The season started with such promise.
Recruits with 4-star and 5-star rankings. In basketball! A tantalizing tease from the previous season when the team came within overtime of making the Elite 8. And, right on the heels of the football team’s whipping of Georgia in the SEC Championship game, a rousing posterizing of Gonzaga before a swaying and loud Zags crowd in Seattle.
But the season ended in March Madness disappointment, the team falling by double digits in the first round to a play-in team.
For those who watched this team throughout the year, it came as no surprise. As it struggled through SEC play, often dropping its level even below that of some of its dreadful opponents, it was readily apparent the team sorely missed the on-floor leadership of Herb Jones, now a NBA Rookie Of The Year candidate.
That was the main issue plaguing this team. It had no one to step up and get the attention of others when they were making lazy passes that turned into turnovers – 20+ a game was hardly unusual – clanging rushed shots and missing lay-ups and free throws. All the while playing lethargic defense.
This team seemed to think it could win on talent alone. That’s why it would fall behind to a Mississippi State, a Missouri, a Georgia, and then attempt to turn it on late. Too often it was too late.
This team did not play well and it did not execute well. And so, a first-round loss to a play-in team in the NCAA tournament was pretty much expected by those who consistently watched this team throughout the season.
There was always that “well maybe they will play inspired and go on a run, perhaps even to the Final Four” though among Bama fans filling out brackets. This team had a way of doing that to the fans.
But it ended in March Madness disappointment. For Bama fans, it was probably good it happened so the could put themselves out of their basketball misery so they can focus on spring football and women’s softball.
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