re: 2017-18 Alabama Basketball Season Thread: 20-16 (10-11)

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. I'm wondering if maybe wimp suggested that to Avery ...In regards to driving to dish and not always driving to score.

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If Avery needs Wimp to tell him the value of passing, especially given AJ's own career, ya'll have a coaching problem.

I'd imagine it has more to do with how long it takes to beat a FR superstar into submission that team play is the best play

So - we are no longer allowed to complain about how "terrible" we are on defense. We are now, by a wide margin, #1 in SEC D-Efficiency on KenPom in Conference games. We are #12 nationally in total year defensive efficiency.

1. Alabama (96.2)
2. Georgia (101.1)
3. Auburn (101.2)
4. Mississippi State (101.4)
5. Kentucky (101.4)
6. Missouri (101.6)

#1 in Defensive Efficiency
#2 in eFG%
#4 in TO% Forced
#4 in Offensive Rebound % against
#3 in 2 PT % Against
#4 in 3 PT % Against
#1 in Block %
#2 in Steal %

While the insistence on switching everything infuriates me, Avery deserves a lot of credit for that effort. The fact that they've been able to do that with so many freshman (and a new transfer in Giddens) is incredibly impressive.

Also - and I am as guilty of this as anyone - but I'm going to try and keep a bigger perspective the rest of the season and not look at things through a "we should be better perspective" except when we just truly shite the bed.

KenPom rankings of the last 12 years of Alabama basketball

1. 2012 Alabama (#27) (NCAAT)
2. 2018 Alabama (#48) (?)
3. 2011 Alabama (#51) (NIT)
4. 2015 Alabama (#55) (NIT)
5. 2017 Alabama (#56) (NIT)
6. 2007 Alabama (#62) (NIT)
7. 2010 Alabama (#63)
8. 2013 Alabama (#64) (NIT)
9. 2008 Alabama (#86)
9. 2014 Alabama (#86)
11. 2016 Alabama (#96) (NIT)
12. 2009 Alabama (#100)

The defense has definitely progressed throughout the year. That's been really nice to see. Sure, there are still lapses, but not near as frequently (though there were several in the first half against UF).

That's pretty good since we play so many freshmen.
We were definitely a good defensive team last year.

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3. 2011 Alabama (#51) (NIT)

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We got absolutely shafted this year. It was the season we beat Georgia at home the last game of the season and again in the first game of the SEC Tournament. I remember going in to the second game against them analysts talking about how it was essentially a play in game for the NCAAT. Then they get in over us. That 2011 team I think was Grant's best team and could have won a game or two had we made the tourney.

I know this is completely irrelevant to this season.

I don't think CAJ has to beat anything into Collin's head, if anything he's too unselfish sometimes. Any narrative or insinuation that he's a ball hog is way off base. I think he's had to figure out when to drive and dish as opposed to looking to score each time .

Our OOC schedule was pretty bad that year from what I remember. Next year's schedule was pretty fun.

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We got absolutely shafted this year. It was the season we beat Georgia at home the last game of the season and again in the first game of the SEC Tournament. I remember going in to the second game against them analysts talking about how it was essentially a play in game for the NCAAT. Then they get in over us. That 2011 team I think was Grant's best team and could have won a game or two had we made the tourney. I know this is completely irrelevant to this season.

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I went to every home game that year. Tony Mitchell was fun to watch.

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I'd just say there are some noticeable "why" explanations that you can isolate though The biggest offense is Grant's scheduling which absolutely tanked RPI #80 at end of regular season vs #47 for UGA

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The schedule was good enough to make the tournament. The 3 games in St Thomas destroyed our season. We were never able to dig out from it, and the fact that the SEC was really bad and we didn't beat Okie St or Providence made it even worse. That 3 game stretch was as bad a 3 game stretch as I've seen Alabama basketball have in my life.

But, being a bubble team with losses to those 2 Big Six teams (Iowa, Seton Hall) and St Peters...........then you add in these SEC games

@ #119 Mississippi State
#134 South Carolina
@ #128 Arkansas (L)
@ #256 Auburn
#227 LSU
#119 Mississippi State
@ #227 LSU
#128 Arkansas
#256 Auburn

Half our SEC schedule had RPIs > 100, 4 games > 225.

And the ultimate shaft job we got by the officials at the end of the Vanderbilt game in Nashville.