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| INSIDE THE NUMBERS |
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2000-01 record: 27-8;
12-4 in SEC
(1st/West)
Postseason: Lost to Kent State 71-58 in second round of NCAA South Region.
RETURNING LEADERS
Points: Dudley 15.3
Rebs: Dudley 8.9
Assists: Williams 4.5
FG: Dudley 55.6%
3pt: Pettway 40.8%
FT: Williams 85.7%
01-02 Stats:
Alabama | SEC
KEY LOSSES
Rod Grizzard | 14.1 ppg
Travis Stinnett | 3.3 ppg
PROJECTED STARTERS
G | Mo Williams | Soph
G | Ter. Meade | Senior
G | Earnest Shelton | Soph
F | Kenny Walker | Senior
F | Erwin Dudley | Senior
Player to Watch
Mo Williams
Sophomore Guard
A starter from Day One, he was clear choice as SEC freshman of year.
DATE TO REMEMBER
Alabama opens the season with an immediate yardstick game, drawing Oklahoma in New York next week. But in a season this long, that's too early. Circle this date, when Xavier comes to Coleman to challenge what should be a 25-game home streak by then.
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ALABAMA
CRIMSON TIDE
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Look at the Crimson Tide and you're looking at an artifact. A relic from bygone days in college basketball. You're looking at a team that reeks of experience. In returning SEC Player of the Year Erwin Dudley, fellow big man Kenny Walker and guards Mo Williams and Terrence Meade, Alabama has a combined 308 games of starting experience. Not only that, but they're experienced winners. The defending SEC regular-season champs have won 52 games the past two years. Seven of Mark Gottfried's eight leading scorers from a year ago return. Rod Grizzard is the only missing man, and talented as he is, that might end up being a blessing. Grizzard's shot selection was borderline awful (42 percent from the field, 28 percent from three-point range), and the Tide had already moved away from him -- and toward Dudley -- as its main offensive option by the middle of last season anyway. With Dudley and last year's Freshman of the Year Williams, Alabama probably has both the league's best post man and its best point guard. Dudley almost never has a bad game, and the explosive Williams has improved his jumper and appears ready to become a star. The complimentary parts fit together nicely as well, with Walker blocking shots, and Meade, Antoine Pettway and Earnest Shelton providing a perimeter shooting threat. The all help Alabama play excellent defense, holding opponents to just 40.8 percent shooting last year. Alabama's vast experience lessens the loss of freshmen Lucky Williams and Kennedy Winston for accepting benefits prior to enrolling at Alabama. Winston, Alabama's Mr. Basketball, has been suspended for 14 games; Williams indefinitely. Emmett Thomas, a 6-4 transfer from South Alabama, and freshman Chuck Davis might see their roles increase as a result.
TOUGH ENOUGH..............................
Alabama did not lead the league much, but is the SEC's best in knowing how to win. They went 10-4 in games decided by 10 points or less, and Alabama has gradually turned Coleman Coliseum into a snake pit. It's won 19 straight home games dating back to 2001, and brings two-thirds of the Eastern Division heavies -- Kentucky and Georgia -- into its house this year. The Tide also got to the line a lot and made opponents pay, making by far the most free throws of any SEC team, over 100 more than runnerup Georgia.
TOUGH ENOUGH?..............................
The one thing the Tide will lack in Grizzard's absence is an experienced wing player capable of creating his own shot. The 6-8 swingman could shoot over smaller defenders or put the ball on the floor and drive on bigger ones. Also, Alabama's offense has tended to grind down late in the season in recent years. Last year the Tide scored fewer than 63 points in just two of its first 21 games (and went 18-3), but scored fewer than 63 in seven of its last 14 (and went 9-5).
BOTTOM LINE..............................
The Crimson Tide has all the ingredients necessary for its first NCAA Tournament Sweet Sixteen run since 1991 -- and, if the stars align, its first Final Four ever. Alabama compiled a great record last year without shooting the ball well, and it caught up with them in the NCAAs, where they were run out by Kent State. Williams' improvement from last year could be the key to how far this team goes.
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