Saturday, November 21, 2015

Tide Men's Basketball Wins 105-93; Saban Semifinalist For Another Award; Mia Nonnenberg Breaks 2nd Record In 2 Days


******************************************************************************************************

Men's Basketball

Tide Takes 2nd Win Of Season 105-93


Photo Credit: RollTide.com


     The Bama men came to play last night. The Alabama men's basketball team put in a flurry of shots, including 15 three-pointers, to come away with a 105-93 win over Louisiana last night in a high-scoring affair at Coleman Coliseum.  Alabama improves their overall record to 2-1 on the young season, including 2-0 at home for 2015-16.

     This is the first triple-digit scoring game for the Tide since November of 2013 against Stillman College. The last 105-point game was exactly ten years ago against Alabama State. The 15 three-point buckets was the Crimson Tide's most since 2004 when they hit a school-record 19 against East Tennessee State University.

     Head basketball coach Avery Johnson used himself as a motivational tool to help the Tide overcome the loss to Dayton and get ready for the Ragin' Cajuns. Concerning participating in practice himself during the week Johnson said, "It did help. I definitely had to ice my knees, but I only went through the demonstration in the half court. We didn't go full court because it's 20 years later since my playing days, but our guys responded. We had two really hard practices, and we had some extra-long video sessions. I wasn't necessarily disappointed at the loss at Dayton, but I was disappointed in our offense. The ball was just sticking. We didn't move the basketball, but they carried over what we worked on the last two days in practice to tonight (Friday night). We were so much better offensively, and they were just fun to watch."

     It was a strong start on the night for Bama, hitting the first seven three-pointers in a row last evening. The Tide went on two scoring runs the first half, one an 18-4 run to take a 29-14 lead early, and then another near the end of the half to build a 17-point lead, 48-31. Alabama led Louisiana at the half 55-39.

     Louisiana began to close the big first-half gap when they came out in the second half on the strength of 54 percent shooting. (They were 45.9 percent overall on the night.) But the Crimson Tide's 54.2 percent in field goals, 60 percent three-point shooting and 74 percent accuracy from the free throw line brought home the win.

     A total of six Bama players hit in double-figures last night. Six of those nine either set or matched their career high. Leading the team with 18 points were the hot hands of three gentlemen: Riley Norris, Shannon Hales and Justin Coleman. The 18 points for Norris are a new career high for him. Leading the night in rebounds was Mr. Basketball, Dazon Ingram, with a career-best seven. Coleman's eight assists on the night set a new mark for him. Others scoring in double-figures on the night were senior Retin Obasohan with 17 points, senior Arthur Edwards with 12, and freshman Ingram with 10 points.

     Also scoring for the Crimson Tide last night were Jimmie Taylor (9), Michael Kessens (2) and Donta Hall (1).

     Next up for Alabama (2-1) is a trip to Orlando, Florida next week for the 2015 AdvoCare Invitational. The Crimson Tide will go head-to-head with Xavier at 11 a.m. CT on Thanksgiving Day. The game will be broadcast live on ESPN2.

Photo Credit: RollTide.com


Photo Credit: RollTide.com


Photo Credit: RollTide.com

 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Nick Saban Up For Another National Award


     Not only do award-nominations keep coming for Alabama football players, but for the head coach as well. Bama's head man, Nick Saban, has been selected as one of 18 semifinalists this year for the George Munger Collegiate Coach of the Year Award. The announcement was made yesterday by Maxwell Football Club President Ron Jaworski.

     Coach Saban has done his usual incredible job this season, from recruiting right on through 10 games so far this season, posting a 9-1 record with another game to be played this afternoon. Bama is currently ranked second in the College Football Playoff rankings thanks to the leadership of this man.

     This is the eighth consecutive season that Saban has led the Crimson Tide to at least nine wins in a season. With a win today the Tide will make it 10 wins in a row since Saban came to Alabama.

     The Crimson Tide hosts Charleston Southern today at 3 p.m. CT at Bryant-Denny Stadium.
 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Swimmer Mia Nonnenberg Breaks 2nd Record In 2 Days

Photo Credit: RollTide.com


     First she breaks an Alabama record that has stood for 30 years. The next day Mia Nonnenberg breaks another at the Georgia Tech Fall Invitational in Atlanta, Georgia. 

     That 30-year record was the 500 freestyle record, and beat that one by three seconds. The second record-breaking performance was beating her own 400 individual medley record she set her freshman season by a over four seconds.

     This super-sophomore is well-positioned to break more school records this season.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------