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

Because he is a Sr. And has a lot of experience, he plays good defense, and he hustles. But now that Key is back I expect Him,Herb,Giddens, and AJ to be our 4 off the bench.

If we can knock off A&M to open SEC play, we could see this team get on a roll. We follow that game with @Vandy, @UGA, USC, @LSU, Auburn, MSU, and @Ole Miss before we play OU.

Not easy by any means- especially @Vandy since we never win there- but a winnable slate for the first half of the season. I like the chances of beating A&M with it being at home. Hopefully Key shakes the rust off quickly and we can pull together, because I really like how the first half of the SEC schedule sets up

I think we can start off quick in sec play too... Vandy is a mess right now and I think playing well the other night will prepare this team for the road. The fact that they didn't back down at Arizona told me alot...Because that's as hard a place as any in college basketball. Only Kentucky can match that environment, we just gotta shore up rebounding in spots and continue to gell. I think key is the final piece and once he gets back in the flow I think we can take off. Avery knew what he was doing with this schedule.

What the heck was the deal with Nick King at Bama? I see he is absolutely tearing it up at MTSU w 24.3 ppg 6.6rpg 56% eFG. Auburn matches up with him/MTSU in BHam on Saturday

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What the heck was the deal with Nick King at Bama? I see he is absolutely tearing it up at MTSU w 24.3 ppg 6.6rpg 56% eFG.

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You got me. Supposedly he had some sort of illness. He played a little early last year, and didn't look good. Then, he was benched with the mysterious illness. I don't know if it was just because of hippa laws, or what, but it seemed kind of secret.

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It was a pretty serious lung infection iirc

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Yeah. He lost a ton of weight, had trouble sleeping, etc.

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why is Norris still getting this many minutes

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Focusing just on minutes ("starter" isn't really important), Norris is only averaging ~50% of minutes when available right now. Considering Key has been out, that isn't absurd for the only experienced stretch 4 on the team

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Because he is a Sr. And has a lot of experience, he plays good defense, and he hustles

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He also plays the 3 & 4, which is extremely thin without Key.

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But now that Key is back

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I'd expect Key starts but Norris shouldn't have a huge reduction in minutes. Key coming back gives depth at 3/4 to free Ingram to play more backup 2 or 1 instead of AJ Jr. That would eat into AJ Jr's minutes while giving Petty (~33mpg when healthY) some much-needed rest to be fresh when SEC play starts and games are only 3-4 days apart

Right now players last 5 games by KenPom play the following

1/PG -Sexton (72%) / Jr (20%) / Ingram (8%)
2/SG -Petty (74%) / Ingram (14%) / JR (11%)
3/SF -Ingram (61%) / Herb (35%)
4/PF -Norris (49%) / Herb (20%) / Donta (18%) / Galin Smith (10%)
5/C - Hall (49%) / Giddens (32%) / Smith/Reese (19%)


With Key Back I would think the minute breakout looks closer to this, with Ingram spending more time at the 2, with Herb/Norris getting more minutes at the 3

1/PG Sexton (75%) / Jr (15%) / Ingram (10%)
2/SG Petty (70-75%) / Ingram (25%) / Misc 0-5%
3/SF Ingram (35%) / Herb (35%) / Norris (20%) / Key (10%)
4/PF Key (60%) / Norris (25%) / Herb (10%) / BigMan (10%)
5/C Hall (55%) / Giddens (35%) / Smith/Reese (10%)

If Norris can't hit outside jumpers then Herb is going to take almost all of his minutes once Key comes back.

Herb is better in all of Norris' prior positive areas (rebounding, all around team defense).

Yeah but Norris never handles the ball whereas Herbert plays like a guard.