Jumbo Package: Former High School Teammates Take Center Stage Today

Happy Friday, everyone. It’s a busy weekend on the diamond with the softball team hosting the Easton Crimson Classic this weekend while baseball welcomes New Mexico State. Of course, the men’s basketball team is the talk of the day after the thrilling win over Texas A&M. Check out the radio call of the last shot:

Great stuff, and Yahoo’s got jokes.

Most analysts are on board that Alabama’s tough schedule and half dozen impressive victories – cemented by the win over the Aggies – has the Crimson Tide in the NCAA Tournment. Almost all analysts would expect Auburn – which romped over Bama 90-71 in Auburn a couple of weeks ago – as a prohibitive favorite to oust Alabama from the tournament.

March basketball is typically dominated by superior guard play, and today’s game may well feature the best two guards left in this tournament. Sexton outscored former high school teammate Jared Harper in the last game between the two, but Harper got the victory. The Tide were outrebounded by an appreciably smaller team in that one. Hopefully Donta Hall, Braxton Key and company will be motivated to flip the script.

Moving on to some football stuff, Blake Sims weighed in on the quarterbacks.

Sims didn’t hate the idea of seeing both Hurts and Tagovailoa on the field this fall.

”Oh yes sir,” Sims said. “I think that would be very good. I think that would be very good for defenses. It would be harder for them to prepare for our game. Both quarterbacks have ... their strengths are different. Coach Saban, he’s the G.O.A.T.* He’s going to make sure we do the right thing. I’m looking forward to this season. I’m going to be there every game, too.”

Saban has used two quarterbacks before, though not really in Tuscaloosa. It will be interesting for sure.

The Titans on Thursday informed running back DeMarco Murray he will be released, clearing the way for Henry, the 2016 second-round draft pick and Heisman Trophy winner out of Alabama, to take over as the team’s primary running back.

King Henry’s going to get his shot, y’all.

They aren’t the same people. I think coach Saban is a little bit closer to all his players than coach Bryant was. Coach Bryant was maybe closer to one or two guys on the team. That’s it. The rest of them were scared to death of him.

I think Saban reaches out a lot more in recruiting. He’s an unbelievable recruiter. He has gotten so much talent down there. They are different personalities and some other subtleties, but they are both great coaches who have accomplished a whole lot at the University.

This is a nice interview and worth a read.

Last but not least, the Tide will have a new radio home in Birmingham next season.

The Crimson Tide Sports Network broadcasts of Alabama football games will be heard live on 106.9-FM. It will also carry Nick Saban’ weekly radio show, pregame and postgame shows. Alabama men’s basketball will air on 97.3-FM while women’s basketball and baseball games will move to 1320-AM and 100.1-FM.

Update your presets accordingly.

That’s about it for today. Have a great weekend.

Roll Tide.