Baseball ⚾️ ***Game Thread: Alabama v Arkansas ***

[aggietider]

Upon further review, to me it looks like the play was going to be for Keon but they left 3 guys on him and let Q run free… Keon was not thrilled after it was inbounded before he made his break. I don’t think the play was for JQ to get it but he ran so open JD freaked and threw it in. Just the way I see it after rewatching. I get it if oats wasn’t straight out of geometry he would have done better

I was just happy we got the ball inbounds. But seems like we did screen for Keon first. The college game may be completely different but in the high school world, the screener has a better chance of getting open. And if you screen for the first screener, even better.

 

[aggietider]

Skilled the 10’s? Regardless/ been watching Alabama play forever- they are the most maddening because they can look so good and then go into just dumb atrocious mode. Other teams have just been bad and you knew what you were going to get.

And I still watched them every time knowing what I was getting.

 

[pwestbro61]

Never known a good shooter that did.

I have known plenty.

 

[D Isaiah T Billings-Clyde7]

Skilled the 10’s? Regardless/ been watching Alabama play forever- they are the most maddening because they can look so good and then go into just dumb atrocious mode. Other teams have just been bad and you knew what you were going to get.

*skipped. But I seem to remember us regularly being in games and crumbling under game pressure every. Single. Time… then we would give hope at some point in the season then lose a mid week home game to the worst team in the league to dash tournament chances.

 

[G.O.A.T-23]

Upon further review, to me it looks like the play was going to be for Keon but they left 3 guys on him and let Q run free… Keon was not thrilled after it was inbounded before he made his break. I don’t think the play was for JQ to get it but he ran so open JD freaked and threw it in. Just the way I see it after rewatching. I get it if oats wasn’t straight out of geometry he would have done better

That could be the case, doubt if I don't back to watch, so I will take your word for it. I know at the end of the LSU game I was screaming to get the ball to Ellis, and then I watched him set a screen on 3 straight inbound plays to get the ball to JQ and Shack before he finally got it and iced the game with two FT's.

 

[D Isaiah T Billings-Clyde7]

At least you admitted you were wrong above. A novel moment. You really try to hard to be right all the time.

I think that was me admitting he was wrong lol

 

[pwestbro61]

Why is it that turnovers and taking quick dumb shots were indications of poor coaching for previous coaches at Alabama but not now?

Also, it is 100% on Oats for drawing up plays to get ANYONE other than Ellis to get the ball at the end of close games.

Also/ why is it NEVER the player’s fault with you? You probably blamed Oats somehow when JQ stepped over half court.

 

[pwestbro61]

I think that was me admitting he was wrong lol

Yep/ my bad. He is never wrong. Just ask him.

 

[aggietider]

I have known plenty.

If the first thing you’re thinking is running after it, you’re not a shooter.

 

[Sweetlou2.0]

Upon further review, to me it looks like the play was going to be for Keon but they left 3 guys on him and let Q run free… Keon was not thrilled after it was inbounded before he made his break. I don’t think the play was for JQ to get it but he ran so open JD freaked and threw it in. Just the way I see it after rewatching. I get it if oats wasn’t straight out of geometry he would have done better

100 percent correct

 

[D Isaiah T Billings-Clyde7]

Yep/ my bad. He is never wrong. Just ask him.

To be fair I’m not 100% I’m right either but I think the ideal plan there was Keon but the #1 goal was getting the ball inbounds. The only way we lose was pretty much a 5 seconds call or turnover on the pass. As long as we got it inbounds it was going to take them scoring on a heave

 

[G.O.A.T-23]

Also/ why is it NEVER the player’s fault with you? You probably blamed Oats somehow when JQ stepped over half court.

I do put some blame on the players. I've said before it's a combination of poor play and poor coaching. You just don't like the fact that I ultimately place the blame at the feet of the coach, no different than any other coach who has come and gone Alabama.

However, I will not bash a kid playing a game like some here do. But I will call out the coach who is the one getting paid to put these kids in the best position to succeed.

 

[D Isaiah T Billings-Clyde7]

I do put some blame on the players. I've said before it's a combination of poor play and poor coaching. You just don't like the fact that I ultimately place the blame at the feet of the coach, no different than any other coach who has come and gone Alabama.

However, I will not bash a kid playing a game like some here do. But I will call out the coach who is the one getting paid to put these kids in the best position to succeed.

I agree it’s a ultimately On the coach. The frustrating thing is the “see I told you so, Oats won’t succeed with this system” type post…. When we are mid February with a great chance go earn a 4 seed in the tournament. This team is definitely frustrating but I just can’t get behind the sky is falling mindset some have when this is the best shape and trajectory our program has been in in a really long time

 

[Sweetlou2.0]

I do put some blame on the players. I've said before it's a combination of poor play and poor coaching. You just don't like the fact that I ultimately place the blame at the feet of the coach, no different than any other coach who has come and gone Alabama.

However, I will not bash a kid playing a game like some here do. But I will call out the coach who is the one getting paid to put these kids in the best position to succeed.

The problem is you’re constantly blaming the coach who just won two conference titles in one season and is following that up with a legit shot to be a 4-6 seed in the tournament. Sure, there are some frustrations, but my goodness man this guy has brought immediate success to our program we literally haven’t seen since 1991.

 

[pwestbro61]

The problem is you’re constantly blaming the coach who just won two conference titles in one season and is following that up with a legit shot to be a 4-6 seed in the tournament. Sure, there are some frustrations, but my goodness man this guy has brought immediate success to our program we literally haven’t seen since 1991.

Yep. Agree completely. And has a top 5 recruiting class coming next. Probably best in 30 years. Maybe he will give Oats some credit for that. But probably not.

 

[G.O.A.T-23]

I agree it’s a ultimately On the coach. The frustrating thing is the “see I told you so, Oats won’t succeed with this system” type post…. When we are mid February with a great chance go earn a 4 seed in the tournament. This team is definitely frustrating but I just can’t get behind the sky is falling mindset some have when this is the best shape and trajectory our program has been in in a really long time

I have always said he will not consistently succeed unless he is willing to make adjustments to his system.

One of the best things I heard today on GameDay about a coach who will remain nameless, is that he puts his players in positions to use their strengths out on the court. He coaches according to what his team can do well.

I also think it's completely asinine to all but abandon one area of the floor because your analysis say shooting the mid-range isn't good. I believe several of our players, especially JD, would greatly benefit from pulling up instead of going all the way to the basket, where they get blocked, miss a contested layup, or turn it over.

 

[D Isaiah T Billings-Clyde7]

I have always said he will not consistently succeed unless he is willing to make adjustments to his system.

One of the best things I heard today on GameDay about a coach who will remain nameless, is that he puts his players in positions to use their strengths out on the court. He coaches according to what his team can do well.

I also think it's completely asinine to all but abandon one area of the floor because your analysis say shooting the mid-range isn't good. I believe several of our players, especially JD, would greatly benefit from pulling up instead of going all the way to the basket, where they get blocked, miss a contested layup, or turn it over.

Well it’s working pretty damn good

 

[G.O.A.T-23]

Well it’s working pretty damn good

First year was shitty. Last year which was a COVID year was really good. This year has been a mix between really shitty and really good. I say the jury is still out.

I mean Gus Malzahn had Auburn a couple of plays away from being National Championships...

 

[D Isaiah T Billings-Clyde7]

First year was shitty. Last year which was a COVID year was really good. This year has been a mix between really shitty and really good. I say the jury is still out.

I mean Gus Malzahn had Auburn a couple of plays away from being National Championships...

Stop comparing it to football first of all. There’s no such thing as gimmicky on that level in hoops. My suggestion would be start rooting for the team more than rooting for yourself to be right. It’s a little more fun that way

 

[pwestbro61]

Stop comparing it to football first of all. There’s no such thing as gimmicky on that level in hoops. My suggestion would be start rooting for the team more than rooting for yourself to be right. It’s a little more fun that way

Beautiful response. I suggest everyone place this guy on ignore and maybe he can just argue with himself. Can anyone imagine living with this guy? Feel sorry for his family.

 

[G.O.A.T-23]

Stop comparing it to football first of all. There’s no such thing as gimmicky on that level in hoops. My suggestion would be start rooting for the team more than rooting for yourself to be right. It’s a little more fun that way

It is very easy to compare because, like Gus, Nate coaches a system regardless if he has the players to run it effectively.

There aren't many fans on this board who roots for Alabama basketball to win like I do. Many here stopped watching or caring when Bama isn't winning.

That doesn't mean I can't point out what I feel is a problem.

 

[G.O.A.T-23]

Beautiful response. I suggest everyone place this guy on ignore and maybe he can just argue with himself. Can anyone imagine living with this guy? Feel sorry for his family.

You're the only Karen here who can't take someone not agree with him...

 

[D Isaiah T Billings-Clyde7]

It is very easy to compare because, like Gus, Nate coaches a system regardless if he has the players to run it effectively.

There aren't many fans on this board who roots for Alabama basketball to win like I do. Many here stopped watching or caring when Bama isn't winning.

That doesn't mean I can't point out what I feel is a problem.

The point is that his system has been effective. We are top 15 in the country in offensive efficiency. It’s just not going as poorly as you perceive it. This is a team with capable shooters… he couldn’t have known pre season that everyone would shoot well below their career average and scrap his entire system.. and on top of that we still manage to play at a pretty high level offensively, so something about his system works.

our bad losses this year have been due to issues on defense which are often tied to effort and/or focus… we also just don’t have great on ball defenders which has killed us against fast guards.

yet here we are with the best resume of wins in the country and in great position to have a favorable seed in the tournament. I just don’t know what your expectation is? Like a decade average of 28-3 with 4 final 4s? If that’s the standard you want us to reach then yea we probably aren’t headed in that direction….

Even the best programs have down years. You can adjust your system here and there but ultimately the fact remains as a coach, some years you have a great group of players and some years the players aren’t quite as good, some years your team meshes and has great focus and self motivates, some years it doesn’t. I think it’s a little far fetched to think a coach can just magically tweak his system to make every one of his teams play at the same elite level. It true of Cal, K, Izzo, Pearl etc etc. no matter who you mention they have had their share of down years

 

[pwestbro61]

You're the only Karen here who can't take someone not agree with him...

And you are the only Felecia that has to be right all the time.

 

[frazor]

It true of Cal, K, Izzo, Pearl etc etc. no matter who you mention they have had their share of down years

K and Izzo both missed the tournament last season. Bennett at UVA wins a title then becomes the first 1 to lose to a 16, gets knocked out in the first rd by a 13 last year, and isn't projected to make the field this season. Oats has a way to go to be mentioned with some of those HOF coaches but in 3 years he's going to back-to-back tournaments most likely as something better than a 6 seed and has signed talent greater than the coaches before him. We'll see how it all shakes out over the next 2-3 years.

 

[D Isaiah T Billings-Clyde7]

K and Izzo both missed the tournament last season. Bennett at UVA wins a title then becomes the first 1 to lose to a 16, gets knocked out in the first rd by a 13 last year, and isn't projected to make the field this season. Oats has a way to go to be mentioned with some of those HOF coaches but in 3 years he's going to back-to-back tournaments most likely as something better than a 6 seed and has signed talent greater than the coaches before him. We'll see how it all shakes out over the next 2-3 years.

Yea I’m not guaranteeing he’s turning us into a powerhouse that stays in the top 10 for a decade straight and never below a 2 seed but that’s not exactly a doable goal for anyone, much less a program that has been stuck in mediocrity forever

 

[G.O.A.T-23]

The point is that his system has been effective. We are top 15 in the country in offensive efficiency. It’s just not going as poorly as you perceive it. This is a team with capable shooters… he couldn’t have known pre season that everyone would shoot well below their career average and scrap his entire system.. and on top of that we still manage to play at a pretty high level offensively, so something about his system works.

our bad losses this year have been due to issues on defense which are often tied to effort and/or focus… we also just don’t have great on ball defenders which has killed us against fast guards.

yet here we are with the best resume of wins in the country and in great position to have a favorable seed in the tournament. I just don’t know what your expectation is? Like a decade average of 28-3 with 4 final 4s? If that’s the standard you want us to reach then yea we probably aren’t headed in that direction….

Even the best programs have down years. You can adjust your system here and there but ultimately the fact remains as a coach, some years you have a great group of players and some years the players aren’t quite as good, some years your team meshes and has great focus and self motivates, some years it doesn’t. I think it’s a little far fetched to think a coach can just magically tweak his system to make every one of his teams play at the same elite level. It true of Cal, K, Izzo, Pearl etc etc. no matter who you mention they have had their share of down years

Where have I said to scrap the system? A good coach can adjust his system to fit the personnel he has on this roster. A great coach finds a way to get the best out of his players and do what's best for the team.

This team is one of the worse three-point shooting teams in the country, yet they are near the top in three-point shots taken. Just imagine how much better they could be if they didn't throw up 30 bricks from long rang every single game.

Also, this would be 2 “down years.” in he three years he has been on campus. Maybe last year was the anomaly. I always have believed that you need to give a coach 5 years. Next year I don't want to hear any excuse as to why this team is so up and down.

 

[D Isaiah T Billings-Clyde7]

Where have I said to scrap the system? A good coach can adjust his system to fit the personnel he has on this roster. A great coach finds a way to get the best out of his players and do what's best for the team.

This team is one of the worse three-point shooting teams in the country, yet they are near the top in three-point shots taken. Just imagine how much better they could be if they didn't throw up 30 bricks from long rang every single game.

Also, this would be 2 “down years.” in he three years he has been on campus. Maybe last year was the anomaly. I always have believed that you need to give a coach 5 years. Next year I don't want to hear any excuse as to why this team is so up and down.

This ain’t a down year boss.

 

[TideFever]

I kind of get the general comparison to Gus but his offense is a glorified single wing that's been sped up and spread out a bit. He only needs a bull of a RB, a RB with a great arm to play QB, and a TE that could get lost and forgotten about in an empty parking lot. He doesn't shoehorn players so much as he only needs a few positions to play great and the rest can just be good enough.

A better comparison would be Leach on the too gimmicky end of being an open passing style that must have a QB that's accurate and great at timing. Then Riley on the other end of basic spread passing scheme that's dressed up to be more complicated than it really is. When their offense is clicking no one is slowing them down.

Oats I would argue is more conventional than any of those. But he's recruited players to do one or two things and they aren't doing it at a high enough level against weaker teams. They don't have another game to turn to. So even if Oats wanted to go full on CAG offense of play slow to keep the score low and try to post up or get a foul he really can't. He's even said we can't really go back and recruit post players for a different offense. We have what we have and we have to get more consistent at it.

 

[PIO2U]

This will be a dangerous team come playoff time, warts & all.

 

[Sweetlou2.0]

Where have I said to scrap the system? A good coach can adjust his system to fit the personnel he has on this roster. A great coach finds a way to get the best out of his players and do what's best for the team.

This team is one of the worse three-point shooting teams in the country, yet they are near the top in three-point shots taken. Just imagine how much better they could be if they didn't throw up 30 bricks from long rang every single game.

Also, this would be 2 “down years.” in he three years he has been on campus. Maybe last year was the anomaly. I always have believed that you need to give a coach 5 years. Next year I don't want to hear any excuse as to why this team is so up and down.

Down year? Good grief…

 

[Wild Bill10]

Hardest Bama team to watch ever. So many quick dumb shots and turnovers. This is not all on Oats despite what our resident expert ( and we all know who that is) thinks.

Officials were just awful- Arkansas got away with murder entire game. Mugging on D ( rarely called) and flopping on charge calls. Ridiculous.
You must not watched any games before Oats got here
But great win in the end/ Hogs had won 9 straight.

 

[G.O.A.T-23]

This ain’t a down year boss.

Down year? Good grief…

When you start the year in the top 10, make it to the top 5, then the bottom drop, and you're no longer ranked. That's a down year IMO. Or, at the very least, disappointing for not reaching expectations.

I get it; Bama basketball has not been great. So many are just happy to be a tourney team, but expectations had finally risen to the level a school like Alabama should have for the first time since Wimp. This team is sitting on 9 Ls with 2 or 3 more to come. There is no way either of you can tell me that losing 11 or 12 regular-season games this year isn't a huge disappointment.

 

[pwestbro61]

Down year? Good grief…

He is just an Oats hater. Never says anything good about him.

 

[D Isaiah T Billings-Clyde7]

When you start the year in the top 10, make it to the top 5, then the bottom drop, and you're no longer ranked. That's a down year IMO. Or, at the very least, disappointing for not reaching expectations.

I get it; Bama basketball has not been great. So many are just happy to be a tourney team, but expectations had finally risen to the level a school like Alabama should have for the first time since Wimp. This team is sitting on 9 Ls with 2 or 3 more to come. There is no way either of you can tell me that losing 11 or 12 regular-season games this year isn't a huge disappointment.

It’s just not cut and dry. Toughest schedule in the country and if we finish strong I’m fine with it. Had some key pieces not end up available/on team and team just struggled a bit with focus, but to rack up the massive wins and hopefully earn a 4-5 seed is absolutely not a down year. I mean if it is then we are in great shape. When your program missed 16 of 25 tournaments(and 10 of most recent 12) leading up to oats taking over, this isn’t a down year.

making a tournament run is so much about draw and getting the right matchups and playing your best ball when you have to have it. If we are consistently in the dance as a top 6 seed under oats we will make a run eventually. Can’t make a run at home.

like I said if you are expecting us to win the sec every year and get a top 2 seed and be the model for consistency with every single team then you will always be disappointed. Every year is going to bring on new challenges. I think oats will find that perfect mesh one year and have an elite squad. But if we are good enough every single year to be capable of a tournament run we will eventually get to a final 4 and it may not be our best team that does it

 

[Sweetlou2.0]

When you start the year in the top 10, make it to the top 5, then the bottom drop, and you're no longer ranked. That's a down year IMO. Or, at the very least, disappointing for not reaching expectations.

I get it; Bama basketball has not been great. So many are just happy to be a tourney team, but expectations had finally risen to the level a school like Alabama should have for the first time since Wimp. This team is sitting on 9 Ls with 2 or 3 more to come. There is no way either of you can tell me that losing 11 or 12 regular-season games this year isn't a huge disappointment.

I get the expectations were too high at one point… but there are so many good basketball teams in the country, there’s just way more parity than football. We have the number one strength of schedule in the country and it’s really not close. No… we should not be placing the same expectations as football on our basketball program and it’s insane to suggest we should. To be honest, it’s insane to suggest any program in any sport should be held to the success our football team has had because it’s completely unprecedented. Coach K, who I also respect and love, didn’t make the tournament last year and had a losing record his first six seasons at Duke. If you were the AD of Duke no one would know who coach K is because he would’ve been fired after year 5 if not
Before.

 

[G.O.A.T-23]

It’s just not cut and dry. Toughest schedule in the country and if we finish strong I’m fine with it. Had some key pieces not end up available/on team and team just struggled a bit with focus, but to rack up the massive wins and hopefully earn a 4-5 seed is absolutely not a down year. I mean if it is then we are in great shape. When your program missed 16 of 25 tournaments(and 10 of most recent 12) leading up to oats taking over, this isn’t a down year.

making a tournament run is so much about draw and getting the right matchups and playing your best ball when you have to have it. If we are consistently in the dance as a top 6 seed under oats we will make a run eventually. Can’t make a run at home.

like I said if you are expecting us to win the sec every year and get a top 2 seed and be the model for consistency with every single team then you will always be disappointed. Every year is going to bring on new challenges. I think oats will find that perfect mesh one year and have an elite squad. But if we are good enough every single year to be capable of a tournament run we will eventually get to a final 4 and it may not be our best team that does it

Win the SEC every year, no. But being in contention isn't too much to ask. Especially after having a great season the year before and a top 10 team coming in.

 

[G.O.A.T-23]

I get the expectations were too high at one point… but there are so many good basketball teams in the country, there’s just way more parity than football. We have the number one strength of schedule in the country and it’s really not close. No… we should not be placing the same expectations as football on our basketball program and it’s insane to suggest we should. To be honest, it’s insane to suggest any program in any sport should be held to the success our football team has had because it’s completely unprecedented. Coach K, who I also respect and love, didn’t make the tournament last year and had a losing record his first six seasons at Duke. If you were the AD of Duke no one would know who coach K is because he would’ve been fired after year 5 if not
Before.

I never said expectations should be to do what the football team has done, never said they should even be close to that level. I don't even expect Alabama football to be able to duplicate that once Saban is gone.

Coach K has earned the right to have 1 down season here or there but he is the model of consistency. And no I wouldn't have run Coach K off, not only have I said ITT and others that I think a coach needs 5 years but I recall using Coach K and a couple of other coaches as examples when everyone here was calling for Avery's head halfway through his final year, which happened to be year 4.

 

[pwestbro61]

Win the SEC every year, no. But being in contention isn't too much to ask. Especially after having a great season the year before and a top 10 team coming in.

Was only a top 10 team with Primo and Burnett on the court. Even that was too high with everything lost from last year.

 

[G.O.A.T-23]

Was only a top 10 team with Primo and Burnett on the court. Even that was too high with everything lost from last year.

That is not true at all. Primo was long gone when the preseason rankings came out and Burnett was not even projected as a starter. He barely played at Texas Tech so at best he was expected to be a decent player coming off the bench.

Just about every preseason ranking had Alabama anywhere from as high as 8th to 14th. That was in October, Primo and Burnett where already gone.