Check this out from our buddies over at The Backboard.
"Alabama is beat up, plays lethargic, lacks any kind of post or transition defense, can't win on the road, makes the UCLA high post offense look like a joke, and is just a really dumb basketball team in general. That doesn't exactly spark confidence in me when you look at UMass' low post duo of Rashaun Freeman ( 15.2 ppg, 8.3 rpg ) and Stephane Lasme ( 13.3 ppg, 9.5 rpg, 5 bpg ) and how they will likely tear apart Alabama's interior defense. Alabama's Richard Hendrix can't play more than three minutes without being gassed which in turn means he's late on any kind of transition play and Jermareo Davidson doesn't know the meaning of help defense or stepping up in the lane. That's not even mentioning the Minutemen's Gary Forbes, who at 6'7 stepping out behind the three point line, will be a huge matchup problem for Alabama. Alonzo Gee or Mykal Riley will likely match up against him and both are terrible defending the arc. It appeared as if Alabama was done with this season after their blowout home loss to Auburn and there's no reason to think they're going to change their poor ways in the 32nd game. I can definitely see this one being a blowout. Atleast "defensive guru" Tom Asbury will likely be stepping down as an assistant coach after the season ( after this game I should say ).
Comments:
Well, I'm sure it was noticeable, but I'm an Alabama fan as well. Even though it didn't turn out to be a blowout - far from it, it was still the same season long mistakes that did them in. Unbelievable that Davidson couldn't finish around the rim once or Hollinger drove to the basket multiple times only to get his shot blocked or Torrance not helping Hollinger on defense for UMass' game winning shot or etc etc etc.
Maybe it's a good thing Alabama didn't win considering I'd have to get ESPNU and miss the real tournament. Oh well, perhaps the fundamentals will improve next season, though I doubt it. Anyways, I've known about your blog for a long while now and I appreciate you mentioning mine. # posted by ebl : 11:31 PM
Haha. Thanks for checking this one out. I've been following up on yours for a little while.
Yeah, I kinda figured you were. You seemed to put into words exactly what I felt about this team.
And yeah, it was the same season long mistakes. The game tonight was a game that you CAN blame on Ronald Steele. They don't have that clutch player because they counted on him so much. Next year will be a noticeable difference when Steele gets back.
Also, did you notice how much better the team played once Gee left the game? Notice he turned it over twice with under a minute left before he fouled out. # posted by Memphis Tider : 9:07 AM
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