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Alabama Basketball: Get Up For The NIT

By Ronald Evans

Mar 10, 2017; Nashville, TN, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide mascot celebrates defeating the South Carolina Gamecocks during game eight of the SEC Conference Tournament at Bridgestone Arena. Alabama won 64-53. Mandatory Credit: Jim Brown-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 10, 2017; Nashville, TN, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide mascot celebrates defeating the South Carolina Gamecocks during game eight of the SEC Conference Tournament at Bridgestone Arena. Alabama won 64-53. Mandatory Credit: Jim Brown-USA TODAY Sports /
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Alabama basketball continues its season with a NIT home game against the Richmond Spiders. Expect the team to be ready, but what about the fans?

For Alabama basketball life after missing out on the NCAA Tournament is better with basketball than no basketball. For the Tide the only basketball left this season is the NIT Tournament.

For fans having little or no interest in the NIT – we have a message for you – call it an admonition. “Get over it, the players and coaches deserve nothing less than your full support.”

It is Spring Break in Tuscaloosa and Alabama basketball needs a legion of full-throated fans Tuesday night in T-Town. Fans will see a good basketball game. The Richmond Spiders are a good team. The Crimson Tide will have to play well to win.

Richmond is a smart, well-coached team. They distribute the ball well and they are efficient in possession. The Spiders are 13th in the nation in Assist-to-Turnover Ratio and 14th in Assists per game.

Alabama Crimson Tide Basketball
Alabama Crimson Tide Basketball /

Alabama Crimson Tide Basketball

They are not a great three-point shooting team, but they are accurate inside the arc at 54.9 percent, ranking the Spiders at 18th in the nation. In comparison, Alabama is 225th in the nation in two-point field goal shooting at 48.7 percent.

Alabama basketball will have a big advantage on the backboards. Richmond is 325th in the nation in Rebound Margin. Keep in mind rebounding stats can be deceiving. Teams that shoot well have fewer opportunities for offensive rebounds driving down their rebounding stats.

Many years ago, Wimp Sanderson was asked why his Alabama teams rebounded so well. His answer was the Tide got a lot of opportunities to rebound, meaning they missed a lot of shots.

Richmond is led in scoring by T.J. Cline, 6’8″, 240lbs inside player. Cline averages 18 points per game. The other challenge for Avery Johnson’s defenders will be stopping the dribble penetration of ShawnDre’ Jones. Jones is quick and he can score and dish.

A win against Richmond will probably get Alabama basketball a rematch with Clemson. Clemson beat Alabama 67-52 back in December in Birmingham.

Next: See Where Avery Ranks Against Other 13 SEC Coaches

Here is a link for a complete NIT bracket: NIT Bracket

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