Jumbo Package: Monday, 6 April 2015

Hoops

Not many hot takes have flown off the shelf yet, as to be expected with an Easter / Passover hiring. Our own coverage is here.

Avery Johnson reportedly agrees to be Alabama basketball coach | AL.com

Alabama first took the traditional route. Now, it's taking a swing with a big name from outside the box.

To call this an "unconventional hiring" is a bit of an understatement.

Antoine Pettway could be key to Avery Johnson's success at Alabama | AL.com

"The biggest concern for everybody is if he's going to keep Pettway," said Stair, who has been involved with AAU for 15 years and his son Ethan, a Hazel Green standout, signed with Mercer last fall. "He's very well-respected in AAU and high school ball as well. "Not keeping him would mean the new assistants would have to catch up really quick to build relationships in state."

This is absolutely the most crucial part of the hiring. Alabama doesn't produce many top-flight athletes; keeping those relationships is the most critical single thing that Johnson immediately has in front of him -- and that starts with sweet-talking Pettway into remaining on staff.

Spring Football

Alabama RB Bo Scarbrough set to undergo knee surgery | AL.com

"Bo was doing pretty well [this spring]," coach Nick Saban said Friday. "But we've had a lot of injuries, suspensions, and lost some people at that position. So what seemed like a pretty strong position depth-wise has gotten a little thin."

There is a reason Alabama signs a billion running backs: The Tide lose a third of them every year.

Stats from Alabama's first spring scrimmage

The Crimson Tide players scrimmaged for a little more than two hours in full pads on a sunny, 84-degree afternoon in Tuscaloosa.

Here are your stats (no individual QB nos. released, nor is that unexpected -- Saban has never done so that I recall.) My biggest takeaways were 1. Where are Chris Black's catches? 2. Henry is a load 3. With so many front-seven guys making plays in the passing game, the QBs were probably spotty across the middle. But, it's a scrimmage, and those are never to be taken too seriously.

Alabama Crimson Tide defense wants to be feared again - SEC Blog - ESPN

"Coach tells us people from the outside don’t believe we’re the same Alabama. We don't play with the same intensity and tenacity. "They’re not scared to play us any more."

Reggie Ragland dropping the truthbombs no one wants to hear, but it's true: Elite (and even merely "very good") teams simply are not afraid of Alabama any longer. Time to reestablish the #brand.

Miscellany

Softball Battles to 2-0 Sunday Rubber Match Win Over Kentucky - ROLLTIDE.COM

LEXINGTON, Ky. - Great pitching and defense from both Alabama and Kentucky would make for a tense series rubber match Sunday in Lexington, but a timely two-run single by Chandler Dare ultimately made the difference in the Tide's 2-0 win to secure its fourth SEC series victory of the season.

Alabama is 29-9; of those nine losses, five are in SEC play and two are against Michigan. While this isn't the same team as the past few years, no one expected to lose Traina and get better -- the Tide is "Top 5" good.

Ex-Alabama DL Dee Liner transferring to Arkansas State - CBSSports.com

Dee Liner, the former Alabama defensive lineman, will continue his career at the FBS level, announcing his intentions to transfer to Arkansas State. Liner appeared in only four games in two seasons with the Crimson Tide, recording four tackles, but apparently left on good terms.

Our best to Dee Liner: sometimes things just don't work out. The Red Wolves have a very good midmajor program and great fan support, even if Jonesboro is a depressing place.