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College GameDay Speaks With Nick Saban
Alabama Head Coach Nick Saban
Photo Credit: RollTide.com
Alabama Crimson Tide head football coach Nick Saban appeared on ESPN's College GameDay via satellite hookup this morning. Being rivalry week, and so many teams across the nation playing their traditional rivals this Saturday, the GameDay crew spoke with Saban about today's Iron Bowl matchup with Auburn.
Reece Davis asked Saban first how the emotional wins and losses with Auburn in the past impacts how a coach perceives a rivalry game. Saban answered, "I think the number one thing is the players really need to understand the level of energy that goes into a game like this, and you have to anticipate that and don't let it take you by surprise. The second thing is you have got to be able to stay focused on what you need to do on the field, and at some point in time in this game you're going to have to be able to overcome adversity because everything's not going to go your way, and how you respond to those things and play the next play is really important to being consistent which is really important in a game like this."
Davis then asked Saban what the biggest problem was that Auburn would present Alabama today. Saban responded, "I think, number one, they're playing better on defense, so it's going to be important for us to be able to control the line of scrimmage when we have the ball. Secondly, they've always been able to run the ball effectively. They've run it effectively this year. When they've been able to make some explosive plays with play-action passes, that's made them a very dangerous, effective offensive team...and they've scored a lot of points in those circumstances. So, the three things that are important in the game is control the line on both sides of the ball, obviously explosive plays which were a big part of the game last year on both sides for both teams, and turnovers. So those three things I think are going to be a real key for us."
Next question to Saban, "Where do you see the greatest area of need for improvement?"
Saban replied, "Well I think consistency has always been the issue with our team...to be able to play at a high level on a consistent basis. You know, in this day and age it really doesn't matter what you did last week. You're only as good as your last play, you're only as good as your last game...so how you play this week is the most important thing. The challenge always is to finish...and I think that's the challenge for our team is how we finish the season. We've been in this position the last two years and have not been able to finish the way we want. So, this is the challenge for our team this year."
Reece asked Saban how being able to rotate so much in Bama's defensive front seven has impacted their energy at the end of the season. Saban replied, "Well I think it's critical that you can play a lot of players so that your team doesn't get worn down, but especially against all the fast-ball teams we play...spread teams, no-huddle teams. It's important that you play a lot of players, which has been a real key for us this year because of the depth that we have, so you can keep fresh guys in the game. But I think the wear and tear of the season doesn't have as great an impact on them as well, so in both cases I think it's a huge advantage for us that we have that kind of depth up front. Our defensive line has impacted a lot of games for us this year, which is critical for our success on defense."
2015 Iron Bowl
Photo Credit: RollTide.com
The Iron Bowl. Everyone knows what this game means. A year of holding the win over the heads of best friends and/or spouses...or having to listen to their constant blathering for the next year. For the Alabama Crimson Tide and the Auburn Tigers a win today determines their post-season dreams.
Alabama needs the win to continue on to the Southeastern Conference Championship game and the march toward National Championship XVI. The Tigers need the win to salvage a dismal and under-achieving season. Win number six would be especially sweet for Auburn to knock Bama out of both championship scenarios, as well as winning the "state crown."
Alabama leads the series 43-35-1, with the most recent win last season. That one was a come-from-behind victory in a shootout in Tuscaloosa 55-44.
Alabama is a 13-point favorite by most prognosticators going into today's contest.
I'll be happy with a win of any kind at Jordan-Hare.
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Alabama Men's Basketball
Bama Upsets Wichita State 64-60
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Records 1st Top-25 Win Under Johnson
Photo Credit: RollTide.com
The Alabama men's basketball team captured it's first win over a ranked-opponent in the Avery Johnson era last night with a 64-60 upset victory over 20th-ranked Wichita State in the opening round of the 2015 AdvoCare Invitational in Orlando, Florida. In fact, it was the first win for the Tide over a ranked opponent in nearly five years, dating back to January of 2011 when Bama upset then-number 12 Kentucky at home. This win snaps a 21-game losing streak to ranked opponents.
Crimson Tide head coach Avery Johnson was beaming and full of pride for his young men, commenting, "You've got to give our team credit. That was a complete team victory. When we can get a minimum of
three of our guys in double figures, we are a much better team. It was
another outstanding defensive effort by our team just like yesterday,
but the difference between the two games was our offense."
The contest was exciting, and wasn't decided until the final 10 seconds of the game. There were a total of eight ties and nine lead changes in the game.
Alabama's three men in double figures were team-leading Shannon Hale with 20 points, followed by Riley Norris with 12 and Dazon Ingram with 11. Ingram also led the night with rebounds, bringing down eight. Next on the boards with five rebounds was Arthur Edwards, followed by Jimmie Taylor and Justin Coleman with four each.
Alabama improved to 3-2 on the young season.
Next up for the Crimson Tide is the Fighting Irish on Sunday. Number 17 Notre Dame defeated Iowa last night 68-62. Game time is 6 p.m. CT and will air live on ESPNU.
Photo Credit: RollTide.com
Women's Basketball
Tide Wins Opening Round At Nugget Classic
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Defeats Middle Tennessee 64-46
Photo Credit: RollTide.com
The Alabama Crimson Tide women's basketball team improved to 5-0 on the young season with a 64-46 win over Middle Tennessee last night in game one of the Nugget Classic in Reno, Nevada. Sophomore Hannah Cook celebrated the win in fine style with her career-first double-double. Cooks pumped in 15 points Friday night along with a career-high 15 rebounds on the night.
Alabama head coach Kristy Curry praised her team, saying, "I thought it was a great effort, and we got a lot of help from our bench. There were a lot of different points in the game where we had some folks come in and do some great things for us."
Finishing the game second in both scoring and rebounds was senior Nikki Hegstetter. She finished the night with 10 points and six rebounds. Leading the Tide in assists with five was sophomore Meoshonti Knight. Sh also had three steals, the team high.
Alabama shot 37.3 percent from the field while holding Middle Tennessee to 16.9 percent. Beyond the arc the Tide was 63.6 percent.
Curry further commented, "Both teams were really struggling (early), but I thought we were able
to persevere and show a lot of toughness. We stayed
really positive with them. It wasn't a lack of effort. We just had to
get our juices flowing as I say, but it was a great job the second
quarter. To come out the second half and set the tone the way we did
made me really proud for our kids."
The Tide advances to play Utah Valley today at 4 p.m. CT in their second game of the Nugget Classic. This will be the first meeting between the two schools.
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Senior Night
Alabama Volleyball Sweeps LSU
Photo Credit: RollTide.com
It was a great win. It was a great way to end the season. It was an Alabama volleyball three-set sweep over the LSU Tigers on Senior night in Tuscaloosa. Set scores for the night last night were 25-13, 25-20, and 25-14. Alabama improves to 17-15 overall, 11-7 SEC while LSU drops to 9-20 overall, 5-13 SEC.
Leading the team in kills and hitting .600 on the night was Krystal Rivers. Kat Hutson was right behind her with 15 kills and a .480 hitting percentage. Bama senior Sierra Wilson had 43 assists on the night. Wilson also had 10 digs, her seventh double-double of the season. Two other Tide players finished Friday night with double-digt digs. Kryssi Daniels and Natalie Murison with 11 each.
Alabama finishes the regular season at fifth-place in the Southeastern Conference.
The announcement of the NCAA Tournament field will be announced tomorrow night live on ESPNU at 8 p.m. CT.
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