re: Alabama Basketball Megathread | 26-7 (16-2)

Considering Pearl is making 3.8 with 4.3 in the 5th year of his contract, we might should of bumped him to 4.

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Honestly I think the fact that we have continued winning without Bruner should be a much bigger deal than it is, but because you have to look at more advanced metrics to make the argument for how valuable he is there hasn't been a ton of media discussion about it the way there would be if Baylor lost Butler or Michigan lost Livers.

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Look at the reaction to “Oklahoma beating us without their best player and other starters” or “Missouri losing all these games without Tillmon.”

Not a word about us not having Bruner for those 2 games.

Don’t y’all think he would have made a teeny bit of difference guarding the paint against OU in a 5 point road loss?

How about manning up Tillmon in a 3 point road loss?

It’s almost like if you are missing a key player for a game or 2, the media gives you a pass for taking an L.

But missing him 9 games, nobody cares anymore.

It’s ridiculous.

¯\_(?)_/¯

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Why would there need to be a pissing contest over salary with Pearl? Bruce has accomplished a lot more as a coach, albeit with a lot of baggage along the way.

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Exactly. Oats has been pretty successful on the court and the recruiting trail so far, but he’s still very early in his HC career at the college level. It was a significant raise and I’m sure he’s happy with it. I’m willing to bet there are other basketball related causes he would like to see funded as well... assistant salaries, Coleman reno, etc. If he keeps producing results, it will all come in due time.

Doesn't make him any less fat or sweaty

You could give me the extra 80 pounds and make me sweat like Bruce for $4M/yr

Latest edition of Nate Oats show is uploaded for those interested. Lots of highlights from the season Youtube

Eighth-ranked Alabama (17-5, 12-1 SEC) looks to move one step closer to an SEC title when it hosts last-place Vanderbilt (6-11, 2-9) in Tuscaloosa, Ala., on Saturday.

Vanderbilt looks to pull off another upset at No. 8 Alabama

Wins have been scarce for Vandy, which lost another close one to Kentucky (82-78) on Wednesday night. The Commodores started poorly, spotting Kentucky a 10-0 lead. Vandy had as many turnovers (10) as made baskets in the first half.

“I think we just came out flat,” Vanderbilt’s Dylan Disu said. “There’s nothing more I can elaborate on. I think we just came out flat. We didn’t come out firing on all cylinders, so that’s what led to the turnovers.”

Disu had career highs in points (29) and rebounds (16) on Wednesday and leads the league in rebounding in all games (8.9).

Vandy is considered the underdog, but Alabama will certainly remember Vandy’s visit to Tuscaloosa last March 3. The Commodores scored an 87-79 upset thanks to 38 points from Saben Lee, who’s now in the NBA.

Vanderbilt was 15 of 28 from beyond the arc that day. The Commodores are 26 for 63 from long range in their two SEC wins this year.

The Crimson Tide have been terrific in defending 3-pointers, allowing 28.5 percent, which ranks ninth in the country.

Vanderbilt goes as point guard Scotty Pippen Jr. goes. In those two league victories, he’s dished out 16 assists to five turnovers.

Pippen’s best and worst were on display on Wednesday. The sophomore went scoreless in a five-turnover first half as the Commodores trailed by as many as 17 in the first period.

In the second half, Pippen scored 21, handed out three assists and didn’t turn it over as Vanderbilt rallied with a chance to win in the final seconds.

Up 10 on them now.

Let's go Shockers!!!!

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That being said, are his efficiency numbers bolstered by the fact that when he was playing, the entire offense was really clicking? Especially the conference only metrics? I’m not disagreeing at all, but genuinely curious if he’s getting a boost from missing the games while the offense struggled. Some of the struggles could obviously be due to his absence, so it might be a hard thing to quantify.

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I think you kind of answered your own question. I think passing ability is easily the most underestimated skill a big can have and for this style of offense you could argue that it is the most important.

I was saying this about him when people were giving him grief for not showing up on the stat sheet early in the season, but he’s the most important player for us to have in our position. He does things that don’t show up on the stat sheet. He’s basically a Chris Hines like defender that can stretch the defense, finish and pass on the other end. Incredibly vital to this team especially when you consider his value over replacement. Even with his huge uptick in quality minutes, Reese just can’t fill that void, and Rojas is a nightmare on the offensive end and doesn’t seem to know it.

me either. I'm fine with the 2 seed.