. We have a better team than Auburn. There is no reason why we can't get this win.

Remember Auburn playing inspired, or UK playing uninspired, several games ago. As if the Tide needs extra incentive against the barn, TM being out should provide it. But don't get comfortable with this gameplan.  Bama can be a much better team with all its variables calculating into the equation. Sitting TM may have been necessary, CAG knows best, but if we have hopes of post season runs it better not be for long. RTR

There is no doubt we are a more dangerous team if TM is playing. I read somewhere yesterday that CAG said Monday's practice would go a long way in determining how long he would be out. The link below is from Cassagrande's Daily Blog talking about how JG is trying to help him get his head on straight.

http://dailybamablog.com/2012/02/07/what-jamychal-green-said-to-suspended-tony-mitchell-other-details/

This is great to hear from Green.  My apologies to him for incorrectly lumping him into the "bad attitude" group with Mitchell a few games ago when he was playing on a bad ankle.

His attitude problems have been obvious long before the ankle turning. But I also hope it is behind him.

I think the team steps up tonight, mainly to show they can play without Mitchell, plus they have no choice if they want to stay in the hunt for an NCAA bid. Our RPI is 31 (good) and the SOS is 15 (outstanding). We have to beat teams like Auburn or our ratings will drop like a stone. Aubarn has an RPI of 129 and a SOS of 114. I wonder if Lacey is 100%. Hankerson really stepped up in the last game and I hope it carries over in to this game. I think he's been hurt that last few games which is why we hadn't seen him before the Ole Miss game.


 :popcorn2:

I can remember an incident when I played HS football that is somewhat similar to what is happening with Mitchell. It was on a gameday, Friday, that Coach had told us  not to go watch the Black football team, before intergration, play their game that afternoon after school. Well a few of us decided how the heck will he ever know, so we went. When we came to the school for our pregame meal that evening Coach came up to me and said he wanted to see me in his office after we had eaten. When we met , the first thing Coach said to me was, I think I am going to kick you off the team. I knew then that I had been caught so I just listened. I didn't lie to him about any of it and then he said he would let the starters on the team make a decision of whether I should be suspended or kicked off the team. The starters didn't want me to be kicked off so the decision was a suspension.

When game time started his instructions to me were to stand right beside him the whole game. The player that replaced me was having big time problems blocking downfield, I was a tight end, and all Coach would say was, "did you see that", and my response was always, "yes sir". When we were in the third quarter and Coach was at the brink of having a heart attack over the lack of blocking downfield, he turned to me and said, "do you think you can block that safety", and again my response was, "yes sir". To my amazement he grabed me by the facemask with this deathly stare and told me to get out there and show him. If I ever made a good block in my life, it was then. I hit that guy so hard and I heard Coach scream out, "that's the way". I was feeling good on my way back to the huddle but when I looked up, there was my replacement. As I reached the sideline Coach had my facemask again with that same look and told me to stand right beside him and don't say a word, and I didn't.

What I learned that night was how valuable I was to my team and what I had cost them by not being obedient and following the coach's rules. Sure I thought I was Mr. Big, being a senior and a starter, but after that night I was a changed person in honoring my commitments to the people that I care the most about.

I hope Tony Mitchell can see through his blinders that he has been wearing and understand that the team is the closest thing to him other than his immediate family and grow up a little and learn what his role is to this team. Roll Tide!!

Good story Jamos. Sports teachs kids so many things that you take with you the rest of your life. I have one question. Did your team win or lose that game?

We were a very big favorite that night and won with a touchdown in the 4th quarter. It wasn't my playing that the team missed that night, it was the huge distraction that I had made for the team and no ones mind was where it should have been.

 :popcorn2: :popcorn2: :popcorn2:

Clemson finally missed.  Let's tip off.

Slow start: Aub 6-2.

Tide is showing good hustle, but has missed 2 three pointers already. Chubb of Aubarn already has 6 points. Randolph is really working hard on both ends of court. Auburn 10-4. Chubb now has 8 points. We need to get physical with him.



 :popcorn2:

Boogs 10-4.  Time out.

12-7.  Bama needs to start moving better.

 :(

We have to get those rebounds when Aubarn misses. Hankerson and Engstrom are in. We have to get the ball inside  and we need someone to score there, like Steele, Greene, or Randolph.


 :clap:

True.  We're being out-hustled too.

Our 7'3" center, Engstrom, is causing the Aubs some problems. He has 4 points and a blocked shot. 14-11 Aubs


 :clap:

A 3 !

Back-to-back-to-back 3s.  17-17.

Alabama leads 19-18.

Boogs have gone stone cold, but they're playing a good 3-2 zone.  We're struggling t get through it.

Bama leads 23-21.  Had a chance to extend it, but got a 3-sec call.   :wall:

I watched their game the other night and the announcers said that's all Auburn plays is zone, no matter who they play. Good hustle by the Tide, eventhough it's a little out-of-control at times. Hankerson, Greene, Engstrom, & Randolph playing big.


 :popcorn2:

Yep, we're playing a good zone trap, and are hustling.  I'll take an occasional out-of-control to see hustle.

Bama leads 24-21.

Bama 27-21 at 2:40.

Bogus call against Boogs for hanging on the rim. 

We'll take it.

We have 9 turnovers, but lead 29-24 with 1:14.

Aub fans are screaming at refs following a shoulder-screen on Releford.  Then they get a technical.  We're up 33-24 with last shot coming.

Green hits at buzzer (12 for him), and we lead 35-24.  Nice finish.

The REC has gotten to the refs.   :lol:

Hankerson has been HUGE with three 3 pointers. Jacobs has struggled with Lacey, but Engstrom, Releford, Greene, Randolph have picked up the slack.



 #+

Tony who?

Since Aubs led 14-7, Tide has scored 28 & Aubs 10. I wish Lacey would hit a couple of 3's to build his confidence and shake the Aubs up some. I think Hankerson keeps firing the ball up and maybe hits another 3 long ones.



 :popcorn:

 :shh:




 :tinfoil:

***This just in:

"Aubs say Tuberville left the pantry empty."

Boogs score first 6 points, then we get 2: 37-29.

3 fouls on Chubb.  He's been big for them tonight.  Bye-bye.

Releford steal and NICE layup.  Up by 11.

Then Aubs get a 3.

Jacobs has 3 fouls now.   :(

Bring back the Swede.

Green hit a 3 (he has 15).  We lead by 11 again.

 :o




 :lol:

Good steal.  We lead by 12 at 15:00 to go.

As usual, we have too many turnovers and fouls.



 :wall:

Cooper hits a 3.  We lead by 13: 48-35.

Tide has hit 5 three pointers. Hankerson, Greene, & Cooper have hit. We need a couple more.


 :popcorn2:

Green getting cold.  Missed both free throws, and he's missed his last 2 shots.

We lead 50-35 at 12:00.

:jump:  :jump:

Keep it going.  Good defense and efficient shooting.

Maybe he's tiring because Grant took him out after the misses. Now Cooper is playing big and hits a shot. This is what you want to see, different players contributing so the defense can't focus on just one guy. I want to see Engstrom more. Tide leads 50-35 with 11:30 left in game.


 #+

Cooper with ANOTHER 3:  53-35.

 #+ #+ #+ #+

Lots of time left (10:45), but Alabama is in control.

Aubs will start bailing out of their new gym soon.

It's amazing what happens when you attack the zone, this is a much better offense than what we have been seeing. Great effort and hustle. Roll Tide!!

Bama lead is 17 at 9:53.

Sweet.   :P

Is this really happening?   :tinfoil: :tinfoil: :tinfoil:

Tide players on court are Steele, Hankerson, Cooper, Eblan, & Jacobs. Seeing 3's from Cooper, Hankerson, & Greene have really lifted team. Plus the play of Engstrom, Randolph, & Steele have been a real team effort. Hankerson was recruited last year for his outside shooting, so let's hope we see a lot more of this. Tide leading 58-38 with 8 minutes left and Aubarn "fans" are leaving in droves. It's all your fault Chechem.



 :-*

Smart move by Releford to put foul #4 on Chubb.

Do you think Mitchell is getting the message from this game?



 ???

Late run by Aub.  Lead is suddenly 11.  5:30 to go.

Come on Bama!!

Alabama gets an important basket to extend to 13, then intentional foul on the Boogs.  Releford shoots 2 and we get the ball.

Bama 64  Aubs 49  4:33

Oh crap! Here we go playing not to lose and Aubarn has knocked 9 points off our lead, for a score of 60-49. Good rebound and put back by Greene, 62-49 Tide. We rebound ball and Releford is fouled deliberately (flagrant). Releford hits both shots. 64-49 Tide with 4:30 left.



 :clap:

They did.  Lead is 17.

:jump:  :jump:

Party time.

 :rofl: :ty: :gn: :hug: :bf: :jokerface:

66-50 at 3:11.  The TIDE is ROLLING.

66-50 at 2:03.  Aubs still missing foul shots (turrible).

 68-50 at 0:44

(http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-WyT18Xhf4ic/TVwmFY5cx5I/AAAAAAAAAQs/6l8T0TXH0q8/s320/52926_alabama_kentucky_basketball_medium.jpg)

We WIN 68-50.

Tide D shut Aubs down. Tide wins 68-50. Early in the first half Auburn led 14-7. From that point forward they scored 36 points and Tide scored 61. I like it!!


 :lol:

Welcome back Bama, it's been a long time!! Roll Tide!!!!  #+

Babysat the grandson tonight and only saw a little of the game, but what a great win. It looks like the team really picked it up in Mitchell's absence. Way to go, Bama! RTR!

This is twice that I have seen CAG sit a player down and twice I've seen this team respond, what an effort from the guys off the bench.

Kind of reminded me of a game in Birmingham earlier this year.  ;)

We can't relax, we play LSU on the road, then Florida at T-Town. I am really impressed with how so many players responded in this game.


 #+

Yes it did. Speaking of that game, Okey State beat a good Iowa State team tonight.

This was a better team without TM tonight, but this team can be a better team than they were tonight with TM there. I hope Mitchell watched the game so he could see what happens when all 5 players on the court are involved in the play. Bama doesn't need the highlight reel dunks, it needs 5 players on the court all doing their job as we all witnessed tonight.

Hopefully Mitchell can get a good mindset and rejoin this team and enjoy playing together as a team and not as an individual. He has really hurt his pro career chances and hopefully someone can make him understand this.

The jerkwad ESPNU analyst on "College Basketball Live" doesn't think much of Bama. He says Bama will lose to LSU, Arky and UF.

 >:(

That win plus Bama's win only enhances their chances for the Big Dance but Bama has some unfinished business to take care of Saturday, another road win against LSU. It will be on ESPN2 at 6 p.m.

Yeah but there's nothing that I like better than when Bama makes the ESPN bunch look like they are all from Lee County.  >:(

And they do that often.  :clap:

Great win last night. We into the barn's new facility and put the worst beating on them in the arenas history. We now have beat them 4 in a row and Barbee is still looking for his first win against us.

We looked great. We had 28 bench points. Hankerson, Cooper and the 7 foot Swed were fantastic off the bench. We rebounded well and went after loose balls like we wanted to win. CAG and the players were smiling and acting like they were having fun for the first time since SEC play started. This is a win we can build on. We go to LSU Saturday and that is another road game that we can win. I feel much better about this team.

I would also like to thank the barn for 3 technicals in the first half that lead to 6 Releford free throws. They are an undisciplined bunch.