Alabama Crimson Tide
Southeastern Conference (18-14, 7-9)
Seed: #
RPI: 108
Big Wins: 1/11 LSU (65-59), 2/21 Mississippi State (87-85), 3/8 at Tennessee (70-67)
Bad Losses: 11/16 Mercer (69-72), 11/24 vs Oregon (69-92), 1/29 at Arkansas (80-89)
Coach: Philip Pearson
Probable Starters:
Mikhail Torrance, Junior, Guard, 10.0 ppg, 2.3 apg
Senario Hillman, Sophomore, Guard, 12.9 ppg, 2.1 apg, 1.8 spg
Alonzo Gee, Senior, Guard, 15.0 ppg, 7.2 rpg
JaMychal Green, Freshman, Forward, 10.2 ppg, 7.6 rpg, 1.6 bpg
Justin Knox, Sophomore, Forward, 5.7 ppg, 5.1 rpg
Key Roleplayers:
Anthony Brock, Junior, Guard, 5.6 ppg, 1.4 apg
Yamene Coleman, Junior, Forward, 3.7 ppg, 3.8 rpg
Demetrius Jemison, Junior, Forward, 3.1 ppg, 3.1 rpg
Andrew Steele, Freshman, Guard, 3.3 ppg, 1.9 rpg
Why They Can Surprise:
Alabama does not do too much extremely well, but the frontcourt has emerged as a solid group of rebounders and shot blockers. Wing Alonzo Gee is a superb rebounder and averages 7.2 per contest. He is also the best scorer on the team and is nearly impossible to stop when he decides it is time to get to the basket. Freshman JaMychal Green is the other great rebounder on the team. The 6-9, 220 pound forward is a tough and versatile player who will always work hard on the glass and the defensive side of the floor. Green is also averaging 10.2 points per game and his presence in the paint gives the players in the backcourt plenty of room to operate.
Justin Knox is the other starter in the frontcourt. He will not score too much, but he is a capable rebounder and defender. What makes the Crimson Tide’s frontcourt so good is their depth. Yamene Coleman and Demetrius Jemison will not score as much as Green, but Coach Philip Pearson can call on them without worrying about a drop-off in production on the glass.
Why They Can Disappoint:
The scorers in the frontcourt free up space for the shooters on the perimeter, but Alabama does not have any shooters. Without Ronald Steele, who did not make it very far into this season before sitting out with an injury, the only Crimson Tide player who averages more than one three-pointer per game is Anthony Brock. And Brock does not shoot very often and will pretty much provide a spark off the bench and occasionally handle the ball.
Who To Watch:
The majority of the ball handling is done by Senario Hillman and Mikhail Torrance. Hillman is the team’s second leading scorer but, like Gee, does most of his damage around the basket. Torrance will occasionally hit a long ball, but he usually uses his speed to get the basket and either finish or find his teammates. If the Crimson Tide are not hitting any outside shots, all the talent on the wings and in the frontcourt is nearly wasted. The defense can simply pack in and stop the slashers. It is not quite that simple, but when Alabama is at least a threat to hit an outside shot, their offense can be very good.
By the Numbers:
Scoring Offense: 73.5 (80th in nation, 8th in conference)
Scoring Defense: 69.8 (219, 8)
Field-Goal Percentage: 44.3 (144, 7)
Field-Goal Defense: 40.8 (53, 6)
Three-Point Field Goals Per Game: 5.1 (270, 12)
Three-Point Field-Goal Percentage: 33.4 (191, 9)
Free-Throw Percentage: 69.6 (141, 6)
Rebound Margin: 2.5 (91, 5)
Assists Per Game: 11.4 (271, 11)
Turnovers Per Game: 14.4 (208, 8)
Joel’s Bracket Says:
