Days 'til Selection Sunday: 5 Days 'til Spring Practice: 18 Today's RPI: 43
South Carolina did it last year, so there's no reason to think that we can't get to the SEC Tourney finals this year. Everything sets up rather nicely. We have a slumping Kentucky team in the first round, a revenge game against Mississippi State in the next round (although we haven't fared very well in revenge games), and a game against, probably either Arkansas or Vanderbilt in the semi-finals. Both of whom killed us in the regular season.
The loss of Ronald Steele was the killer this year. He could do things with the basketball that other people on this team just can't do, and the other players were used to just watching him take over in the clutch. Period.
It reminds me of when James "Hollywood" Robinson was playing, or when Brian Wilson was playing. They would just take over the games and, although they couldn't win most of them, they were still the stars. The teams would stand around and watch him on offense. It was ridiculous.
Same thing here, but Ron did have a little help, hence why we were able to win a few games this year.
Oh well. The season's shot unless we make an unlikely run through the tournament, which I very seriously doubt will be happening unless Ronald Steele makes a miraculous comeback.
Either way, we all know that the first key to recovery is admitting that there's a problem. Everybody loves the coach that blames himself, and Mark Gottfried did just that. He's pointing the finger at his coaching this season and is vowing that changes will be made. Good to finally hear something like that from him this season. Cecil also chimes in on the new attitude.
In other news, Nick Saban is an animal. Thank God, cause somebody in Tuscaloosa needs to be. Just read a pretty good article about the players surviving the strength and endurance workouts. This team will be in shape, if nothing else. If you're sick of losing leads in the 4th quarter, then you'll love this coach. Haha.
¶ 8:39 AM
