ALABAMA CRIMSON TIDE
Coach: Mark Gottfried | Record: 17-12
Overview:
Mark Gottfried's team features one of the SEC's
better inside-outside combos in point guard Ronald
Steele and center Jermareo Davidson. Both averaged
double digits in scoring in Alabama’s 16 conference
games during the regular season. Steele led the way
with an average of 15.9 a game, but Davidson was
close behind with a 15.6 point average in those
games. As if he wasn't dangerous enough, Steele also
led the SEC in free throw percentage, hitting nearly
90% of his attempts. They did a great job in just
making the tournament, after losing SEC player of
the year candidate Chuck Davis in January.
Potential Difference Maker: As a nice third
option to go with the Steele-Davidson combo, how
about a forward who averaged nearly a double-double
in SEC play? Freshman forward Richard Hendrix was as
good as advertised in his first season, starting
every league game for the Tide. Against SEC
competition, he averaged 10.7 ppg and 9.3 rpg. Only
LSU's Glen Davis, the conference Player of the Year,
had a better rebounding average in league play.
On Offense: With Davis sidelined their best
option is to spread the floor and let Steele go to
work. They will run some of the old UCLA sets, but
much of what they are doing lately revolves around
Steele. Alonzo Gee can knock down some threes.
On Defense: They will play both man-to-man
and zone. Their athletic ability makes them a pretty
good defensive team.
Strength:
Weakness: They aren’t a great shooting team
and their decision-making is questionable at times.
When things start to go bad they have a tendency to
get tight.
Key to Success: It’s all about Steele. He’s
an All-American. They have had some others step up,
in the absence of Davis, but the key is still
Steele. If he has an average game they will lose.
They will go as far as he carries them.
How to Beat Them: Attack them in the post.
Knock down some shots, open up the interior and
pound it on the block.
