Some SDSU notes

[Jordan Harper]

I’m going to post a Twitter thread I wrote yesterday breaking down SDSU so you can get ready for Friday.

I watched 5-6 SDSU games from this year and came away feeling differently about them. The media will point how elite their defense is (5th in KP so obviously is metricly), but watching them I came away a little underwhelmed. People, myself included, thought that they were like Tennessee but I came away feeling differently. I see them as a longer, more athletic Virginia. They grind out possessions, and make you earn it, but they’re not overwhelmingly physical like Tennessee. They will guard you for the full possession, but they do struggle in high ball screen situations. I imagine Alabama will break them down.

Here the twitter link:

 

[Vaughnbama]

Jordan, two years ago, I saw a good Alabama team lose to a less talented UCLA team. I have seen us lose a lot of games over the years to teams that were not as talented. Kent State, Illinois State, Milwaukee, to name a few others. I have looked at the field and with 16 teams left, I think 14 have a legitimate shot to win four more games. Right now, I would say the top six are Alabama, Houston, Michigan State, Xavier, UConn, UCLA, Texas, Gonzaga and Creighton could all cut down the nets. I would love for Arkansas and Tennessee to make the final four, but I don't think Arkansas can play as a team and Tennessee misses ZZ bad. San Diego State could get hot and beat us, but they are no match for Texas, UCLA, UConn, Houston or Gonzaga. If I had to rank the teams right now, I would say that the team that impresses me the most, not counting Alabama is UConn. What they did to us at Thanksgiving was no fluke.

 

[yankel]

It’s not whether we will beat SDU but by how much. They can’t hang with Bama for long in this upcoming game.

 

[Jordan Harper]

Jordan, two years ago, I saw a good Alabama team lose to a less talented UCLA team. I have seen us lose a lot of games over the years to teams that were not as talented. Kent State, Illinois State, Milwaukee, to name a few others. I have looked at the field and with 16 teams left, I think 14 have a legitimate shot to win four more games. Right now, I would say the top six are Alabama, Houston, Michigan State, Xavier, UConn, UCLA, Texas, Gonzaga and Creighton could all cut down the nets. I would love for Arkansas and Tennessee to make the final four, but I don't think Arkansas can play as a team and Tennessee misses ZZ bad. San Diego State could get hot and beat us, but they are no match for Texas, UCLA, UConn, Houston or Gonzaga. If I had to rank the teams right now, I would say that the team that impresses me the most, not counting Alabama is UConn. What they did to us at Thanksgiving was no fluke.

I think UCLA was just as talented two years ago imo. They were just starting to blossom at the right time. But I agree, UCONN is super impressive to me. I had them final 4

 

[vegas man]

San Diego State could get hot and beat us,

I agree. They shot 50% from the field in their last game.

I would say that the team that impresses me the most, not counting Alabama is UConn. What they did to us at Thanksgiving was no fluke.

Yep.

 

[Codie B]

Jordan, two years ago, I saw a good Alabama team lose to a less talented UCLA team. I have seen us lose a lot of games over the years to teams that were not as talented. Kent State, Illinois State, Milwaukee, to name a few others. I have looked at the field and with 16 teams left, I think 14 have a legitimate shot to win four more games. Right now, I would say the top six are Alabama, Houston, Michigan State, Xavier, UConn, UCLA, Texas, Gonzaga and Creighton could all cut down the nets. I would love for Arkansas and Tennessee to make the final four, but I don't think Arkansas can play as a team and Tennessee misses ZZ bad. San Diego State could get hot and beat us, but they are no match for Texas, UCLA, UConn, Houston or Gonzaga. If I had to rank the teams right now, I would say that the team that impresses me the most, not counting Alabama is UConn. What they did to us at Thanksgiving was no fluke.

I don’t know if I would put Michigan St in there. Everyone knew coming into this tournament that, regardless of their record, UConn had the talent to win it.

And you forgot Providence, Loyola Marymount, and South Alabama amongst the lessor teams we have lost to.

 

[cola68]

I think UCLA was just as talented two years ago imo. They were just starting to blossom at the right time. But I agree, UCONN is super impressive to me. I had them final 4

We had no answer for UCLA’s big man that game . He devastated our defense by getting post position basically beneath the basket . UCLA shot the three well.

BUT Bama was 12/25 for the free throw line in that game

 

[Vaughnbama]

I don’t know if I would put Michigan St in there. Everyone knew coming into this tournament that, regardless of their record, UConn had the talent to win it.

And you forgot Providence, Loyola Marymount, and South Alabama amongst the lessor teams we have lost to.

How could I forget that South Alabama Game. That was the first game I took my son, of course I had to take my wife along, as she was three months pregnant with my son. I thought we had it made after Michigan lost the first game to Xavier. Providence was in Louisville and that night I knew we had no chance when Billy Donavan hit a turn around three point jumper from 30 feet out, as a desperation shot. Loyola was a team of destiny after their star player died just before the game with Michigan.

Assuming we get lucky enough to win the next three games, I would much rather face Houston than UConn, but I would really like to see

 

[mr4bama]

I don’t know if I would put Michigan St in there. Everyone knew coming into this tournament that, regardless of their record, UConn had the talent to win it.

And you forgot Providence, Loyola Marymount, and South Alabama amongst the lessor teams we have lost to.

codie b, thats 3 bad memories i want to forget.

 

[StablerCountry]

I'm going to call it like I see it. With the path to to final four being San Diego State and then the winner of Creighton and Princeton, if Bama cannot get to the final four thru that, then they probably will never make it.
Have they got to focus and play ball with good defense, limited turnovers and good shooting? Yes. But if they are not in the final four facing the winner of Tennessee, FAU, Kansas State or Mich State, then they probably never will be in the final four.
I'm saying Bama wins by 10 plus this Friday and same on Sunday against Creighton or Princeton.
First round final four matchup IMO should be Alabama versus Tennessee

 

[tydzbk]

Revenge on Tennessee in the final four would be absolutely the best win i could imagine. Against UT, ever maybe. I really hate how much they get away with on their home court. I really think that matchup is gonna happen, unless Izzo can knock them out.

 

[StablerCountry]

Revenge on Tennessee in the final four would be absolutely the best win i could imagine. Against UT, ever maybe. I really hate how much they get away with on their home court. I really think that matchup is gonna happen, unless Izzo can knock them out.

Part of me wants Izzo and Mich State to knock them out. But revenge on Tennessee in the final four would be so sweet.

I thought the refs let Tennessee get by with some fouls against Duke the other day. So I kind of worry about who the refs would be in a final four match up.

 

[BIGRON930]

Tennessee had 10 team fouls ALL GAME against Duke. That's criminally bad officiating.

 

[Jordan Harper]

Oats vs Izzo would be incredible TV.

 

[HOUNDZTOOTH1]

UCONN when clicking on all cylinders are going to be very difficult to beat.

 

[BamaNavyCPO]

UCONN when clicking on all cylinders are going to be very difficult to beat.

So are we!

 

[HOUNDZTOOTH1]

So are we!

Absolutely agree. It would be great for UCONN and Bama to play for the Championship and both teams clicking. One Epic game.

 

[Jrs1255]

We had no answer for UCLA’s big man that game . He devastated our defense by getting post position basically beneath the basket . UCLA shot the three well.

BUT Bama was 12/25 for the free throw line in that game

If we hit just 2 more free throws in that game we win and it never goes to OT. That team hitting less than 50% from the line in that game is just mind boggling.

 

[tydzbk]

Tennessee had 10 team fouls ALL GAME against Duke. That's criminally bad officiating.

Yeah, it seems to me that whomever is playing against Tennessee consistently has that disadvantage. Looking at personal fouls against teams this year, looks like we're towards the bottom at 18.6. that's 295th. UT 153rd at 16.5 per game. This last one scares me a little because of the wide disparity. Creighton, 2nd at 13.3/game. Creighton consistently has good, smart teams that we struggle with. Hope we can keep getting better treatment than what we faced on the road during SEC play, which was often atrocious.

 

[Vaughnbama]

At this stage of the game, I want to beat San Diego State and then worry about the next game. It is way to early to think about the final four.

Of all the SEC teams, Tennessee is my least likely to make the final four and I don't believe Arkansas will be there either, although Arkansas has more talent on that team that should be allowed. The Key to Arkansas may well be Walsh, who kind of reminds me of a player with Herb Jones Mentality, meaning, Walsh always seems to be in the right place at the right time and give maximum effort.

 

[StablerCountry]

So are we!

I think we actually have a couple more cylinders to go before we clicking on all of them.

 

[Codie B]

At this stage of the game, I want to beat San Diego State and then worry about the next game. It is way to early to think about the final four.

Of all the SEC teams, Tennessee is my least likely to make the final four and I don't believe Arkansas will be there either, although Arkansas has more talent on that team that should be allowed. The Key to Arkansas may well be Walsh, who kind of reminds me of a player with Herb Jones Mentality, meaning, Walsh always seems to be in the right place at the right time and give maximum effort.

I agree with your 1st paragraph. It is like some of these posters have not been watching Bama play in the NCAA tournament over the years(which I know is not the case for many on here).

 

[TideFever]

It's no doubt the Bama basketball fan ptsd in me, but the closer we get to this game the more anxious I get about it. Just about everyone is overlooking this game for one reason or another. Lots of talk about Creighton or who we get in the round of 4 and almost nothing about SDSU. Even our experts are talking down this one as a layup.

It would absolutely be the most Bama basketball thing ever for us to lay a giant stinking egg on Fri evening when our path to the final 4 is as perfectly set up as it could possibly get. Go 2-30 from 3 point with 15+ turnovers while being late to every rebound or loose ball and we'll get wrecked by a team we should beat.

Now that we're in a great position in the sweet 16 each game needs to be treated like the most important game in program history. IDC who we're playing we need to treat it like we're about to play a 33-0 UK team.

 

[Codie B]

It's no doubt the Bama basketball fan ptsd in me, but the closer we get to this game the more anxious I get about it. Just about everyone is overlooking this game for one reason or another. Lots of talk about Creighton or who we get in the round of 4 and almost nothing about SDSU. Even our experts are talking down this one as a layup.

It would absolutely be the most Bama basketball thing ever for us to lay a giant stinking egg on Fri evening when our path to the final 4 is as perfectly set up as it could possibly get. Go 2-30 from 3 point with 15+ turnovers while being late to every rebound or loose ball and we'll get wrecked by a team we should beat.

Now that we're in a great position in the sweet 16 each game needs to be treated like the most important game in program history. IDC who we're playing we need to treat it like we're about to play a 33-0 UK team.

I am not over looking this game. I am terrified, and if we do manage to win, I will be terrified for the next game, whether it is Princeton or Creighton.

 

[lainey2020]

Like some of you other guys SDSU scares the hell out of me. The Sweet 16 has been the end of the road for us Bama fans many times. l love this team, but SDSU is very capable of beating us if we don't play well.

 

[cola68]

It's no doubt the Bama basketball fan ptsd in me, but the closer we get to this game the more anxious I get about it. Just about everyone is overlooking this game for one reason or another. Lots of talk about Creighton or who we get in the round of 4 and almost nothing about SDSU. Even our experts are talking down this one as a layup.

It would absolutely be the most Bama basketball thing ever for us to lay a giant stinking egg on Fri evening when our path to the final 4 is as perfectly set up as it could possibly get. Go 2-30 from 3 point with 15+ turnovers while being late to every rebound or loose ball and we'll get wrecked by a team we should beat.

Now that we're in a great position in the sweet 16 each game needs to be treated like the most important game in program history. IDC who we're playing we need to treat it like we're about to play a 33-0 UK team.

Who is overlooking SDSU ? No sane fan that knows what this win would mean

 

[Bama924]

It's no doubt the Bama basketball fan ptsd in me, but the closer we get to this game the more anxious I get about it. Just about everyone is overlooking this game for one reason or another. Lots of talk about Creighton or who we get in the round of 4 and almost nothing about SDSU. Even our experts are talking down this one as a layup.

It would absolutely be the most Bama basketball thing ever for us to lay a giant stinking egg on Fri evening when our path to the final 4 is as perfectly set up as it could possibly get. Go 2-30 from 3 point with 15+ turnovers while being late to every rebound or loose ball and we'll get wrecked by a team we should beat.

Now that we're in a great position in the sweet 16 each game needs to be treated like the most important game in program history. IDC who we're playing we need to treat it like we're about to play a 33-0 UK team.

Amen

 

[budog]

I don’t know if I would put Michigan St in there. Everyone knew coming into this tournament that, regardless of their record, UConn had the talent to win it.

And you forgot Providence, Loyola Marymount, and South Alabama amongst the lessor teams we have lost to.

You guys forgot possibly the worst of all because the loss to Lamar in 83 was devastating to my Dad and I.

ROLL TIDE!!!!

 

[Codie B]

You guys forgot possibly the worst of all because the loss to Lamar in 83 was devastating to my Dad and I.

ROLL TIDE!!!!

I knew about that game, but I didn’t start watching Bama BB actively until ‘84.