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

Yeah I would say this team is lacking a rim protecting mistake eraser on defense and a dynamic playmaker on offense, which basically makes it where we have to play A+ basketball to really look like a great team. Assuming Tchikou is 100% for next year, we sign Bediako, and Wilson hits the ground running we will get the rim protection, and JD is obviously about as dynamic of a playmaker as there will be in the country next year. We are going in the right direction. It will just take some time to get there. This team is significantly better than last year's team and will 110% make the tournament, which is what is really important.

Honestly - we feel a lot like Auburn's 2018 team that won the SEC Championship.

Auburn 2018

Through End of January
- 20-2 (8-1)
- #13 Overall
- #15 Offense
- #37 Defense

February 1 - End of Season
- 6-6 (5-4)
- #70 Overall
- #88 Offense
- #60 Defense



Alabama 2021

Through End of January
- 14-4 (9-0)
- #12 Overall
- #22 Offense
- #12 Defense

February 1 - End of Season
- 4-2 (4-2)
- #45 Overall
- #138 Offense
- #19 Defense

To all those folks saying Bama didn't get any FTs because all they did was chuck 3s all game, the 2 teams drove the paint at the same frequency last night - 49%

quote:

---

Yea, I mean the free throw rates were all in Arkansas' favor compared to seasonal trends. We didn't shoot anymore 3's than we usually do and we went to the line at a much lower rate. Arkansas went to the line at a much higher rate.

But, we were also late on defense a ton and were hacking like crazy. And we gave them a bunch of FTs on T's and stupid 3 pt fouls.

Whatever, we lost, move on.

---

I'm not saying we didn't play bad D and foul a lot. Just pointing out that the other end of the floor was what was absurd.

We drove the paint at the same frequency as the Hogs, and they were credited with 11 blocks against I believe 2 shooting fouls, with ZERO in the 2nd half.

You can't be so aggressive on D to conjure up 11 blocks without committing more than 2 shooting fouls over 40 minutes. That's borderline impossible.

quote:

---

You can't be so aggressive on D to conjure up 11 blocks without committing more than 2 shooting fouls over 40 minutes. That's borderline impossible.

---

This is my issue. I hate bitching about refs, but I was pretty sour about some of the calls last night. I’m willing to cede Arkansas the FT advantage because of home court, aggressive D, poor play and late swipes on defense, etc., but a 35 shot discrepancy at the line is hard to explain, regardless of play style.

At the end of the day, we still lost, so it really doesn’t matter at this point anyway. No use in holding onto a gripe about officials until Saturday. Just finish up strong with MSU and Auburn, win a regular season championship, and leave that shite in Fayetteville behind us.

quote:

---

Honestly - we feel a lot like Auburn's 2018 team that won the SEC Championship.

---

Wasn’t that their final four team? Started the season great, slumped in February, then went on a run and won the SECT, and won 4 games in the NCAA as a 5 seed.

I don’t think we’re going to fall to a 5 seed, but I’ll take the rest.

You’re right - I think I was combining memories from their 2018 and 2019 teams.

quote:

---

Our slide started with Herb and Bruner getting hurt.

---

Didn't they get hurt the 1st Kentucky game? Bama then proceeded to run Arkansas and LSU off the court the next two games. Those guys were healthy when Bama was 5-3 in nonconference play before the SEC schedule.

This Bama team is damn good when the 3s are falling and above average when they are not.

Bama can beat any team when they are raining down 3s and lose to any team when they aren't.

NCAA Announces Contingency Plans for Teams Forced to Withdraw from Tournament Due to COVID-19

Once the bracket is set, it is set per the NCAA Division I Men’s and Women’s Basketball Committees

The NCAA just announced its plans for tournament teams that are forced to withdraw from next month's Division 1 men's basketball tournament:

"The following tenets are fundamental to the committees’ decision:

Once the bracket is finalized and released, teams will not be reseeded, nor will the bracket change.

Reasonable efforts will be made to ensure a full field is in place before the start of the championship. No replacement teams will be introduced after the championship begins.

Every participating conference should have the opportunity for a minimum of one team in the championship field.

Beyond the goal of having at least one team from every conference, replacement teams must be among the best teams being considered for an at-large bid.

"There are separate policies for when a team is forced to withdraw: one for before the announcement of the championship field and one for after the release of the bracket. Replacement teams will only be introduced into the championship within 48 hours after the announcement of the field, and at no time thereafter."

quote:

---

What about for the Sweet 16, etc rounds?

---

The way I read it (which carries no weight of authority) - it doesn’t matter. If a team’s opponent has to drop out - sounds like that team gets a free pass. Not sure how else to interpret it.