So I hate to say it but these past few years I have kind of slowly stopped paying as much attention to Alabama basketball as I have in the past. I remember guys like Pettway and Gee balling and while we weren't exactly a powerhouse it could be enjoyable to watch. Especially actually making the tournament...Man I remember when we were ranking #1! in the whole country!

Last time I went to a game was a&m 2 years back and we showed up with 18 minutes to go in the first half and we didnt score a. single. bucket. until about 12 or 13 minutes left in the half. I'm not exaggerating either....we ended up winning the game at the last second but that man some of these teams the past few years have been painful to watch. I can take losing....but we would just lose in the most boring and painful way possible.

My first taste of Alabama basketball this season was against Wichita State. I saw the game on tv and turned it on and we were up like 10 or so with 6 or 7 minutes left. I told my roommate we were gonna lose. I was positive......and it just seemed like we started playing not to lose instead of to win and what do you know they score a bucket to put them ahead with like .2 on the clock....Not even remotely surprised.

but I watched the A&M game the other day and I've got to admit...we looked pretty good. Is A&M very good? I know they had a player or 2 sitting out..

But I want to start following basketball more closely again. Time to make myself familiar with some of the names....

So who is the best player on the team? Randolph? Retin?

Retin really impressed me watching him. He was pretty aggressive and making plays left and right.

I always thought Randolph had what it takes but was never aggressive enough. Has that changed?

What about Kessins? Had no clue about him until I watched the A&M game. He looked good too.

Do we have any young guys with lots of potential? How does our future look?

Pretty much just looking for some basic info on our team. Doesn't have to be anything too detailed.

Our record suprised me though you guys think we have a chance to make the tournament?

This post was edited on 1/9/15 at 4:35 pm

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Posted by Chadaristic

Member since Jan 2011

40772 posts

Posted on 1/9/15 at 5:05 pm to hambone213

I'm on mobile right now or I would help you out. I can post some information later for you unless someone chimes in before then.

Until then, paging Bryant...

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Posted by justausedcarguy

Member since Aug 2014

5642 posts

Posted on 1/9/15 at 5:13 pm to hambone213

Well, you haven't missed much the past few years. They look to be coming around. We have some good young players that seem to be contributing. Honestly, I just started paying more attention in the past week.

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Posted by Spread

Alabama

Member since Aug 2012

1150 posts

Posted on 1/9/15 at 5:23 pm to hambone213

We have no superstars, but this is the deepest Bama team in recent memory. There are 6-8 guys who can score, along with a few big guys (Taylor, Kessens, Hale) who can rebound and block shots. This is a fun team to watch, hopefully they can make the dance this year - and win a game or two!

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Posted by BigBird09

Member since May 2012

5884 posts

Posted on 1/9/15 at 5:54 pm to hambone213

quote:
So who is the best player on the team? Randolph? Retin?

I'd say Randolph, but it has changed from night to night. Randolph, Coop, and Tarrant have pretty much rotated as being the best player on any given night. Other than last night, Retin has been pretty much invisible on offense, but he has been playing better recently. Lately, you could argue that Kessens has been our best player.

quote:
I always thought Randolph had what it takes but was never aggressive enough. Has that changed?

Yes, but he still disappears at times and has been rather quiet lately.

quote:
What about Kessins? Had no clue about him until I watched the A&M game. He looked good too.

He had a terrible start to the season, but he's been a monster recently. He's got the best all around post game we've had since God knows when.

quote:
Do we have any young guys with lots of potential? How does our future look?

Riley Norris and Justin Coleman ooze potential and Norris has been a key cog on this team. He's been great on the boards and providing a lot of hustle plays. He's also been hitting his deep shot recently which is what he was known for in HS. Coleman is the quickest player we have (which is saying something when we have Retin) and has a great bball IQ. He has struggled recently, but I'm not worried about him in the least. Kid would've been a 5-star in HS had he been 6-foot. Haven't seen enough from Mitchell to judgr his potential, but he was a deadly deep range guy in HS and he has a great personality so I'll be rooting for him. Since he committed to us he's gone to work promoting our program to fans and recruits.

quote:
Our record suprised me though you guys think we have a chance to make the tournament?

If I had to give you the odds, I'd say 50-50. We certainly have the talent this year, but this is the year Grant will have to prove that he can coach.

This post was edited on 1/9/15 at 6:03 pm

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Posted by JordonfortheJ

Bavaria-Germany

Member since Mar 2012

14547 posts

Posted on 1/9/15 at 6:17 pm to hambone213

quote:
slowly stopped paying as much attention to Alabama basketball as I have in the past. I remember guys like Pettway and Gee balling and while we weren't exactly a powerhouse it could be enjoyable to watch. Especially actually making the tournament...Man I remember when we were ranking #1! in the whole country!

So you only pay attention when the team is ranked? gotcha.

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Posted by Crede15

Member since Jun 2009

17214 posts

Posted on 1/9/15 at 9:25 pm to hambone213

Gee? God those teams were tough to watch. He kind of sucked till his senior year and wasn't that great then.

Pettway was the man.

This team is more balanced than last years for sure. It's probably an NIT team, but we're not out of it.

We hired an offensive assistant and played more up and down early on. The we went to Xavier and lost 97-84 and went back to Grant Ball. We've played good defense since then but are tough to watch.

Overall, Levi is still probably our best player, but I kind of feel like if we're going to be an ncaa team our leading scorers might need to be Tarrant and Kessens. With Levi putting up 12-13, playing good defense, being a good ball handler, etc.

And yes, we all kind of knew we were going to lose that Wichita game. Even when it looked like we borderline couldn't lose.

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Posted by hambone213

Member since Oct 2012

442 posts

Posted on 1/10/15 at 1:13 pm to JordonfortheJ

quote:
So you only pay attention when the team is ranked? gotcha

God forbid I have other stuff going on in my life and can't eat breathe sleep Alabama sports. I'm really busy these days. Back in the day when I was going through Jr High and High School and had all the free time in the world I use to know everything about Alabama football basketball and even baseball. But now....Well I've grown up and have a lot on my plate. I'm taking some hard classes and I have an internship. I really just don't have the free time like I used too. I don't think thats very fair....

And me only following when we are good? Seriously...I mean we are a fringe tournament team. It's not like we are all of a sudden as good as Kentucky or something. I mean we may be improved from the past few years but we still aren't that great. Hate to sound negative about our team but its the truth.

The last time I sort of followed the team was 2 years ago. We weren't that great that year. So no it's not necessarily just when we are good...

There's gonna be a time where I am not going to be able to follow Alabama football as closely as I do now. Does that make me any less of a fan? Hell no. Life gets in the way....

This post was edited on 1/10/15 at 1:47 pm

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