Alabama 57, LSU 38: Initial Impressions
by Matt Dover on Jan 28, 2010 4:53 PM CST
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- With its second straight win, Bama is now back to .500 in the SEC at 3-3. I called this game a must-win, and fortunately we delivered. A loss would have been a season-killer, and we avoided defeat with continued stingy defense and some improved 3-point shooting in the second half.
- The obvious story line here for anyone who even glanced at the final score is the fact that we held LSU to only 38 points for the game. Now, admittedly LSU is no offensive juggernaut and is currently dead last in the SEC at 0-6, but still, let's put that 38-point tally into perspective. In their four games against other SEC teams the Tigers are averaging 65 points per game. Not great numbers certainly but not all that bad either. Through 20 games this season they have only been held under 52 points twice--both times against Alabama. In terms of raw scoring, it was the best Alabama defensive performance since the advent of the 35-second shot clock in 1985.
- So what was the key to the Tide's defensive success on Wednesday night? Well, in case you haven't been following Bama basketball this year, our defense is nothing short of spectacular, especially given our overall weakness on defense the last several years. Like they have for most of the season, the team came out and played with a great deal of intensity on the defensive end and did an excellent job of executing the coaching staff's game plan. That game plan centered around rotating defenders like Hines, Mitchell, and Green on LSU's star forward Tasmin Mitchell. Mitchell didn't play a great game himself, and the announcers even suggested that he may not have been feeling well during the game, but Bama kept fresh defenders on him all night and did a good job double-teaming him when necessary. He made some plays in the first half, but we defended him about as well as could be hoped for. The biggest key to disrupting the LSU offense however was the outstanding perimeter defense on display all night, especially the pressure exerted on guard Bo Spencer. Without Spencer becoming a factor, the LSU offense...well...scored 38 points.
- Continue after the jump for further detailed analysis of the game and individual player performances as well as a brief look ahead...
- Also be sure to look out for the Auburn game preview some time later in the day on Friday...
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Can’t wait to see what Anthony Grant can do with better players and a deeper bench.
by Alabama ManDance on Jan 28, 2010 5:12 PM CST reply actions
gotta admit
that the 1st half sickened me. we looked every bit as bad as lsu IS. i kept looking at Coach Grant to see if he was going nuts courtside but he was calm as could be…i honestly was hoping for a little more than that but thankfully he got his message across during halftime. he obviously has the team and program headed in the right direction but i havent been able to figure out what type of coach he is by watching his reactions when things are OR arent going so well.
"You have to create 6 seconds of hell each play..."
Coach Nick Saban
Coach K
is someone who comes to mind who doesn’t really show much emotion when things or going good or bad
Coach K...
…pitches hissy-fits when things go bad…but he does stay low-key when things are good….
"High standards come from passion within...." --Coach Nick Saban
by NiceLittleSaturday on Jan 28, 2010 9:29 PM CST up reply actions
well...
He does in the huddle, but so does Grant. I was thinking more about how Coach K isn’t one to pace the sidelines or shout a lot during the run of play. In fact, he seems to stay in his seat far more than most coaches, and doesn’t seem to panic or show what he’s thinking while the game is going on. Don’t get me wrong, he’s very active during timeouts and what not, just seems a little more subdued than most while the game is going on.
Just my impression though and to be honest I’ve only seen about 1.5 Duke games this year.
Anyway, Grant doesn’t show much on the sidelines himself, but by all accounts from the players, he’s one very intense man that you don’t want to disappoint….
agreed
i commented in a previous thread that he didn’t seem to be a man of many words but that i sure wouldn’t want to piss him off either…
one of my favorite coach k stories happened last year when clemson blew them out at little john coliseum. clemson was up by, i don’t know exactly, but over 10 points and coach k called a late time out during which he said nothing. he did, however, force his team to stand and look at the scoreboard for the entire break.
"You have to create 6 seconds of hell each play..."
Coach Nick Saban
Great read 07
I didn’t realize Riley was a juco. Then again I didn’t serf the net then.
During the game I posted that we hadn’t shown the intensity I’d hoped. I look back now and see we were right on schedule and in the second half we really turned up the heat. Know we can’t treat every game the same way we did this one but this does make a statement. In light of that fact that Saban and Grant both have a process I think I’ll change my sig.
'Mark Ingram' is the Heisman Winner!
That first half was the most painful thing to watch for a while I didnt think
either team was going to break double digits.
36-0
"If wanting to win is a fault, as some of my critics seem to insist, then I plead guilty. I like to win. I know no other way. It's in my blood."- The Bear
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