Alabama Baseball Shuts Out Eastern Illinois 5-0
 |
| Photo Credit: UA Athletics |
UA baseball head coach Greg Goff said yesterday, "Our guys came out and dealt with the elements this afternoon. I was proud of the way Garret Rukes threw for us. If he doesn't go out there and have a lot of poise and a competitive spirit on a cold day, then we may not have the same outcome. I'm really pleased with the way he came out, threw strikes and mixed the ball in and out along with using a great changeup. It was just a tremendous effort from our freshman today."
This victory was the first career win for Rukes (1-0), pitching 8.0 scoreless innings of baseball. The freshman allowed just two hits, two walks and struck out two batters. He sat down the first 11 batters faced in order before issuing his first walk of the contest with two outs in the fourth. Rukes was able to hold the Panthers hitless through the first five innings before finally giving up a hit to lead off the sixth. His 8.0 innings of work were a season-long by any Tide starter so far this season.
The Bama offense was led Chandler Avant, Logan Carey, Cody Henry and Connor Short, who all finished with two hits each. Henry finished 2-for-2 on the afternoon, including picking up his third home run of the season, while recording team-highs in walks, RBIs and runs scored in the contest with two in each category. Over these past five games, Henry leads the team with a .533 (8-15) average/ He has picked up a double, all three of his home runs this season, five RBIs, three walks and a team-high six runs.
Alabama will now face in-state foe Samford this afternoon at Sewell-Thomas Stadium. Game time is set for 3 p.m. CT.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Tide Baseball Post Game Press Conference
 |
| Click HERE to view post game press conference |
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Bama Women's Swimming & Diving Headed To NCAAs
 |
| Photo Credit: UA Athletics |
University of Alabama swimming & diving head coach Dennis Pursley commented, "Our focus is going to be on the opportunities that we have. Any time we're going into a peak performance competition, we're trying to swim lifetime best times, whether it's in relays or individual events."
Leading the Crimson Tide into the fray today will be Honorable Mention All-American Mia Nonnenberg as well as Southeastern Conference medalist Bailey Scott, both of whom qualified for individual berths in the Swimming & Diving Championships.
Taking part in her third consecutive NCAA Championship, Nonnenberg will be competing in both the 500 and 1,650 freestyles as well as the 400 individual medley. Scott will swim the 50 and 100 freestyles. It will be her third NCAA championship and the first in which she'll compete in individual events.
Also participating with Scott in the 200 and 400 medley relays will be Bama junior Hannah Musser, who earned Honorable Mention All-American honors last season in the 400 medley relay, as well as sophomores Katie Coughlin and Emma Murray.
Today's event at the competition will be the 800 freestyle relay, one which the Tide is not a participant. The Crimson Tide will actually crank things up on Thursday with the preliminaries of the 500 and 50 freestyles as well as the 400 medley relay. Prelims begin at 9 a.m. CT while finals start at 5 p.m. CT.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Crimson Tide Men's Basketball Season Comes To A Close
_____
Suffers 71-64 Loss To Richmond In NIT
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Avery Johnson Talks About NIT Loss
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Crimson Tide Men's Basketball Season Comes To A Close
_____
Suffers 71-64 Loss To Richmond In NIT
 |
| Photo Credit: UA Athletics |
TUSCALOOSA, Alabama – One could see the disappointment in the demeanor of Alabama Crimson Tide men's basketball head coach Avery Johnson following the first round loss in the 2017 National Invitational Tournament on Tuesday night. The Alabama men's basketball team
saw its season come to a close, ending the evening on the short end of a 71-64 score to Richmond last night. Bama ends its 2016-17 campaign with a 19-15 overall record, including a 10-8 performance in the Southeastern Southeastern Conference.
Leading the Crimson Tide last night was senior Corban Collins with a total of 19 points which included five made three-pointers. Redshirt freshman Dazon Ingram wasn't far behind with 11 points as well as six assists without a turnover. Leading the way on the boards for Bama was senior Bola Olaniyan, pulling down a game-high seven rebounds.
Following the game, Johnson said, "It was a tough loss tonight. Give Richmond credit. They did a heck of job. They came in ready
to play and they really wanted to win the game so let's give them
credit. They shot the ball well. They're a small team that moves around a
lot. (ShawnDre') Jones gave us problems all night and (De'Mont)
Buckingham obviously had a great first half. They back cut us a little
bit too much but we just didn't have that eye of the tiger early on in
the game. We bounced back in the second half, but we just didn't have
enough offensively against Richmond tonight. Take your hats off to them.
It just wasn't one of our better games.
"We've had some really good games here recently, but we just couldn't
get over the hump tonight. I feel bad for our seniors because obviously
if we could've won this game, we would've had another home game based
on the bracket in the NIT with Oakland winning. I really wanted our 20th win tonight, I thought that would've been great. The crowd showed up.
We had 4,000 fans but it felt like 14,000. Thank everybody for coming
out tonight and trying to inspire our team to win."
The Crimson Tide out-rebounded the Spiders last night 33-27, while holding the Richmond bench
scoreless. Alabama got 35 points from its reserves. Bama's three-point shooting was off last evening, hitting just 29 percent from beyond
the arc.
| Game Stats | RICH | UA |
|---|---|---|
| FG% | .538 | .417 |
| 3FG% | .389 | .292 |
| FT% | .727 | 1.000 |
| RB | 27 | 33 |
| TO | 12 | 16 |
| STL | 7 | 2 |
 |
| Photo Credit: UA Athletics |
Avery Johnson Talks About NIT Loss
 |
| Click HERE to view press conference |
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Alabama Football Players Have Been Working Hard
Since the National Championship Loss
 |
| Photo Credit: UA Athletics |
Let me start by saying most of my information comes through AL.com, so let's give credit where credit is due. This particular site has information available through resources and sources that are second-to-none. You'll find breakdowns throughout of various players, positions, etc. there on site.
Incidentally, formal team practice will actually begin on Tuesday, March 21st.
Players from UA are working hard, as I said. Much has gone into and it's paying dividends. Take for instance the performance during this offseason of last season's Southeastern Conference Player of the Year and starting Crimson Tide quarterback Jalen Hurts. He had a fantastic 2016 season, and is preparing for 2017 like a man possessed.
The 210-pound QB reportedly recently ran a 4.48 40-yard dash. For those that don't know...that's fast. Very fast. Comparing that to the NFL Combine, the fasted time run there was 4.54 which was claimed by former Texas A&M QB Trevor Knight. Hurts, as well as the other players, have of course been putting in a lot of time in the weight room. Again, Hurts has excelled. He has done 315 on the power clean, bench-pressed 355 pounds and squatted 455 pounds. That's some weight, people. In fact, it's more weight than many of the Bama defensive backs and wide receivers put up.
As fast as those numbers are, someone beat him. That's right, by another Crimson Tider. Linebacker Dylan Moses ran the 40 in .02 faster, 4.46. Now get this. Moses did 335 on the power clean, squatted 500 and benched 405. That, my friends, is a strong man.
No one is saying that Moses, or even Hurts for that matter, will be starting for Alabama this coming season. But one thing is certain. These two are excelling in the offseason. That usually translates into excelling on the field.
The two fastest times in the 40 among Bama running backs were posted by freshmen Brian Robinson and Chadarius Townsend. Robinson came in with 4.41 and Townsend posted a 4.46. The top bench press among the running backs was a weight of 425 pounds, hoisted by sophomore B.J. Emmons.
Again, check out all the numbers at AL.com.
For those of you, which is most of you, live for Alabama football then get ready. You can at least enjoy the spring training in just under a week.
