Alabama Men's Basketball
Comes Up Short In SEC Tourney Vs Kentucky
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| Photo Credit: UA Athletics |
Leading UA was redshirt freshman Dazon Ingram with 17 points before fouling out of the contest in the final two minutes. Freshman Braxton Key also reached double figures with 11 points. It was Bama junior Riley Norris leading the Tide with six rebounds, tying Key for that honor.
Alabama men's basketball head coach Avery Johnson said, "First of all, I'm awfully proud of our team. We had a tough second half. We battled, we fought. We put on our hard hat and came to play and there was no surrender. We battled all the way to the very end. Give Kentucky credit. They made some big shots. Coach (John) Calipari does a nice job with his team, and getting so many new guys every year, they do a great job of representing the SEC both in conference and non-conference in the tournament.
"I wouldn't trade my guys for anybody. They have battled and fought. We've had some ups and downs in non-conference, conference, but they kept on returning to practice and watching videos and working on their games and trying to get better so that when we got to this point in the SEC Tournament, we could win a few games and have a chance to win the third one."
The Tide looks to enter postseason play with a record of 19-14 overall, 10-8 in the SEC. Tonight Bama will learn its fate as to whether it will be a birth in the NCAA Tournament or a bid to the National Invitation Tournament.
Alabama shot 45 percent versus Kentucky's 52 percent from the field. The Tide outrebounded the Wildcats 33-28, and led in points off the bench (22-9), second-chance points (15-12), points off turnovers (15-12) and points from the free throw line (46-24).
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Crimson Tide Posts Top-Ten Team Finishes
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Shines At NCAA Indoor Track & Field Championships
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| Photo Credit: UA Athletics/Robert Sutton |
The Alabama women's team completed the championships with 37 points, the most ever scored by the Crimson Tide in the women's indoor championship to finish third behind national champion Oregon (84) and runner-up Georgia (51). USC (35) came in fourth place with Arkansas (32.5) completing the event's the top five. The third-place finish is only the fourth top-three placement for the women indoors. Alabama finished second in 1994 and third in 1988 and 1989.
The Bama men accumulated a total of 22 points to finish in the eighth position, their second top-10 finish in the last four seasons. Texas A&M won the men's title with 46 points, just barely edging out runner-up Florida (45.5) by a half point. Oregon (48) was third with Georgia (35.5) coming in fourth and Arkansas (33) fifth.
Alabama track & field head coach Dan Waters said, "Week in, week out, our women came to compete and had great focus and competitiveness.I couldn't be prouder of them. They represented Alabama with class, competitiveness and dignity. I'm really proud of the men too. There are very few programs nationally with two top 10 teams and we're one of them. We felt like we had a lot of great things happen over the weekend and you can't ask for much more than what they gave us."
Men's Event Summaries – NCAA Indoor Track & Field Championships Day 2
Finals
200 Meters – Junior Jereem Richards finished second in the men's 200 meters in a school record time of 20.31. The time surpasses the record 20.32 set by Diondre Batson at the 2014 NCAA championships in Albuquerque, N.M.
400 Meters – Senior Steven Gayle finished fourth in the men's 400 meters in 46.02, the third-fastest time in school history. Gayle now owns four of the 10 fastest 400 meter times in UA history.
60-Meter Hurdles – Junior Ruebin Walters finished fifth in 7.77, the ninth-fastest time in school history.
4x400-Meter Relay – The 4x400-meter relay of sophomore Skyler Bowden, seniors Steven Gayle and Jacopo Lahbi and junior Jereem Richards finished eighth in 3:06.06, the fourth-fastest time in school history. This relay group ends the 2017 indoor season with four of the six fastest 4x400 relay times ever run at Alabama.
Weight Throw – Junior Daniel Haugh finished ninth in the men's weight throw with a mark of 70-9 (21.56m). Senior Elias Hakansson finished 13th at 68-5 1/4 (20.86m).
Alabama Series
Haugh – 69-6 3/4 (21.20m); 69-11 1/2 (21.32m); 70-9 (21.56m); 69-8 (21.23m); Foul; 70-5 3/4 (21.48m)
Hakansson – Foul; 68-5 1/4 (20.86m); Foul
Women's Event Summaries – NCAA Indoor Track & Field Championships Day 2
Finals
60 Meters – Senior Quanesha Burks finished seventh in the women's 60 meters in 7.27. The time equals her second-fastest this season.
400 Meters – Senior Alex Gholston finished fifth in the women's 400 meters in a personal-best 52.23, the second-fastest time in school history.
4x400-Meter Relay – The quartet of freshman Takyera Roberson and seniors Alex Gholston, Diamond Gause and Domonique Williams finished fourth in the women's 4x400-meter relay in a school-record time of 3:28.62. The time ranks as one of the fastest ever run in the event at the collegiate level as the top two finishers – USC (3:27.03) and Oregon (3:27.07) surpassed the previous college record.
Pole Vault – Senior Lakan Taylor became the first women's pole vault champion in Alabama history with a school-record vault of 14-7 1/4 (4.45m) to defeat Baylor's Annie Rhoades for the title.
Alabama Series
Taylor – 4.05m (o); 4.20m (o); 4.30m (xo); 4.40m (o); 4.45m (o); 4.50m (xxx)
NCAA Indoor Track & Field Championships
Saturday, March 11, 2017
Alabama Results
Men
Final Team Scoring
1. Texas A&M- 46
2. Florida- 45.5
3. Oregon-38
4. Georgia- 35.5
5. Arkansas- 33
8. ALABAMA- 22
Finals
400 Meters – 4. Steven Gayle, 46.02
60-Meter Hurdles – 5. Ruebin Walters, 7.77
200 Meters – 2. Jereem Richards, 20.31 (SR)
4x400- Meter Relay – 8. Alabama (Skyler Bowden, Steven Gayle, Jacopo Lahbi, Jereem Richards), 3:06.06
Weight Throw – 9. Daniel Haugh, 70-9 (21.56m); 13. Elias Hakansson 68-5 1/4 (20.86m)
Women
Final Team Scoring
1. Oregon- 84
2. Georgia- 51
3. ALABAMA- 37
4. USC- 35
5. Arkansas- 32.5
Finals
60 Meters – 7. Quanesha Burks, 7.27
400 Meters – 5. Alex Gholston, 52.23 (PB)
4x400- Meter Relay – 4. Alabama (Takyera Roberson, Alex Gholston, Diamond Gause, Domonique Williams), 3:28.62 (SR)
Pole Vault – 1. Lakan Taylor, 14-7 1/4 (4.45m)
Alabama Superlatives
School Records
Men
200 Meters- Jereem Richards, 20.31
Women
High Jump- Stacey Destin, 6-2 3/4 (1.91m)*
Pentathlon- Stacey Destin, 4,186 points
Pole Vault- Lakan Taylor, 14-7 1/4 (4.45m)
4x400-Meter Relay- Takyera Roberson, Alex Gholston, Diamond Gause, Domonique Williams, 3:28.62
*- Pentathlon
School Top-10 Performances
Men
200 Meters- 4. Jereem Richards, 20.50
400 Meters- 3. Steven Gayle, 46.02
400 Meters- 6. Steven Gayle, 46.42
5,000 Meters- 5. Alfred Chelanga, 13:48.36
60-Meter Hurdles- 7. Ruebin Walters, 7.73
60-Meter Hurdles- 9. Ruebin Walters, 7.77
Shot Put- 4. Kyle Felpel, 62-3 3/4 (18.99m)
Shot Put- 6. Kyle Felpel, 61-11 1/2 (18.88m)
Shot Put- 9. Kyle Felpel, 61-8 1/4 (18.80m)
4x400-Meter Relay- 4. Skyler Bowden, Steven Gayle, Jacopo Lahbi, Jereem Richards, 3:06.06
Women
400 Meters- 2. Alex Gholston, 52.23
400 Meters- 4. Alex Gholston, 52.56
60-Meter Hurdles- 5. Vanessa Clerveaux, 8.13
High Jump- 3t. Stacey Destin, 6-1 1/2 (1.87m)
Long Jump- 4. Quanesha Burks, 22-0 3/4 (6.72m)
Long Jump- 7. Quanesha Burks, 21-10 (6.65m)
Long Jump- 8. Quanesha Burks, 21-9 1/2 (6.64m)
Long Jump- 10. Quanesha Burks, 21-8 (6.60m)
Personal Bests
Men
200 Meters- Jereem Richards, 20.31
Women
60 Meters- Quanesha Burks, 7.21
High Jump- Stacey Destin, 6-2 3/4 (1.91m)*
Shot Put- Stacey Destin, 38-5 (11.71m)*
Pentathlon- Stacey Destin, 4,186
400 Meters- Alex Gholston, 52.23
*- Pentathlon
PB- Personal best
SB- Season best
SR- School record
NB- National best
NM- No mark
NH- No height
DNF- Did not finish
DNS- Did not start
Q- Qualified for final with heat win
q- Qualified for final on time
(All statistical information courtesy UA Athletics & RollTide.com)
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| Photo Credit: UA Athletics/Robert Sutton |
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| Photo Credit: UA Athletics/Robert Sutton |
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Bear Bryant's Great-Grandson Is Getting Noticed
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| Paul Tyson & Great-Grandfather Paul "Bear" Bryant Photo via Collegiate Images |
Hewitt Trussville (Alabama) quarterback Paul Tyson may not be a name everyone is familiar with, but his grandfather is. Tyson is the great-grandson of former University of Alabama football coaching legend Paul "Bear" Bryant. That's right, as of 2019, things could go full-circle and the great-grandson of one of the two greatest coaches in college football could be playing for the Crimson Tide.
Tyson is still just a sophomore in high school, but he has already drawn interest from not only UA, but also Clemson, Notre Dame as well as Mississippi State. He still doesn't have any actual listed offers, but it's still a little early for those from the class of 2019.
According to Hank South of 247Sports has the attention of both Alabama offensive coordinator Brian Daboll, recently hired in the position, as well as head coach Nick Saban. South says Tyson has recently met with Saban.
Tyson would be to Alabama what is known as a legacy. Usually this designation means a little extra attention. With the Bryant-connection, it adds even more.
South spoke with Tyson about what Bama likes about him, and received this comment, "I would say mostly the fact that I'm 6' 4", 210, pocket passer," Tyson replied. "That's what they like to do especially with Coach Daboll. He's been coaching Tom Brady, and I'm just that type of quarterback, a pocket passer, that can drop back and throw it."
Concerning meeting and talking with Saban, Tyson said, "I've shook his hand a few times and he's known who I was, but I've never been able to sit down and just kind of me and him and my parents, with him being able to talk to me about watching my film and my size. He was talking about character and all that stuff, and telling me how he wants everything to go for next year and stuff."
Though he can't sign a National Letter of Intent for nearly another two years, he is getting calls and making visits. Not only has he been to The Capstone, but also recently visited the current reigning Nation Champion, Clemson.
Though an Alabama legacy, Tyson says he is not just automatically going to attend and play for the University of Alabama. According to South, Tyson said, "Just to have that name under me; it's an honor to have that be my great-grandfather," in a comment to BamaOnLine. "It's awesome. It's a great thing that I'll always have in my life. It's a blessing.
"It's definitely been something that's crazy. Some people think I'm automatically going to Alabama. That's not completely true. I'm just starting the recruiting process and it's awesome. I'm loving it. People definitely think it's pretty cool who my great-grandfather is, and often ask me questions about him. It's a great honor."
What a pedigree. Being the descendent of the only Associated Press five-time national championship coach in college football history could be daunting shoes to fill, but Tyson seems to take it all in stride. And the head coach from the same school just one win away from tying the record, Nick Saban, showing interest is also something very special.
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Auburn Men's Tennis Defeats Alabama
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| Photo Credit: UA Athletics |
RESULTS
Doubles
1. No. 66 Osama/Richey (UA) vs. No. 9 Hinnisdaels/Huertas (AU) 4-4, unf.
2. Laubser/Nguyen (AU) defeated Nesterov/Ortiz (UA) 6-1
3. Saleh/Thestrup (AU) defeated Cancel/Zhou (UA) 6-2
Singles
1. No. 64 Max Hinnisdaels (AU) defeated No. 41 Mazen Osama (UA) 5-7, 6-4, 10-5
2. Carles Sarrio (AU) defeated No. 103 Thibault Cancel (UA) 6-3, 6-2
3. Conner Huertas (AU) defeated Edson Ortiz (UA) 6-4, 6-1
4. Edward Nguyen (AU) defeated Alexey Nesterov (UA) 6-4, 6-3
5. Zhe Zhou (UA) defeated Olle Thestrup (AU) 6-4, 1-6, 6-1
6. Brandon Laubser (AU) defeated Ritchie Kruunenberg (UA) 6-0, 7-5
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Four-Star Defensive End Likes Alabama, USC
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| Cameron Latu Photo Credit: SEC Country/Sam Spiegelman |
Latu now appears to be putting his eyes on a a school much closer to Salt Lake City, and it's one that should have the Tide a little concerned. The nation's number nine weak side defensive end is now liking the looks of the USC Trojans.
According to Pete Scantlebury of SEC Country, Latu told him, "It's Alabama and USC. After visiting USC, they are one of my top schools as well. They are some really nice schools. I want to invest my time into them."
It appears an even more recent visit to the USC campus has Latu in love again. He did admit that he really didn't expect the Trojans and the campus to impress him as much as it seems to have.
Latu told Scantlebury, "That’s the thing, I really can’t compare them. They’re both phenomenal programs. They’re both great schools. I thought Alabama was going to blow USC out of the water, to be honest. After visiting USC, that was a totally different ballgame once you go see it with your own eyes. I think USC is very great."
Of course, Latu is also paying attention to mama. He said that his mom wanted him to go to Alabama after the visit to Tuscaloosa, but them told him her choice was USC after the visit to Los Angeles. He did say, however, that he had his mother's blessing whichever school upon which he decides.
