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Beginning Monday, June 21st,
2004 CHN began unveiling 144 Team previews in 144 Days. CHN ranked the
nations top 144 teams, and is unveiling one per day leading up until the
opening day of the 2004-05 Season.
Bookmark the
144 Teams in 144 Days home page, and check back
each day to see which team is previewed next.
#13 Alabama Crimson Tide
SEC
2003-04: 20-13, 8-8, 7th
2003-04 postseason: NCAA Elite
Eight
By
Joel Welser
 Starters Earnest Shelton, Kennedy
Winston, Chuck Davis and Jermareo Davidson return from a team that made an
improbable run to the Elite Eight. Those four are solid, but Evan Brock is
the only other returning player who has any real experience.
Who’s Out: Antoine Pettway
is a massive loss for the Tide. The point guard willed his way onto the
team and became a big time player by the time his career in Tuscaloosa was
over. He averaged 9.1 points and 3.5 assists per game last year, but more
importantly he provided leadership. The backup point guard, Demetrius
Smith, also is gone, which will leave a gaping hole that needs to be filled
by freshmen. Forward Emmett Thomas was a solid option off the bench last
season, scoring 8.7 points and grabbing 3.2 boards per contest. Reggie
Rambo played in less then half of the team’s games and put up 1.8 points per
game as a senior.
Who’s In: The pressure of
the point guard will fall to incoming freshman Ron Steele. The 6-2,
Birmingham product, is the only player in the history of the state to win
the coveted Alabama Mr. Basketball award twice. No other player has ever
received the honor as a junior. Glenn Miles is a sound playmaker who will
see some minutes at the point and possibly take over for Steele if the
fellow freshman runs into any problems. Shooting guard Albert Weber is a
tremendous scorer and will play a big role off the bench. Junior college
transfer Jean Felix should compete for minutes with fellow newcomers Shawn
Taylor and Akini Adkins. Taylor and Adkins, who both redshirted last year,
are long and lanky players. They’ll get their chance when Chuck Davis and
Jermareo Davidson need a rest or run into foul trouble. Shooting guard
LaKory Daniels averaged 26.5 points per game as a senior in high school two
years ago. After receiving a medical redshirt season last year, Daniels
should be ready to see some minutes. Walk-on guard Justin Jonus joins the
team after sitting out last season.
Who to Watch: Earnest
Shelton, Kennedy Winston and Chuck Davis all scored over 11 points per game
last season. It is Davis though who probably needs to improve the most.
The Crimson Tide got outrebounded way too much last season and Davis only
averaged 5.9 boards per contest. He isn’t the biggest guy on the team, and
he isn’t the only one who will be asked to improve the rebounding, but the
6-7 forward has room to improve. He’s a great scorer, especially late last
season. If he continues where he left off, he’ll be a force under the
basket.
Projected Conference Rank:
The Tide have faltered before when expectations were high, most recently
during the 2002-2003 campaign. There is concern that it could happen again,
especially with a freshman running the point. The talent around the point
guard position is strong enough that Ron Steele won’t be asked to do too
much. If he, or Glenn Miles, can manage the game decently, then a 2nd
place finish for Alabama isn’t out of the question.
Projected Post-season
Tournament: NCAA
«
Team #14 ,
Team #12
»
Email Joel Welser:
jwelser_chn@ameritech.net
Chat About CHN's Top #144
Ranking:
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