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Alabama basketball fans want to know if roller-coaster ride is over

By Ronald Evans

EUGENE, OR - DECEMBER 11: Head coach Avery Johnson of the Alabama Crimson Tide signals to his bench during the first half of the game against the Oregon Ducks at Matthew Knight Arena on December 11, 2016 in Eugene, Oregon. (Photo by Steve Dykes/Getty Images)
EUGENE, OR - DECEMBER 11: Head coach Avery Johnson of the Alabama Crimson Tide signals to his bench during the first half of the game against the Oregon Ducks at Matthew Knight Arena on December 11, 2016 in Eugene, Oregon. (Photo by Steve Dykes/Getty Images) /
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In a forty minute interval against the Florida Gators, the Alabama basketball team went from abysmal to awesome. How did it happen and what does it mean for the rest of the season?

For close to ten minutes Saturday afternoon, the Alabama basketball team struggled to execute simple tasks. The Tide kept losing track of Florida players streaking to the basket. When the Tide had the ball, simple entry passes became an adventure. Other than a three by Braxton Key, only Donta Hall and Collin Sexton could find any offense.

The Tide even committed the defensive sin of fouling a three-point Florida shooter. At a 14-5 Gators lead, the prospects looked bleak. At 7:47 in the half, the game was close to getting out-of-hand. The Gators led 25-15. The Tide clawed back to a fortunate six-point halftime deficit. The biggest first-half problem was 14 turnovers, close to half the result of sloppy play.

Alabama went on an 8-0 run to open the second half, taking a 35-33 lead. The Gators tied it at 16:32 and only scored another 15 points in the game. Alabama basketball shot 58 percent in the second half while holding Florida to 22.6 percent. The Tide owned the second half glass, 26 boards to Florida’s 14. And in the second half, the Tide made only five turnovers.

What transpired in the halftime locker room?

Asked for a post-game explanation, Avery only said the halftime conversation was “animated.” Wimp Sanderson made the trip with the team. Maybe Avery let Wimp jump in some player grills. Wimp took a backseat to no one in getting players’ attention as a coach. Wimp’s coaching style matched what is now Nick Saban’s sideline demeanor when a player makes a dumb mistake.

We doubt Avery has that skill. He is just such a nice guy, it is hard to imagine his wrath scaring anyone. Although, John Petty recently said he was frightened by Avery early in the season. If Avery has a little Wimp or Nick in him, all the better for his young team.

Alabama basketball fans want to know when it’s safe to trust this team

Alabama basketball fans have had their hoop dreams destroyed too often in too many seasons. When can we confidently believe Avery has built an NCAA tournament team? The only sensible answer is – not yet.

Looking for a single sentence to describe the team so far this season – try this one.

Alabama basketball, a mercurial team, testing the limits of its coach’s optimism and riling a capricious fan base.

Those of us who have harbored doubts about Avery’s coaching are not disloyal. Our resolve has been tested, our frustration is legitimate. The great wins have been blunted by some truly ugly performances. The losses to UCF, Texas, Vanderbilt, Georgia, Ole Miss and Missouri showed a basketball team with serious flaws. At some point, a young roster is not an adequate explanation.

Five halves of wonderful basketball against Texas A&M, Oklahoma and Florida measured against five halves against Ole Miss, Missouri and Florida. How can this team be so good and also so bad?

We have no answer. What the next eight games will bring is anyone’s guess. An NCAA Tournament bid or another season of despair?

Next: Alabama Football All-Time Team

Check in with Bama Hammer on Monday for another NCAA ‘Bracket Watch.’ We are happy that we are not having to label these projections ‘Bubble Watch’ this season.

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