Game 22 - Conference Game #9
Aggies Record: (17-4, 7-1)
Aggies Kenpom: 27
Opponent: bama (14-7, 4-4)
Opponent Kenpom: 20
Quad Opportunity: Quad I
Date: February 4th
Time: 6:00pm
Location: Coleman Coliseum - Tuscaloosa, Alabama
Streaming: SEC Network
Betting Spread: Alabama -7.5
Radio: https://12thmanfoundation.evenue.net/event/B25/MB01?RSRC=SIDEARM&RDAT=sgl
Live Stats: https://12thman.com/sidearmstats/mbball/summary
Game Preview
Bucky Ball vs Cheating Ball. Bucky Ball vs Criminal Ball. Texas A&M vs Alabama. Tonight at 6pm. SEC Network.
The 7-1 UNRANKED Aggies travel to Tuscaloosa looking for a statement win against the Crimson Tide. We'll have to wait till tip off to see if Alabama adds anyone to their roster. So forgive me if my preview misses a Bama player. A struggling Bama is uncharacteristically sitting at 4-4 in conference play and is 1-2 since adding Charles Bediako to their roster. If he reminds you of Charles Bediako who played on Bama's team from 2021-2023, the characteristics are pretty similar.
After some losses to Vandy and tu, and a close one with Oklahoma, Nate Oats frustratingly paced the Alabama campus. He believed a stroll around campus would give him some answers on how to play better in the paint or play more physical. It was then he magically and completely coincidentally spotted a 7 footer studying for his week 2 chemistry quiz out in the quad. Upon a closer look it happened to be G-Leaguer Charles Bediako. I kid you not, there he is, Charles Bediako, former Alabama player who declared for the draft in 2023, played in the summer league with the San Antonio Spurs, earned a 2 way contract from Hall of Famer Greg Popovich. Played in two other G league teams before he decided to give up his dreams of ball to become a regular student at the prestigious University of Alabama. Nate Oats began standing outside Bediako's classes begging him to join the team. They figured their only hope of finding eligibility (after forgoing said eligibility when he declared for the NBA Draft 3 years ago) was through the US judicial system. The began the nationwide search for an impartial judge to grant them a TRO to become eligible immediately. Another coincidence occurred as they searched the nation for a judge and they found a judge in Tuscaloosa, what luck. After hours and hours and sleepless nights outside the courthouse the impartial judge granted the TRO and Charles Bediako was allowed to play. Then they lost to Tennessee and a week later got embarrassed by Florida and are now the most hated and most laughed at team in college basketball.
After spending the summer 3 years ago training with Victor Wembanyama, now he shares the court with a solid core of shooters and some post players with exceptional length. Alabama lives and dies by the 3. They are spearheaded by the back court duo of Labaron Philon Jr and Aden Holloway who average 21 and 17 and shoot the 3 at 37 and 45 percent clip. Their guard depth is plenty with Latrell Wrightsell and Houston Mallette. They all can shoot from 3 well. More worrisome is the size of their front court. Aside from Bediako, they have 6'11 forward Aiden Sherrell who starts along side Bediako. Sherrell is slow and I expect his minutes to drop in this matchup, but we can use our speed against them. At 6'10, Taylor Bol Bowen, who is questionable, can extend the floor and shoot as well to go with his size. An important piece for them is Amari Allen, a 6'8 forward who can shoot the three as well and is their leading rebounder. They love to run pick and rolls, especially with Philon. Only two Bama players have played in every game. Throw in a brand new player in Bediako. Chemistry has to have taken a step back.
Bama plays fast, they love to push in transition so I'm interested to see how our full court defense affects them. Philon and Holloway will take many three's and they will fall. We can't let this team get offensive rebounds. They have size, but they are not more physical than Rashaun Agee. I expect Agee to out physical them all night long. We'll need our platoon of guards to play some mother in law defense along the perimeter to alter their shots. We'll need some good minutes from Vinson, Federiko, or Clemence to spell Agee, grab some rebounds, and protect the paint. As always, my favorite part of this team is our depth. Who's going to step up tonight! Will it be Rylan Griffen returning back to Tuscaloosa, the "big game" Pop Isaacs, the veteran Jacari Lane returning back to his home state of Alabama, the Spanish Sniper, Marcus Hill, Ali Dibba, will a big provide a huge spark? We are loaded with depth and I can't wait to see who along with Agee leads us tonight!
Alabama turned it over against Florida at an uncharacteristic rate. Florida was a lot more physical. I think if we can make this game chaotic, speed up their decision making, disrupt their rhythm, I like our chances. These Bama guys look frustrated against Florida. We are scrappy, we are gritty, and we're bringing 40 minutes of hell to Tuscaloosa. It's going to be a game of runs, we're gonna need to withstand their big runs, we're gonna need to grab some rebounds, we're gonna need to protect the ball. The turnover battle will be huge. If we can see a couple three pointers from Agee and Clemence it would do us wonders by getting their bigs away from the paint. One other thing about us is chemistry and how fun these guys have playing with each other and for each other. Much in contrast to Bama who's added someone new and have dealt with injuries this season. I think that will show on the court.
The Aggies tremendous start to conference play has been outstanding. 7-1, road wins over Auburn, tu, and Georgia. We have a huge test in front of us tonight. This is what college basketball is all about. Bucky Ball can silence a hectic crowd. I believe we can pull this off. People have doubted us to this point and they will doubt us tonight. Give me Bucky and his Road Warriors to wear Bama down, go on some runs, get to the free throw line, make your free throws, play gritty, play physical, frustrate those primadonna's, cause Nate Oats to throw a fit and BTHO alabama!!!!
Aggies Record: (17-4, 7-1)
Aggies Kenpom: 27
Opponent: bama (14-7, 4-4)
Opponent Kenpom: 20
Quad Opportunity: Quad I
Date: February 4th
Time: 6:00pm
Location: Coleman Coliseum - Tuscaloosa, Alabama
Streaming: SEC Network
Betting Spread: Alabama -7.5
Radio: https://12thmanfoundation.evenue.net/event/B25/MB01?RSRC=SIDEARM&RDAT=sgl
Live Stats: https://12thman.com/sidearmstats/mbball/summary
Game Preview
Bucky Ball vs Cheating Ball. Bucky Ball vs Criminal Ball. Texas A&M vs Alabama. Tonight at 6pm. SEC Network.
The 7-1 UNRANKED Aggies travel to Tuscaloosa looking for a statement win against the Crimson Tide. We'll have to wait till tip off to see if Alabama adds anyone to their roster. So forgive me if my preview misses a Bama player. A struggling Bama is uncharacteristically sitting at 4-4 in conference play and is 1-2 since adding Charles Bediako to their roster. If he reminds you of Charles Bediako who played on Bama's team from 2021-2023, the characteristics are pretty similar.
After some losses to Vandy and tu, and a close one with Oklahoma, Nate Oats frustratingly paced the Alabama campus. He believed a stroll around campus would give him some answers on how to play better in the paint or play more physical. It was then he magically and completely coincidentally spotted a 7 footer studying for his week 2 chemistry quiz out in the quad. Upon a closer look it happened to be G-Leaguer Charles Bediako. I kid you not, there he is, Charles Bediako, former Alabama player who declared for the draft in 2023, played in the summer league with the San Antonio Spurs, earned a 2 way contract from Hall of Famer Greg Popovich. Played in two other G league teams before he decided to give up his dreams of ball to become a regular student at the prestigious University of Alabama. Nate Oats began standing outside Bediako's classes begging him to join the team. They figured their only hope of finding eligibility (after forgoing said eligibility when he declared for the NBA Draft 3 years ago) was through the US judicial system. The began the nationwide search for an impartial judge to grant them a TRO to become eligible immediately. Another coincidence occurred as they searched the nation for a judge and they found a judge in Tuscaloosa, what luck. After hours and hours and sleepless nights outside the courthouse the impartial judge granted the TRO and Charles Bediako was allowed to play. Then they lost to Tennessee and a week later got embarrassed by Florida and are now the most hated and most laughed at team in college basketball.
After spending the summer 3 years ago training with Victor Wembanyama, now he shares the court with a solid core of shooters and some post players with exceptional length. Alabama lives and dies by the 3. They are spearheaded by the back court duo of Labaron Philon Jr and Aden Holloway who average 21 and 17 and shoot the 3 at 37 and 45 percent clip. Their guard depth is plenty with Latrell Wrightsell and Houston Mallette. They all can shoot from 3 well. More worrisome is the size of their front court. Aside from Bediako, they have 6'11 forward Aiden Sherrell who starts along side Bediako. Sherrell is slow and I expect his minutes to drop in this matchup, but we can use our speed against them. At 6'10, Taylor Bol Bowen, who is questionable, can extend the floor and shoot as well to go with his size. An important piece for them is Amari Allen, a 6'8 forward who can shoot the three as well and is their leading rebounder. They love to run pick and rolls, especially with Philon. Only two Bama players have played in every game. Throw in a brand new player in Bediako. Chemistry has to have taken a step back.
Bama plays fast, they love to push in transition so I'm interested to see how our full court defense affects them. Philon and Holloway will take many three's and they will fall. We can't let this team get offensive rebounds. They have size, but they are not more physical than Rashaun Agee. I expect Agee to out physical them all night long. We'll need our platoon of guards to play some mother in law defense along the perimeter to alter their shots. We'll need some good minutes from Vinson, Federiko, or Clemence to spell Agee, grab some rebounds, and protect the paint. As always, my favorite part of this team is our depth. Who's going to step up tonight! Will it be Rylan Griffen returning back to Tuscaloosa, the "big game" Pop Isaacs, the veteran Jacari Lane returning back to his home state of Alabama, the Spanish Sniper, Marcus Hill, Ali Dibba, will a big provide a huge spark? We are loaded with depth and I can't wait to see who along with Agee leads us tonight!
Alabama turned it over against Florida at an uncharacteristic rate. Florida was a lot more physical. I think if we can make this game chaotic, speed up their decision making, disrupt their rhythm, I like our chances. These Bama guys look frustrated against Florida. We are scrappy, we are gritty, and we're bringing 40 minutes of hell to Tuscaloosa. It's going to be a game of runs, we're gonna need to withstand their big runs, we're gonna need to grab some rebounds, we're gonna need to protect the ball. The turnover battle will be huge. If we can see a couple three pointers from Agee and Clemence it would do us wonders by getting their bigs away from the paint. One other thing about us is chemistry and how fun these guys have playing with each other and for each other. Much in contrast to Bama who's added someone new and have dealt with injuries this season. I think that will show on the court.
The Aggies tremendous start to conference play has been outstanding. 7-1, road wins over Auburn, tu, and Georgia. We have a huge test in front of us tonight. This is what college basketball is all about. Bucky Ball can silence a hectic crowd. I believe we can pull this off. People have doubted us to this point and they will doubt us tonight. Give me Bucky and his Road Warriors to wear Bama down, go on some runs, get to the free throw line, make your free throws, play gritty, play physical, frustrate those primadonna's, cause Nate Oats to throw a fit and BTHO alabama!!!!
