XAVIER vs ALABAMA

[MADXSTER]

1805 vs 1806


Xavier University Musketeers (4-0)
W Miami(OH) 81-72
W Missouri 78-66
W Michigan 86-70
W NKU 78-66

vs Alabama Crimson Tide(2-1)
W Kennesaw St 77-64
L Dayton 80-48
W Louisiana Lafayette 105-93


Location: Orlando
Thursday Nov. 26, 2015 at Noon ET
Television: ESPN2 and WatchESPN with play-by-play from Dave O'Brien and analysis from Miles Simon.
DTV 209, TWC 27, Dish 143, Fioptics 29
Radio: 700 WLW-AM and iHeartRadio with play-by-play from Xavier Hall of Famer and former Musketeer standout Joe Sunderman ('79). Analysis will be provided by Xavier Hall of Famer and XU all-time leading scorer Byron Larkin ('88).

[waggy]

TV is ESPN2.

[MADXSTER]

Updated Radio and TV

[GIMMFD]

Alabama is going to be pretty good here in a couple years, however, I don't think that means they stand a chance against us this year, Dayton put the works on them, and hopefully this team has the ability to overcome tournament slumps unlike the past few years. I think we get it done tomorrow.

[Olsingledigit]

Alabama is going to be pretty good here in a couple years, however, I don't think that means they stand a chance against us this year, Dayton put the works on them, and hopefully this team has the ability to overcome tournament slumps unlike the past few years. I think we get it done tomorrow.
While you should be right, college bb can always turn up upsets so I will be nervous until we put them away.

[MADXSTER]

Only 56 teams are still undefeated

[xu82]

Only 56 teams are still undefeated

That's a somewhat comforting stat. I'd like to remain on the list, until April.

[D-West & PO-Z]

That's a somewhat comforting stat. I'd like to remain on the list, until April.

Through April.

[D-West & PO-Z]

Line 10.5
O/U 150

[D-West & PO-Z]

Line 10.5
O/U 150

I am saying cover and over.

[xu82]

Through April.

Of 2075. (I'll be way checked out by then, and a great run is good enough.)

Actually, when's the big game? I thought March would cover it... but whatever.

[D-West & PO-Z]

Of 2075. (I'll be way checked out by then, and a great run is good enough.)

Actually, when's the big game? I thought March would cover it... but whatever.

Ha, I'll take it!

Usually final four is first weekend in April I believe.

[xu82]

Line 10.5
O/U 150

Where do you stand on 73 degrees at tip off? I am firmly in the 70 degree plus camp.

[D-West & PO-Z]

Where do you stand on 73 degrees at tip off? I am firmly in the 70 degree plus camp.

Wish I was there to find out.

Although I'll be down in cincy where it supposed to be 62.

I love global warming.

[D-West & PO-Z]

Avery Johnson is Alabama's coach!? I dont know where I have been but I dont think I knew that. Interesting.

[D-West & PO-Z]

Anyone know if we win, if we play the early or late semi final game Friday?

[X-band '01]

If Xavier wins, they play at 2:30 Friday. Lose and they play at noon Friday.

[D-West & PO-Z]

If Xavier wins, they play at 2:30 Friday. Lose and they play at noon Friday.

Awesome thanks!

[xu82]

Wish I was there to find out.

Although I'll be down in cincy where it supposed to be 62.

I love global warming.

I look at my former weather in FL daily. Supposed to be about 62-82+/- daily for the next 10 days. I miss that dearly. I don't really care if it's 48 degrees or 8 degrees. I almost prefer 8 with snow to 40's and rain.

[GoMuskies]

Something of an ugly start.

[XBR1]

This is awful. Chris needs to light a fire.

[mistabeecee41]

Mack should do a complete line switch coming out of that timeout. No energy again.

[X Factor]

Glad they came out ready to play

[xu82]

Something of an ugly start.

There's an understatement. We should get to double digits at some point early in the second half.

[Xaveriana]

Mack needs to get a clue and learn how to prep his teams for these tournaments or stop playing them. F'in ridiculous.

[GoMuskies]

We're pretty fortunate they're missing wide open outside shots.

[X Factor]

Why can't our guys make a shot?

[X Factor]

Brick after brick

[XBR1]

Finally!!!! Alabama is terrible.

[X Factor]

Damn Myles!

[MADXSTER]

Lack of rebound has hurt X early. 50% ft isn't helping either

[GIMMFD]

I jinxed us at the beginning of the thread, and I severely apologize basketball Gods. Please let us turn this around, and I'll never do it again.

[Blue Blobs Bro]

That's three either airballs or bricks from three for Alabama, the worst part is we're still doe even after.

[XMuskieFTW]

Abysmal start so far. Worst rebounding team in the SEC and they've owned us on the glass so far.

[XBR1]

I have watched Alabsma play this season...they are not good. I hate when we let bad teams stick around.

[bjf123]

Abysmal start so far. Worst rebounding team in the SEC and they've owned us on the glass so far.

This. Can't let it continue.



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[X Factor]

Please take heads out of asses...

[Snipe]

Not our best effort. Less than spectacular

[MADXSTER]

Leaving points at the free throw line

[bjf123]

Stop jacking up 3s!


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[X Factor]

Our shooting sucks!

[xu82]

Get the ball to the rim!!!!

[XBR1]

What are we shooting for the field? 7%?

[bjf123]

Our shooting sucks!

That's putting it mildly! Our rebounding is horrible, too.


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[Xaveriana]

Xavier is to early season tournaments as Cincinnati Bengals are to national night games. The question is why. Very disappointing effort. This is not a vacation. Go to work!!!

[X Factor]

This is pathetic

[X Factor]

We won't score 50 points

[XBR1]

Put JP back in!!!

[X Factor]

Dayton beat these guys by 30 points

[XMuskieFTW]

We will still win by ten.

[xumuskies08]

Ok, can we just agree to decline any future thanksgiving tournament invites? I can't do this again

[bjf123]

We won't score 50 points

So who went low in the Pick the Score thread? Looking good for them.


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[XBR1]

Dayton beat these guys by 30 points

Yup...it wasn't close.

[RoseyMuskie]

I'm thankful Alabama is terrible, or else we'd really have issues.

[X Factor]

3-16 from the field, 1-7 from three, 3-7 from the FT line...

:embarassed:

[X Factor]

3-9 from the line

[BMoreX]

This isn't even basketball.

[XfansinKy]

I have honestly never seen Omar'a make a free throw

[xu82]

3-16 from the field, 1-7 from three, 3-7 from the FT line...

:embarassed:

It feels worse.....

[RoseyMuskie]

O'Mara can't catch the ball, misses two FTs, and sets a moving screen. That's 6th grade stuff.

[Xville]

Can we stop playing in these for the love! Awful...not focused at all. It's thanksgiving and we expect twenty year olds to be focused? Kind of silly honestly.

[XBR1]

JP is the only one playing with any intensity

[X Factor]

Does anyone for X know what they're doing on offense?

[xumuskies08]

Can we stop playing in these for the love! Awful...not focused at all. It's thanksgiving and we expect twenty year olds to be focused? Kind of silly honestly.

Other teams don't seem to have the same issues...

[bjf123]

Holy shit! We made two free throws!


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[XUFan09]

To call the shooting ugly would be a massive understatement.

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[X Factor]

4-19 from the field! How is that possible?

[Blue Blobs Bro]

I don't care how hard it is to watch just please win

[bjf123]

We can't even make the put back bunnies!


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[XUFan09]

Just keep driving. They really struggle to stop it without fouling.

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[xu82]

Maybe the boys have finally woken up?

[XUFan09]

There have been two great blocks at the rim this game. Love seeing that from London.

Savvy play by Macura on the next possession after Myles had the presence of mind to spin and rifle a pass.

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[BMoreX]

Beautiful

[XUFan09]

Another great starting pass by Myles to get points in transition. #hockeyassist

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[bjf123]

About bloody time!


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[KabeX]

That's more like it

[xu82]

A lot of minutes for London.

[BMoreX]

London is having a very good game

[XUFan09]

A lot of minutes for London.
Love a 6'10" guy who can nail a three and defend the rim.

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[KabeX]

Welcome to the rotation Makinde!

[Xville]

Well glad we woke up! Still not a huge fan of these tourneys but I'll gladly take the wins if we get them.

[Snipe]

19 of 26 points off bench

[KabeX]

Wow Alabama is not good. Thankfully.

[X Factor]

Trevon not playing well!!

[bjf123]

Trevon not playing well!!

He's not alone.


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[XUFan09]

Jesus Christ, free throws.

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[XUFan09]

Bullshit shot.

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[X Factor]

Myles shooting less than 25% from three this year...

[Blue Blobs Bro]

8 missed free throws, Mack is gonna be furious at half

[KabeX]

Knew it was in when it left his hand. Why does it seem like this always happens to X?

[bjf123]

That was an embarrassing half of basketball.


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[X Factor]

Sick of letting these awful teams hang around!!

[Xaveriana]

Bullshit shot.

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Bullshit defense.

[KabeX]

Bullshit defense.

Bullshit offense as well.

[mistabeecee41]

To be honest, outside of the Michigan game our team hasn't been that good.

[XBR1]

Chris keeps pulling his hot hand. London played well, don't pull him. JP started hot and Chris pulled him. Trevon is having a terrible game yet he is staying in. Use the players that are going to get you the win.

[X Factor]

Jalen, Remy, Myles, and Farr have scored a combined 3 points.

Great job fellas.

[Xville]

Alabama is an awful basketball team..we lose this game, and the good michigan game would be offset by this one.

[bleedXblue]

Not sure what to even say about that.......a continuation of Monday night. Thank goodness Makinde and JP showed up.

[bjf123]

Want some depressing stats? We're 7-29 (.241) from the floor, 2-12 (.167) from 3, and 11-19 (.579) from the charity stripe. Luckily, they're not much better at 10-29, 3-15, and 1-2.


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[Xville]

Jalen, Remy, Myles, and Farr have scored a combined 3 points.

Great job fellas.

And this is why when people say how great this team can be, I say slow down. There is nothing about Jalen or farr that says they can be consistent players.

[bleedXblue]

To be honest, outside of the Michigan game our team hasn't been that good.

yes this........we have not shot the ball very well......and we're supposed to be a good shooting team??

[OTRMUSKIE]

Relax people it's okay. X sucks in these tournaments every year and they always do just fine when it counts. Just get the win today and it will be okay. Other than that X has played awful other than Michigan and I am starting to think Michigan is not that good at all. They just got beat pretty well against a good uconn team. Great amount of X fans at the game

[XBR1]

We won't win the second game in this tournament even if we pull this one out if we play this way.

[OTRMUSKIE]

We won't win the second game in this tournament even if we pull this one out if we play this way.

It will still be an improvment over past tournaments with Mack

[bjf123]

We won't win the second game in this tournament even if we pull this one out if we play this way.

Yep.


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[xu82]

Time to come out and look inspired. For a change.

[XUFan09]

Bullshit defense.
Lol the shot would have been crazy deep in the NBA. It was a bad shot selection but just happened to go in.

And Alabama is bad, but if you think the defense was bad this first half, you're just seeing what you want to see. It wasn't awesome overall and it had breakdowns but it was good most of the time.

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[XUFan09]

Davis is having a rough shooting night in a tough shooting season.

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[XBR1]

Get Myles and aren't out of the game.

[XUFan09]

Davis is having a rough shooting night in a tough shooting season.

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Good God, he needed that.

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[X Factor]

We suck...

[BMoreX]

Here we go

[Blue Blobs Bro]

Let's go!

[xu82]

At least now we're driving then kicking out for 3..... but it's still a lot of 3's.

[X Factor]

At least now we're driving then kicking out for 3..... but it's still a lot of 3's.

They're good shots though, got to take them and knock them down.

[XfansinKy]

Swords are raising! I think mine is too...ill check n let you know if you want me to.

[XUFan09]

At least now we're driving then kicking out for 3..... but it's still a lot of 3's.
If you have the shooters, it generally makes for a more efficient offense. Xavier has the shooters, and a larger sample size will usually lead to a regression to the mean.

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[X Factor]

Swords are raising! I think mine is too...ill check n let you know if you want me to.

Ewww

[bleedXblue]

Good God, he needed that.

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Myles is so close...most of his shots are in and out when he misses......gotta be ball rotation needs to be better

[XUFan09]

Andrew Davis? I'll assume it was a momentary slip up

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[BMoreX]

Great pass by JP

[BMoreX]

Now we're cooking

[XfansinKy]

Here we go!!! False alert on my part.

[xu82]

Now we're cooking

My wife has been cooking for hours.

[XfansinKy]

I like our set with our own twin towers

[xu82]

A lot of minutes for LAJ.

[bleedXblue]

Jalen is the King is STUPID and CARELESS fouls

[X Factor]

Myles is not a good point guard

[mistabeecee41]

Jalen can be frustrating and make bad shots. But our guards are god awful at entry passes. I'd be frustrated too.

[XUFan09]

I like our set with our own twin towers
Yep. It appears this is a good team to pull that out against.

London might be a bit scrawny to guard a true big, but he does still offer rim protection.

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[bleedXblue]

Jalen can be frustrating and make bad shots. But our guards are god awful at entry passes. I'd be frustrated too.

Jalen doesn't post up well. He's lethargic and doesn't demand the ball? I think it goes both ways.

[nuts4xu]

Great to see the contributions from Makinde London.

[xu82]

It's a good thing Alabama is a football school. It would be tough to be a basketball fan...

[Xville]

As bad as the team looked in the first half is as good as it has looked in the second...I like the second half team a lot better :) . Xavier is definitely not a team without flaws, but there us a lot of good in there too.

[XUFan09]

As bad as the team looked in the first half is as good as it has looked in the second...I like the second half team a lot better :) . Xavier is definitely not a team without flaws, but there us a lot of good in there too.
That sums it up well.

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[LA Muskie]

Remy is about as bad as I've ever seen him look. Thankfully it seems it won't matter.
Makinde, on the other hand -- some great minutes. Oh the difference a game or two can make...


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[LA Muskie]

Jalen doesn't post up well. He's lethargic and doesn't demand the ball? I think it goes both ways.

I was shocked to see he quietly has 8 and 7. I thought he looked horrible most of the day. Just doesn't seem to be into it unless he happens to find himself in a good position to score easily.

Edit: And now he's pressing...


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[nasdadjr]

I'm surprised that in the first half the refs didn't stop the game and make both teams run laps lol

[LA Muskie]

Did the teams somehow forget the traveling rule? I don't think I've ever seen so many travels in one (college) game.


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[bjf123]

I'm surprised that in the first half the refs didn't stop the game and make both teams run laps lol

Public reps.


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[XUFan09]

Did the teams somehow forget the traveling rule? I don't think I've ever seen so many travels in one (college) game.


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On cue, another one.

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[KabeX]

That's more like it Jalen

[bleedXblue]

That's more like it Jalen

When he wants it bad enough, he's almost unguardable

[XMuskieFTW]

Way for the team to bounce back this half. Nice showing from Jalen this half. Nice to see him get some points in the post.

[xu82]

Dayton crushing 'Bama doesn't bother me as much now.

[LA Muskie]

Way for the team to bounce back this half. Nice showing from Jalen this half. Nice to see him get some points in the post.

I think Jalen has had a few good possessions. Not sure I agree he's had a good half. He still takes way too many possessions off on both ends of the floor. Frankly, Farr is our true "star" big 5 games in.

I agree though that it's been a great bounceback half. Lots of positives even with some excess sloppiness (as Austin throws it away...).


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[MauriceX]

I know this is the standard for a message board, but I've never seen so many negative nancys when we are still winning. People were dismissing this team as terrible in the first half! Y'all need to take a chill pill.

[xu82]

Turkey time!

[Xville]

Ok got thru the game that would be a bad loss so I'll take it. The rest of the tourney is against what should be decent to good rpi teams.

[paulxu]

This place is going to go batsh$t crazy the first time we lose a game.

[Xville]

I know this is the standard for a message board, but I've never seen so many negative nancys when we are still winning. People were dismissing this team as terrible in the first half! Y'all need to take a chill pill.

Mack probably felt the same way about the team in the first half...it is ok to feel that way..we all want the same thing.

[LA Muskie]

I know this is the standard for a message board, but I've never seen so many negative nancys when we are still winning. People were dismissing this team as terrible in the first half! Y'all need to take a chill pill.

It's not really that bad. Rough 1st half, great 2nd half against a pretty bad team right now (although they seem to have some tools so they should improve as the season progresses). We're obviously not perfect, and in a game like this the bad is going to outshine the good. This wasn't the Michigan game.

We're all very glad to win. Don't mistake that.


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[XMuskieFTW]

Nice second half. Nice showing from a few guys especially London and JP, got to rest our players a decent amount, won by 21. Can't be mad with that. Excited for tomorrow.

[LA Muskie]

This place is going to go batsh$t crazy the first time we lose a game.

Depends on who we lose to. We all know it's going to happen at some point. If it's a respectable performance against a respectable team I think things around here will be fine.

We looked like horse shit for the first 15 mins of the game today. If we had lost, I think people would have been justified in being pissed.

Thankfully we were MUCH better for the last 25.


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[X-Fan]

I know this is the standard for a message board, but I've never seen so many negative nancys when we are still winning. People were dismissing this team as terrible in the first half! Y'all need to take a chill pill.


This place is going to go batsh$t crazy the first time we lose a game.

With how bad X has done in these Holiday Tournaments, their start did not "inspire confidence".

Glad the guys got it going a bit, and beat a really bad Bama team. Curious to see who win the USC/Wichita St game.

[X-band '01]

Most of the earlier frustration stemmed from Xavier trying to turn the game into a jump shooting contest. Alabama did very well early on in the game when they were able to get in the paint, but they could not get into a rhythm. If anything, they blew a big opportunity to put Xavier in a big hole early on in the game.

Once Xavier hit the 13-0 spurt in the 2nd half, I knew Alabama was toast because they just had no rhythm after the first 8 minutes today.

In the meantime, have a happy Thanksgiving and enjoy Wichita-USC stress-free!

[LA Muskie]

Most of the earlier frustration stemmed from Xavier trying to turn the game into a jump shooting contest.

In one simple sentence you perfectly encapsulate the first 15 minutes of the game and my feelings about it.


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[XUFan09]

Most of the earlier frustration stemmed from Xavier trying to turn the game into a jump shooting contest. Alabama did very well early on in the game when they were able to get in the paint, but they could not get into a rhythm. If anything, they blew a big opportunity to put Xavier in a big hole early on in the game.

Once Xavier hit the 13-0 spurt in the 2nd half, I knew Alabama was toast because they just had no rhythm after the first 8 minutes today.

In the meantime, have a happy Thanksgiving and enjoy Wichita-USC stress-free!
Both teams missed a lot of open shots early on, so I think it balanced out. Hell, Xavier missed a lot of free throws.

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[XUFan09]

In one simple sentence you perfectly encapsulate the first 15 minutes of the game and my feelings about it.


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Yep. Especially with how the refs were calling the game and how bad Alabama clearly was at dribble penetration defense, it didn't make sense and wasn't working out.

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[MADXSTER]

Xavier did a very poor job of boxing out early on which gave Bama second chance points. Couple that with poor free throw shooting and X put themselves in the hole.

[XUFan09]

Xavier did a very poor job of boxing out early on which gave Bama second chance points. Couple that with poor free throw shooting and X put themselves in the hole.
Even Farr. There were two times early on where I watched him try to find his man on the box out, only to lose him and give up an offensive rebound.

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[bobbiemcgee]

JP got them out of the doldrums with the charge he took and a big 3 moments later. Could be the leader of this team doesn't even start.

[Muskeagle]

JP got them out of the doldrums with the charge he took and a big 3 moments later. Could be the leader of this team doesn't even start.

Starting to remind me a lot of Mr. Posey.

[GoMuskies]

I'm glad I'm not an Alabama fan. They may be okay next year, but that's going to be a tough team to watch this year.

[XU-PA]

Bama is an outside shooting team, and they have a ton of bigs. After watching, it appears the bigs really cant score. We did well to shut off their outside game in the first half. Too bad our shooters couldnt find the groove till after the break. Coach kept telling Myles to shoot, at onepoint early in the second it looked like he was ready to give up, the staff kept telling him to shoot, and he finally found it. We'll see if that carries over to tomorrow

[bobbiemcgee]

Looked like a nice contingent of Muskies fans made the trip.

[paulxu]

Looks like USC next.

[GoMuskies]

Looks like USC next.

Almost spoke too soon. Wow.

[paulxu]

Good point. They gave it the old college try to blow it.

[X-band '01]

Now Xavier gets a shot at revenge for the final Battle 4 Atlantis game 2 seasons ago.

[D-West & PO-Z]

This place is going to go batsh$t crazy the first time we lose a game.

Yeah, a lot of crazy in this thread. Ha!

[letskeepitreal]

I really like the fact that London, O'mara and Gates got some minutes and made contributions. We're going to need them later in the year.

[XUGRAD80]

I really like the fact that London, O'mara and Gates got some minutes and made contributions. We're going to need them later in the year.

I also like thst they got minutes, as this will help them to develop and make them more valuable in the future......future seasons that is. Their value this year will be more in what they can bring to the court during practice, and how they can help prepare the first line players for competition. It has never been Mack's style to play 2 deep at all positions during the latter parts of the season, and I don't think he will change that this year.

[xu82]

The young guys getting minutes will help down the road, but also TODAY. Every minute they played helped to keep the guys in front of them fresh for this tournament.

[Masterofreality]

FUgly first half, bad Alabama team, good second half. Nice contributions from Makinde and Sean O'Mara plus Trevon is a stud.Incisive analysis.

Roll down the Trojans. That is all.

[muskiefan82]

And then Bama takes down Wichita State. Wichita must REALLY miss Van Vleet.

[X-band '01]

Impressive for Alabama to get a win in this tournament as well. Either Wichita State, Iowa or Notre Dame will wind up 0-3 which is amazing.