Herb Jones

[gossy]

Herb Jones has improved his shooting from one year to the next more than any player I can recall. His career 3 pt % coming into this season was 23%. Currenty, for this season he is at 47%. From the free throw line he has improved from 58% to 79%. His form is just so much better. It is no telling the hours he has put in to achieve this improvement.

Herb means more to his team than any other SEC player. He is doing it all - shooting, rebounding, going to the basket, taking charges, defense, even running the point. Hopefully he stays healthy and continues to play at this level.

 

[JamH]

Not a big basketball fan, but at the request of my grandson I watched the Alabama/LSU game last night and...WOW...I've never seen that kind of perimeter shooting in any BB game - HS, college, or professional. That was an incredible display of 3-pt shooting. BTW, I can't offer much in the way of commentary on Jones because I don't watch a lot of the sport, but from what I saw last night from him I'm inclined to believe you.

 

[vegas man]

It's amazing how a player can develop so much more by returning for his senior season. Same can be said for Petty too. And in football we saw even more development in Devonta Smith, Najee Harris and Alex Leatherwood. All of these guys are going to make a lot more money in the 2021 NBA and NFL drafts.

 

[Vaughnbama]

Not a big basketball fan, but at the request of my grandson I watched the Alabama/LSU game last night and...WOW...I've never seen that kind of perimeter shooting in any BB game - HS, college, or professional. That was an incredible display of 3-pt shooting. BTW, I can't offer much in the way of commentary on Jones because I don't watch a lot of the sport, but from what I saw last night from him I'm inclined to believe you.

I hate to tell you this, but in all my days of watching basketball I can only think of four times before that I have ever seen that kind of shooting. As good as Alabama shot last night, was how bad Alabama shot against Stanford and Western Kentucky. Sometimes when the moon and stars align just right there are nights where the basket looks like Lake Tuscaloosa and other nights where it looks like the eye of a needle.

The Alabama-Kent State Basketball game in the NCAA tournament, when they beat Alabama.

The Alabama-Villinova Basketball game of a few years ago, when Villinova could not miss a shot in the second half

The Kentucky-Indiana NCAA final eight game a few years ago, when no one from Indiana could miss a shot from three point range.

Alabama-Providence NCAA game in the 80's, when Providence beat Alabama in the Sweet 16. When I saw Billy Donavan hit a turn around 3 point shot from 30 feet away, I knew we were toast.

 

[glen55]

I hate to tell you this, but in all my days of watching basketball I can only think of four times before that I have ever seen that kind of shooting. <snip>

Alabama-Providence NCAA game in the 80's, when Providence beat Alabama in the Sweet 16. When I saw Billy Donavan hit a turn around 3 point shot from 30 feet away, I knew we were toast.

When I read your first sentence, that Providence game came immediately to mind. We were better than that team and had a REAL chance of going all the way that year, but we didn't have a chance against them on that particular day. Nobody would've had a chance.

Of course, Providence couldn't keep it up, that was just a hot shooting game like the one we had last night. I think they lost their next game.

By the way, we would've creamed Gonzaga if we had played them last night. We were completely unbeatable.

 

[bamajd]

What I remember about the Providence game is that Austin Peay had them beat the game before and missed free throws to let Providence win. Let’s go Peay.

 

[pwestbro61]

When I read your first sentence, that Providence game came immediately to mind. We were better than that team and had a REAL chance of going all the way that year, but we didn't have a chance against them on that particular day. Nobody would've had a chance.

Of course, Providence couldn't keep it up, that was just a hot shooting game like the one we had last night. I think they lost their next game.

By the way, we would've creamed Gonzaga if we had played them last night. We were completely unbeatable.

That Providence team went to the Final Four where they lost to Georgetown.

 

[xcop]

We might have won it all if Providence had not had their best night ever. As I remember the coach had just lost a child and the team was on a mission. RTR

 

[glen55]

That Providence team went to the Final Four where they lost to Georgetown.

So they won one more before they lost.

 

[bama100]

It's amazing how a player can develop so much more by returning for his senior season. Same can be said for Petty too. And in football we saw even more development in Devonta Smith, Najee Harris and Alex Leatherwood. All of these guys are going to make a lot more money in the 2021 NBA and NFL drafts.

Exactly. A lot of guys are making long term mistakes leaving early, especially sometime like Barmore who will go late first round maybe. The rookie contracts aren’t anything like what they used to be. He would’ve been a top 5 pick if he’d come back. Then there’s the fact that you’re not mature at 21. Coming back helps in every aspect.

 

[pwestbro61]

So they won one more before they lost.

Yep.

 

[jtr4dad]

We might have won it all if Providence had not had their best night ever. As I remember the coach had just lost a child and the team was on a mission. RTR

You are correct. Their coach was Rick Pitino.

 

[BamaNavyCPO]

Herb Jones has improved his shooting from one year to the next more than any player I can recall. His career 3 pt % coming into this season was 23%. Currenty, for this season he is at 47%. From the free throw line he has improved from 58% to 79%. His form is just so much better. It is no telling the hours he has put in to achieve this improvement.

Herb means more to his team than any other SEC player. He is doing it all - shooting, rebounding, going to the basket, taking charges, defense, even running the point. Hopefully he stays healthy and continues to play at this level.

Agreed! Very noticeable.

 

[BamaNavyCPO]

When I read your first sentence, that Providence game came immediately to mind. We were better than that team and had a REAL chance of going all the way that year, but we didn't have a chance against them on that particular day. Nobody would've had a chance.

Of course, Providence couldn't keep it up, that was just a hot shooting game like the one we had last night. I think they lost their next game.

By the way, we would've creamed Gonzaga if we had played them last night. We were completely unbeatable.

I had the same thought about Gonzaga.

 

[TideFever]

That '87 game against Providence Pitino and Donovan had so many things working against us. IIRC like every starter and most of the bench either had the flu or was just getting over it going into the game. At least one starter (McKey?) was supposedly puking just an hour or so before the game. Then Donovan was so hot he could have done a heat check from the parking lot and the ball would have been so hot it would have singed the net NBA Jam style. Truly the stars aligned against that team on that day.

In the end that was just as well as Bama had to forfeit that entire season because McKey had taken money from an agent. It would have been 100% Alabama basketball to have had their moment and have it taken away because of one mistake.

 

[budog]

I hate to tell you this, but in all my days of watching basketball I can only think of four times before that I have ever seen that kind of shooting. As good as Alabama shot last night, was how bad Alabama shot against Stanford and Western Kentucky. Sometimes when the moon and stars align just right there are nights where the basket looks like Lake Tuscaloosa and other nights where it looks like the eye of a needle.

The Alabama-Kent State Basketball game in the NCAA tournament, when they beat Alabama.

The Alabama-Villinova Basketball game of a few years ago, when Villinova could not miss a shot in the second half

The Kentucky-Indiana NCAA final eight game a few years ago, when no one from Indiana could miss a shot from three point range.

Alabama-Providence NCAA game in the 80's, when Providence beat Alabama in the Sweet 16. When I saw Billy Donavan hit a turn around 3 point shot from 30 feet away, I knew we were toast.

That loss to Kent State in the 2002 tourney (I believe 2002) still stings. We could not keep long time San Diego Charger tight end Antonio Gates off of the glass. I believe he had around 20 points and 10 rebounds. Stan Heath was the KSU coach at the time and I recently saw he is coaching in the G League.

ROLL TIDE!!!!

 

[milso47]

Herb Jones has improved his shooting from one year to the next more than any player I can recall. His career 3 pt % coming into this season was 23%. Currenty, for this season he is at 47%. From the free throw line he has improved from 58% to 79%. His form is just so much better. It is no telling the hours he has put in to achieve this improvement.

Herb means more to his team than any other SEC player. He is doing it all - shooting, rebounding, going to the basket, taking charges, defense, even running the point. Hopefully he stays healthy and continues to play at this level.

very good post with stats to back it up

i totally agree by the way and let me add that last year and this year he has proved how tuff he is playing with injuries. great team guy and a winner

 

[milso47]

You are correct. Their coach was Rick Pitino.

and billy donavan was a hot 3 point shooter

 

[Codie B]

We were the better BB team(Providence), we just ran into the wrong team on the wrong night. Austin Peay could of really helped us out with that, we just got unlucky, but it just goes to show you how a hot team, with some talent, can have a legitimate chance in the tournament, and that was back when the teams were much more talented, because great players stayed 3-4 years usually. It should be easier if a team got hot today, since the teams are not as stacked with junior and senior Patrick Ewing’s, Michael Jordan’s, and Ralph Sampson’s. I was too young to see the ‘76 Bama team, but the Bama team’s that were really talented, and coming in hot, that I really thought had a legitimate chance to win it all, that many forget, were the 88–89 team that blew a huge lead and lost in the 1st rd to South Alabama, and the 89-90 team that should have beaten Loyola(I am still pissed about James Robinson getting screwed out of playing that year, because he would really have made that team as talented as any Bama team in the history I watched them play). People talk about their next game against eventual champion UNLV, but UNLV almost lost, and probably should have, the game before to Ball State(again a potential Austin Peay situation that changes everything). The 90-91 team was, also, very good, but 1/2 the team got sick before they played Arkansas in the Sweet 16.

 

[PlaidandParquet]

That Providence team went to the Final Four where they lost to Georgetown.

Providence beat Georgetown to get to the final 4

 

[pfaud001]

I hate to tell you this, but in all my days of watching basketball I can only think of four times before that I have ever seen that kind of shooting. As good as Alabama shot last night, was how bad Alabama shot against Stanford and Western Kentucky. Sometimes when the moon and stars align just right there are nights where the basket looks like Lake Tuscaloosa and other nights where it looks like the eye of a needle.

The Alabama-Kent State Basketball game in the NCAA tournament, when they beat Alabama.

The Alabama-Villinova Basketball game of a few years ago, when Villinova could not miss a shot in the second half

The Kentucky-Indiana NCAA final eight game a few years ago, when no one from Indiana could miss a shot from three point range.

Alabama-Providence NCAA game in the 80's, when Providence beat Alabama in the Sweet 16. When I saw Billy Donavan hit a turn around 3 point shot from 30 feet away, I knew we were toast.

I immediately thought of the Villanova game. The first half, only the red head could make shots, and then everyone of their players starting hitting them. It sucked. Nice to be on the other side.

 

[Sweetlou10]

I immediately thought of the Villanova. The first half on the red head could make shots, and then everyone of their players starting hitting them. It sucked. Nice to be on the other side.

The good thing is at this point in the season there doesn’t seem to be a Villanova in the country. No one is dominant. It was clear that nobody was beating them that year... they destroyed everyone.

 

[mr4bama]

The good thing is at this point in the season there doesn’t seem to be a Villanova in the country. No one is dominant. It was clear that nobody was beating them that year... they destroyed everyone.

bama was good enough to win it all in 76 and 87 but you do have to have some luck and a good draw in the tournament.

 

[Bama Swoosh]

Great post about Herb. Not only has he upgraded his shooting, his overall intensity and the speed he plays with looks faster and seems to raise the bar for the whole team. So many times no it looks like Herb is getting a head of steam from 60 feet away and daring the opponent to get in his way. He goes after the ball like nobody I've ever seen and it has rubbed off on the team. Good point made about him playing at this high of a level with yet another injury. He is the kind of leader the great teams have and I give him a huge amount of credit for the elite level of play we're all enjoying. I hope he leads this team far and then gets PAID.