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

We’re 3 weeks away from our first NCAA tourney in years and y’all are arguing about whether Bola was good or not

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We’re 3 weeks away from our first NCAA tourney in years and y’all are arguing about whether Bola was good or not

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It's always a good time for a Bola debate.

And if we are voting, give me Bola!!!

He’s one of the best rebounders we’ve ever had, so I’m a fan

Lunardi has us as a 7 seed

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Bola was the best individual rebounder, both offensive and defensive, in the conference last season per KenPom.

His OR% would have ranked #1 in the country if he had played 40% of minutes. His DR% would have ranked 36th in the country.

He was an insanely elite rebounder.

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And you get a down vote. As if anything you just stated was nonfactual.

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Bracket Matrix average : 7 seed
Lunardi : 7 seed
Yahoo : 7 seed
Team Rankings : 7 seed
Palm : 8 seed

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Bracket projections are based on where they think teams end up based on their remaining schedules, right? Or is it based on their current resume? If it is based on the remaining schedule, that has to be encouraging considering most people will have us going 2-2 at best down this final 4-game stretch. I'll most definitely take a 7-seed with 19 regular season wins.

You know you're an Alabama fan when there's a shade of doubt of whether you'll make the tournament or not with all these encouraging signs. The funny thing is we actually have a legitimate chance to win the SECT (for the first time in years), but I'm secretly hoping we can get the 5-seed so we can make it easier for us to hopefully tack on another W to the resume

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but I'm secretly hoping we can get the 5-seed so we can make it easier for us to hopefully tack on another W to the resume

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I've had this thought too, but I think if we only win 1 of the last 4, we'll probably be a 7 seed or lower in St. Louis. If we win 2 of the last 4, we should be in regardless of the SEC tournament.

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I've had this thought too, but I think if we only win 1 of the last 4, we'll probably be a 7 seed or lower in St. Louis. If we win 2 of the last 4, we should be in regardless of the SEC tournament.

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Very true. The logical part of me knows we'll be solidly in with 19 wins regardless, but the Bama fan in me keeps whispering "they're going to screw you" in my ear.

Anyone else hoping Texas doesn't make the tournament? They are literally the only team I'm absolutely terrified of us playing against (which probably means we'll matchup with them in the first round). It's not really the team, as much as it is Mo Bamba completely destroying our offense. He makes them a nightmare matchup for us, which is a hard thing for this team to have with our versatility.

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What starting 5 would y'all like to see next year assuming Sexton is our only early departure?

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Really think Hall will declare without an agent and then blow people away at the combine and leave, but assuming he stays (I'm praying it happens) we should be an even better team if our freshman progress and Petty can get going on the road with some consistency (Saturday was encouraging).

As of now, I'd hope for:

PG - Butler (this will be where things get interesting)
SG - John Petty
SF - Herb Jones
PF - Key (Reese or Giddens if a bigger matchup dictates it)
C - Hall

6-7 - Ingram and Mack
8-9 - Giddens and Reese

Ingram/Herb take on the backup PG role assuming Butler is ready (our staff does).

What I think happens in that scenario:

PG - Butler
SG - Ingram
SF - Petty
PF - Key or Giddens (depending on matchup)
C - Hall

6-9 - Herb Jones, Tevin Mack and Key/Giddens, and AJjr
10 - Reese
11 - Smith/Fleming

Regardless, it's a good team, but Avery seems dead set on putting all of our best offensive talent out there and giving them breaks at the same time (my biggest criticism I've had with Avery). I think Ingram starts based off of his comments earlier this season when asked if he could see himself being the spark off the bench. Personally, I'd bench him anyways (in this scenario), but I'm sure Avery doesn't want another Shannon Hale locker room debacle, so he may just cave to him starting since he is most certainly a starting quality player (couldn't blame him).

Would have been really cool if Sexton was a 2018 recruit and could step into this situation with the current team being a year older. Yea, I know, that's a silly thing to ask for, but still.

However.......can we travel to fantasy world real quick? Let's imagine Petty leaves after his Sophomore year, to keep it semi realistic (or something). Have to imagine at least 1 of Key/Ingram/Reese leaves early to play in Europe or transfers, but since we don't know who we'll roll with all 3 still being here.

2019-2020 Alabama Basketball

Starters
PG - Herb Jones (JR)
SG - Tevin Mack (SR)
SF - Trendon Watford (FR)
PF - Alex Reese (JR)
C - Daniel Giddens (SR)

1st Bench
G - Jared Butler (SO)
G/F - Dazon Ingram (SR)
G/F - Braxton Key (SR)
F/C - Galin Smith (JR)

2nd bench
C - Javian Fleming (SO)
G - Kira Lewis (FR)
G - Diante Wood (SO)
F - Kobe Brown (FR)



Holy moly