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October 31st,
2006
By Joel Welser
jwelser@collegehoops.net
Broadcast Basketball
Alabama
Crimson Tide
Overall Rank:
#14
Conference
Rank:
#3 SEC
2005-06:
18-13, 10-6, 2nd (t) West
2005-06
postseason: NCAA
 The key for
Alabama will be its perimeter shooting. Ronald Steele is one of
the best point guards in the nation and a decent long range
shooter, but the wings failed to hit the long ball with
consistency. Alonzo Gee and Brandon Hollinger have experience
starting on the wings, but neither are major long range
threats. That job will fall on the newcomers and if they start
knocking down the long balls, the new guys could take over the
starting roles.
Who’s Out:
Forwards Chuck Davis, Jean Felix and Evan Brock have exhausted
their eligibility. Davis averaged 15.3 points and 4.6 rebounds
in 14 games last year and his attempts at another year of
eligibility were thwarted by the NCAA. Felix stepped in nicely
during his senior campaign and provided depth for the
undermanned squad. Brock, who started 20 games, averaged 3.8
points and 2.8 boards during his senior campaign. Guard Justin
Jonus started five contests last year before opting to leave the
program.
Who’s In:
The lack of
depth last year caught up to Bama and, with a solid group of
newcomers, that shouldn’t be a problem this year. Yamene
Coleman, Avery Jukes and Demetrius Jemison will add the depth in
the paint. Coleman is a tremendous shot blocker who used his
redshirt year to gain strength and is now ready to find some
minutes. Jukes can face up and hit the short jumper and his
rebounding prowess could earn him a little playing time.
Jemison is a little undersized, but is a tough player who will
contribute before his time in Tuscaloosa is up. Verice Cloyd,
Mikhail Torrance, Justin Tubbs, Mykal Riley and Greg Cage will
provide some much needed depth on the wings. Cloyd is an
athletic, high scoring guard who, with a little more consistency
on the outside shooting, could be an effective starter. Riley,
a transfer from Panola College in Texas, will use his experience
to work his way up the depth chart on the suddenly crowded wing
spots.
Who to Watch:
Outside of Steele, the strength of the Tide is up front with
Jermareo Davidson and Richard Hendrix. Davidson averaged 14.3
points and 8.9 rebounds last year and thought about making the
jump to the NBA. Luckily for Bama fans, Davidson is returning
and improvement is expected from his frontcourt mate Hendrix.
Hendrix added 9.4 points and 8.0 rebounds as a freshman and is a
solid defender as well. Steele might get all the press, but the
frontcourt combination of Davidson and Hendrix could come to
dominate the SEC.
Final
Projection:
If any of the
wings can step up, Alabama can make a deep run in March…or
April. Steele, Davidson and Hendrix are solid, but experienced
depth will become an issue. Ten of the 14 players on the roster
are underclassmen and two of those four upperclassmen haven’t
played a game for Alabama. The talent is there for a surprise,
but so is the inexperience and questions for a huge
disappointment. The truth, as usual, lies somewhere in between
and that leaves us right around the top of the SEC West and a
trip to the second weekend of the dance.
Projected
Post-season Tournament:
NCAA
Projected
Starting Five:
Ronald Steele,
Junior, Guard, 14.3 points per game
Verice Cloyd,
Freshman, Guard, DNP last season
Alonzo Gee,
Sophomore, Forward, 8.6 points per game
Richard Hendrix,
Sophomore, Forward, 9.4 points per game
Jermareo
Davidson, Senior, Forward, 14.3 points per game
Also:
Complete
SEC Preview & Ranking
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