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Alabama vs. Providence College

by Raymond McKinnon

War is hell. Well, maybe following the basketball program of a football school isn't comparable to war but.........what, you say, is the genesis of such flagrant emotions? On Saturday, 11/29/03, at 6:45 pm CST the Alabama Crimson Tide football team (or an unreasonable faxsimile) kicked off against the University of Hawaii while almost simultaneously (6:30 pm CST) the 'Bama basketball team tipped off against the Providence College Friars in Rhode Island. But on the airwaves, even at the merciful end of a horrid season at the Capstone, it's Kenny (Stabler) and Eli (Gold) all football, all the time. Mark Gottfried might as well have not existed. No, it's not war, but it is hell. ( If you're thinking to yourself, 'young Raymond has issues with Alabama football', come talk to me when you have about five years.)

Youth is wasted on the young. As I have stated in this space before and have a sneaking suspicion, will again, this is a young team. In what was a HUGE road game for Crimson Tide basketball (although you'd never know it down here) 'Bama fell behind in the first half by twenty, 22 early in the second, but mounted a furious rally late in the second only to fall short by a scant five points in the Dunkin' Donuts Center losing 76 - 71.

THE GOOD
       78% at the line. (There is no sweeter sound than "string music" at the free throw line.
       A 29 point contribution from the bench.
       47% three point shooting for the game.
       Held a team that scored 50 on them in the first half to 26 in the second.
THE BAD
       Allowed a team they held to 26 in the second half to score 50 points in the first.
THE UGLY
       Providence College's points off turnovers - 29

Next: UNCC. (They now just call themselves Charlotte - no word on a nickname change)

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