With a national TV audience and close to 50 NBA scouts and executives watching, Alabama basketball players saw NBA dreams fizzle and NCAA hopes dimmed.
There had been indications before Friday night Alabama basketball was not yet ready for ‘Primetime.’ Against a good Texas team, missing one of its top scorers, those indications turned into concrete reality. The Crimson Tide went down 66-50.
In the last 5:02 of the game, Texas scored 12 points. The Tide scored two, a consolation basket by Avery Johnson Jr. with 27 seconds left. Trailing by seven at halftime, the Tide regrouped and scored 22 second-half points. After cutting the Texas lead to four (45-41) at 12:57, the Tide was outscored 21-9. It was not so much the team quit, it was more they never started.
Buckled up no more?
Make no mistake and mince no words, this loss is on Avery Johnson. His talent-laden group is not offensively cohesive and other than blocking shots, its defense is too often complacent. The Tide has regressed since its headline-generating, 3-on-5 heroics against Minnesota. The loss to UCF and the close wins against Louisiana Tech and Mercer revealed many flaws. None of them have been remedied.
Even worse, the doubters about Avery’s coaching ability outnumber the still ‘buckled up’ portion of the fanbase. It is fair to ask, is he losing the confidence of the team as well? At 8-4, nothing short of 10-8 in league play plus a win or two in the SEC tournament will be needed to make the NCAA tournament. A late January win over Oklahoma in Tuscaloosa now looks essential.
What’s missing in this talented roster?
Let’s take an unvarnished look at the roster.
- The freshmen, Collin Sexton, John Petty and Herbert Jones are the most talented players on the team. Each player has flaws but none that good coaching cannot correct. Sexton and Petty can be explosive on offense. Jones is the best pure defender on the team.
- Even with big improvement by Donta Hall, he does not have a complete game.
- Daniel Giddens shows promise if he can play defense without fouling and improve his free-throw shooting.
- Dazon Ingram’s only consistent contribution is rebounding.
- Riley Norris consistently gives great effort with minimal results.
- Galin Smith and Alex Reese may become very good players in subsequent seasons but as yet do not have the intensity or defensive awareness to excel.
- Braxton Key may have been brought back too quickly by Avery. In two games back, he has failed to blend into the offense and has been too careless with the ball.
- Except for an extraordinary performance last season against South Carolina, Avery Johnson Jr. has not shown he can play at a high level. His shot selection is poor and his defense is suspect.
- Sharp-shooter Lawson Schaffer is a defensive liability in anything but a zone defense.
Put aside any young roster excuses. Despite the youth, this team has the most talent of an Alabama basketball roster since the 2001-2002 team.
Can Avery turn it around?
With three tough SEC games ahead (TAMU at home, Vandy and Georgia on the road) this team is at a crossroads. As one fan astutely concluded, “the sum is not greater than all the parts.” Considerable but fragmented individual talent will not be enough.
Very quickly a core group dedicated to executing team basketball must lead. We doubt it can be more than eight players. A commitment to tough, tenacious defense must be as important as offensive skills. For that reason, Herbert Jones must get significant minutes as one of the eight. The main offensive threats must not force shots and must minimize turnovers. Braxton Key must come off the bench and earn playing time.
Avery must demand consistent effort and smart play. Players that don’t deliver must be benched. Coddling egos will not work. The situation no longer allows time to nurture deficient performers, including his own son.
Avery Johnson is a fine man. Is he up to the current task? Honestly, we do not know. Hopefully … maybe …
Next: Can the Tide O-Line handle the Clemson Front Seven?
There is time for Alabama basketball to improve. The next three games are critical beginning with a very strong Texas A&M team in Tuscaloosa on Dec. 30th.