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Tide Men's Basketball Hosts Winthrop Tonight
Photo Credit: RollTide.com
After nearly a month of away games, the Alabama Crimson Tide men's basketball team returns to defend its home court tonight hosting the Winthrop Eagles. Tonight is the first of a four-game home stand at Coleman Coliseum for Bama, with the action scheduled to begin at 8 p.m. CT.
Alabama has played five consecutive games on the road posting a 4-1 record. Out of the Tide's first eight games of the 2015-16 season, six of them have been away from Coleman Coliseum. The last home game for Bama was back on November 20th against Louisiana-Lafayette, which was a 105-93 win for the Tide.
A couple of items of note concerning tonight's game, one each for both the adults and kids. This is Alabama Toy Drive Night, with the Tide asking you to donate one toy and receive one free ticket to the game. This offer is still in effect and can be handled at the door. Also tonight the kids can have their pictures taken with the Big Al Christmas Photo op from 6:30 p.m. until 7:30 p.m. CT in the main Coleman Coliseum concourse.
The last four wins by the Crimson Tide has been by a total of nine points, with the last three games coming down to the final possession. Bama's biggest win of the four came November 20th in a four-point victory over then-No. 20 Wichita State 64-60. The Tide then took a one-point victory over then-No. 17 Notre Dame 74-73, a three-point win over Southern Miss 58-55 and then the most recent one-point victory at Clemson 51-50.
Alabama head basketball coach Avery Johnson said in his press conference, " We're not over-confident by any stretch of the imagination, but they are starting to believe in what we work on in practice and having the correct practice habits how they can carry over on the floor. (See more notes on Coach Johnson's press conference in an accompanying story.)
Tonight's game can be seen on the SEC Network, with John Saunders handling play-by-play duties and Jon Sundvold handling the analyst/color duties. The game can also be seen on the Crimson Tide Sports Network with Chris Stewart and Bryant Passink handling the announcing duties.
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Avery Johnson Press Conference
Alabama Basketball Head Coach Avery Johnson
Photo Credit: RollTide.com
Alabama head basketball coach Avery Johnson addressed the press concerning concerning practice, recent games and tonight's contest with Winthrop.
In his opening statement Johnson said, "Good afternoon. I'm excited to be back home. We've been on the road for a long time and I'm just excited to come back and play in front of our fans. We understand that students are out for the winter break but hopefully we'll still have a lot of support from the community because the men have been working hard on both ends of the floor on the road. We've had to face some different challenges this year. Obviously, Dazon (Ingram) getting injured is a major set-back for us, but we didn't make any excuses against Clemson. We went there and played and fought hard and were fortunate to win that game by a point. We looked at some different lineups and different matchup situations just trying to figure out what works for us and what doesn't work for us. We did a much better job on the offensive glass because we still have a lot of work to do, as we need to have a good video session and prep work today (yesterday) for Winthrop. They are a talented team. Their point guard, Keon Johnson, and their small forward, Jimmy Gavin, can score in bunches. Gavin had 38 points at North Carolina State and Johnson is hard to guard as he shoots 47 percent from the field, 47 percent from three and 87 percent from the free throw line. We've got our work cut out for us tomorrow (tonight) and we're going to have to have another total team effort for some sort of success."
Concerning the confident level of the Tide this early in the season Johnson said, "We're not over-confident by any stretch of the imagination, but they are starting to believe in what we work on in practice and having the correct practice habits with how they can carry over on the floor. We've identified some problem areas with teams in terms of how they function offensively, and we've tried to address those problem areas with our defense and the way we attack defensively. When we do that correctly, we have a chance to have some success and make it tough on our opponents, and it works out for us. We had a high grade on defense in the first half against Clemson, and an average grade in the second half, and that was the same case with our offense. For us, we just have to have more mental and physical stamina to do it right and get it right for a longer period in the game rather than a shorter period in the game."
Johnson was complimentary of Justin Coleman, talking about the "incredible passes" he made in the Clemson contest. He continued, "We're still waiting for his shot to come around. Defensively, we've got to make sure we get him in better positions so he can be successful. He got in there and got a couple of rebounds for us along with some strips. He's just got to be scrappy. When you're that size, you've got to be a scrappy guy." Overall, Johnson said, "I think he did a good job, but it was his first game starting. Now we've got another project in terms of trying to get him comfortable in the starting lineup and then figuring out the rotation once we're giving him a breather."
The Alabama Crimson Tide hosts the Winthrop Eagles tonight at 8 p.m. CT at Coleman Coliseum.
Photo Credit: RollTide.com
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4 From Football Make Sporting News All-America Team
The University of Alabama football team again has multiple players placed on and All-America Team...this one belonging to Sporting News. Four of the Bama boys made the team, according to an announcement by the Sporting New yesterday.
The four first-team selections for the Crimson Tide are Heisman Trophy winner Derrick Henry, senior captain Reggie Ragland, center Ryan Kelly and defensive lineman A'Shawn Robinson. This is the fifth first-team All-America list for Henry and Ragland.
Henry has won the Heisman, Maxwell, Doak Walker and Walter Camp Player of the year honors. He has rushed for a record 1,986 yards and 23 touchdowns. Henry leads the nation in rushing yards and touchdowns, as well as being second in yards per game. He is the first Alabama running back to be named unanimous first-team All-Amercian since Mark Ingram in 2009.
Ragland was also a unanimous first-team All-American this post-season. He led the team with 90 tackles, including 6.5 for a loss as well as 2.5 sacks per game. Ragland has six pass breakups, six quarterback hurries and two forced fumbles.
Kelly is the 2015 Rimington Trophy winner, and has been named first-team All-American for the fourth of five times this season. (The other he made second-team.) Kelly missed only eight assignments this season in 948 snaps of the ball, and didn't allow a sack all season.
Robinson has recorded a career-high 42 tackles for the 2015 season, with 7.5 of those for a loss. He had 3.5 sacks, two pass breakups, a fumble recovery and one blocked PAT. He was named first-team All-American three times this year, as well as second-team on another two.
The Crimson Tide has had 119 first-team All-Americans with 139 All-America honors. The Crimson Tide, since 2008, has had 31 different players earning 35 first-team All-America honors.
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