re: tOfficial Alabama Basketball Season Thread | 19-15 (10-8) | #BuckleUp

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All the hate I've given Norris, and he pulls off 5 straight games with double digits

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That's mainly been the offense working a bit better and Norris getting the open looks on the perimeter where he excels --
at least since he's gotten over that shooting slump.

He certainly needs to work on finishing around the rim though.

A lot of frustration with Norris comes from simply not having enough players that can break down defenders one on one.

Norris, like Collins or any of our bigs, are absolutely not players you want "creating" with the shot clock winding down but it's still too often that you see one of them get passed the ball with 6 seconds on the clock.

The only two players we have that really can do this are Key and Ingram (and AJ Jr) and all are pretty raw and mistake prone.

Coach Johnson has seemingly decided to sink or swim with Key as the offensive focus since Key's gotten some games under his belt and that should mean a bit more good looks for Norris without asking him to drive and create.

Hall is getting better down low. If he could establish a small jump shot 5-8 feet out he would be dangerous

Women's team still knows how to choke.

There's a huge talent gap between Alabama and Auburn's girls...apparently the same holds true with the coaching.

Here's teamrankings.com's outlook on our NCAA tourney chances. I thought y'all might like to look at this. Gives us a 30% chance of making it (had a 10% chance last week). Seems like 20 wins would give us a 50/50 shot but 21 is the number we need. Seems accurate enough. LINK

Per the RPI Wizard

If we basically win the games we are supposed to and lose the game we are supposed to

@ Arkansas - L
vs Auburn - W
@ South Carolina - L
vs Kentucky - L
@ Missouri - W
vs LSU - W
vs Georgia - W
@ Texas A&M - W
vs Ole Miss - W
@ Tennessee - L

19-11 (12-6), RPI 61

That would probably put us in a position of needed to at least reach the SECCG in the Tournament to get into the NCAAs.


If we manage to do the same thing but win @ Tennessee : 20-10 (13-5), RPI 50.

If we manage to do the same thing but win @ Arkansas : 20-10 (13-5), RPI 51

If we manage to do the same thing but win vs Kentucky : 20-10 (13-5), RPI 46


Basically, we are winning all the favored and toss up games + one upset away from being squarely on the bubble entering the SEC Tournament. Now, that isn't easy, but the fact that it is possible is pretty incredible.

Offensive rebounding and defensive efficiency are the two most I'm happy about. Hope this is something that will be consistent throughout Avery's tenure here.

Offense still needs to keep improving.

Yep. The league is no longer terrible. It's not great, but it's deep with NIT/NCAA type teams.

The only bad teams in the league are LSU and Missouri.

What if we finish 19-11 (12-6) then beat a good team like Arkansas Friday and lose to UK Saturday at the tournament