TJ4UA

Thanks for the info :dude:

Good one! After watching Michigan bigs leap above the rim all night I’d love to see Alabama have a big guy with over a 12” vertical jump.

:violin: I've seen Michigan play on TV 3 times this season other than the NCAA tournament. The first 1/2 of the year they looked like a Saban version basketball squad - they were physically mauling everyone as well as dropping 3-point buckets all over the place. They absolutely looked unbeatable. Purdue beat them in the Big 10 tourney by spreading the ball around using great passing, driving and kicking out to an open player. It looked like Purdue wore Michigan out physically - plus MI didn't hit their usual number of 3's.

So to beat the big beasts Alabama has to run - run - run, then pass effectively all around the perimeter while shooting at least 40% from behind the line. Then get back on defense - get in their face defensively, like they did with Texas Tech. There is no way Alabama can match up with their size, even if Williamson undergoes a metamorphosis and roughs up their 7' 4" bruiser. I think Bama's backcourt is far superior, and can do damage by moving the ball constantly and wearing Michigan down. That is what Purdue did. It also helps if MI has an off-night shooting from outside.

I think the Tide will play poised and I expect them to play with confidence on Friday. I agree with HWYMAN that Coach Oats looks more comfortable in this environment which helps the team play more loose and with less pressure.

No one, other than a few of us Tide fans, even think Bama can win this coming game. Remember, if you are old enough, that no one thought Villanova in 1985 could beat Georgetown and Patrick Ewing, but shooting 78% for the game kind of evened the playing field! I just pray Alabama can play their best, which is all we can ask for.

:catfight: If someone has the data, I'd like to see the comparison in spending between USCe women's and men's basketball programs, as well as which of those two sports brought in more revenue.

Over $10M on woman's basketball is incredible - but Dawn Staley's salary is reportedly over $4M a year, so 40% of that woman's BB investment is her salary!

:nana: I was pleasantly surprised at the performance of the team in Tampa! Following the debacle in the SEC tournament, I didn't think they would make it out of the first weekend - but thankfully I was wrong. If they play an aggressive "in-your-face" defense against Michigan and shoot the 3-ball like they did against TT - they have a shot to work the upset. Hope for the best!

:banghead: I'm a rank amateur but I think we all recognize a defense that sucks - and unless there is a change in intensity when guarding opposing players this team is going to be an early out once the real tournament starts.

:confused: A midweek game like this goes to show why Alabama needs a new arena with around 10K MAX seating capacity. It has been hard getting a capacity crowd midweek for as long as I have been a basketball fan (CM Newton era). I remember driving down from BHM for a Wednesday game against Vandy in 1992 and the place wasn't even 1/2 filled.

I guarantee you that 10K rabid fans in a smaller and more compact venue could ramp up the sound level to such a degree it would be an intimidating environment for any opponent.

:rolltide: I think Sherrell has made tremendous progress with improving his skill set since last year. He is a better all-around player than Bediako, but is still learning how to use his hands on defense without fouling. The appeal to the AL Supreme Court is a "Hail Mary" half-court shot to possibly provide quality depth and I hope it is successful.

I'm sick of seeing teams like TN bring in European pros or semi-pros whose primary task is to mug our guys in the paint. We need an inside physical presence that intimidates the competition and Bediako is the closest person Bama has to being an enforcer.

:confused: I don't know if Williamson is timid or not - but he does set the best "moving screen" I've seen since C.M. Newton made Alabama basketball relevant again.