https:\/\/youtu.be\/6I2gs8r6zhI<\/p>\n
The Mitchell Center was buzzing.\u00a0 <\/span>More than 7,600 were ready to watch the hometown South Alabama Jaguars take on the home state favorite, the 18th ranked Alabama Crimson Tide.<\/p>\n But as they lined up for the Opening Tip, everyone could see it was going to be a daunting task.<\/p>\n In addition to 7\u20190\u201d center Kevin Samuel and 6\u20196\u201d shooting forward Owen White, the Jaguars go with a three guard line up.\u00a0 <\/span>6\u20191\u201d Isaiah Moore, 6\u20192\u201d Turbo Jones and 6\u20194\u201d Greg Parham II.\u00a0 I don\u2019t think you have to be Red Auerbach to figure out what\u2019s going to happen vs Brandon Miller 6\u20199\u201d, Noah Clowney 6\u201910\u201d & 7\u20190\u201d Charles Bediako.<\/p>\n The Tide grabbed the game\u2019s first 9 rebounds and then went on to out rebound the Jaguars 63-40 for the game.\u00a0 <\/span>Alabama missed 46 shots, but grabbed 25 offensive rebounds.\u00a0 I\u2019m not sure Alabama \u2018cruised\u2019 to a 65-55 victory Tuesday night in Mobile, but they weren\u2019t challenged much either.<\/p>\n South Alabama had a chance to make a it four-point game late in the 1st Half, but missed an open 3.\u00a0 <\/span>The Tide pushed the lead to double digits.\u00a0 <\/span>In the 2nd Half, the Jaguars pulled within 9, but the Crimson Tide followed with a 14-3 run that basically put the game away.\u00a0 The Jaguars wouldn\u2019t go quietly into that goodnight, once down by 20, lost the game by just 10.<\/p>\n I\u2019m guessing in the Sun Belt, the Jaguars won\u2019t face many teams with the size of Alabama, nonetheless, their rebounding efforts should cause some concern.<\/p>\n As for the Crimson Tide, they converted just 10-35 3FG.\u00a0 <\/span>I am very well aware that is their offense and I love seeing teams shoot from deep.\u00a0 <\/span>But there is no excuse for shooting so many 3\u2019s when they have such a clear size advantage.<\/p>\n The best player on the floor last night was Isaiah Moore, listed at 6\u20191\u201d (maybe).\u00a0 <\/span>He finished with a game high 20 points.\u00a0 <\/span>While he did attempt two three-pointers, the remaining 19 of his 21 shots were no further that five from the basket.\u00a0 <\/span>That means he\u2019s beating his one-on-one defender and the much bigger help defender.<\/p>\n If Moore can make the layups inside against a much bigger team, why doesn\u2019t Alabama take advantage of their size and dominate down low?\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Alabama is a very athletic and talented team and appear to have the pieces to make a deep run in March. (Javhon Quinerly returned last night).\u00a0 <\/span>But if they are too stubborn to make what appear to be easy adjustments, once again, they\u2019ll make an early exit from the post-season. If they don\u2019t make those adjustments, they\u2019ll be able to say \u201cThey Did It Their Way\u201d.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"