Noah.Dreams
10-10-2006, 09:30 AM
Gottfried reins in hoop title hopes
Alabama still has to go through Florida and LSU in the SEC
Tuesday, October 10, 2006 By THOMAS MURPHY
Mobile Register Sports Reporter
TUSCALOOSA -- Before it ever hits the hardwood, great expectations will accompany the University of Alabama basketball team.
In fact, the projections for this 2006-07 edition of Crimson Tide basketball are higher than any Tide team ever, including the 2002-03 team, which was coming off an SEC championship and was ranked No. 1 for two weeks in December.
Athlon has picked Alabama to qualify for the Final Four. Street & Smith's ranked the Tide No. 11 in its preseason poll.
CBSsportsline.com selected Ronald Steele as the best point guard in the country and Jermareo Davidson as the No. 8 center in the land. Steele and Davidson are both virtually unanimous first-team preseason All-SEC choices.
"The individual accolades our players are getting are well-deserved," coach Mark Gottfried said. He has a different opinion about Final Four projections and SEC championship contention for his Crimson Tide.
"The writers and editors who are picking our team high need to go on vacation for a while," he said.
Immediately, Gottfried starts jutting out fingers and listing the major obstacles for his club.
"The first thing, in this league you have Florida, who returns everyone from the national championship team. And in the SEC West, LSU returns three starters and the SEC player of the year (Glen Davis) from a conference championship team. I don't think there's any question the rest of the league is chasing those two."
Alabama, which was 18-13 last season and lost to eventual national runner-up UCLA in the second round of the NCAA tournament, is on the verge of selling out all its Tide Pride season tickets.
If hunger has anything to do with a drive to the Final Four, count the Crimson Tide as contenders.
"I want to win a national championship," Steele said this summer. "Knowing that we beat two of the teams in the Final Four (Florida and LSU), and had a chance to beat one more (UCLA), that's kind of a motivation for us. We know we have the tools to get to that level."
Having the junior Steele and the senior Davidson back to wage SEC battles is a significant first step for Alabama, as both contemplated early departures to the NBA. Throw sophomore big man Richard Hendrix into the mix with a solid cast of role players and Alabama does appear to have the weaponry to contend with SEC heavyweights like Florida and LSU.
Steele, who averaged 14.3 points per game, was picked as the No. 1 floor leader in America by Athlon and as a first-team All-American by Street & Smith's. Davidson shared the Alabama scoring lead with Steele at 14.3 points per game and added a team-high 8.9 rebounds.
"With Ron, I think he is the best point guard in the country," Gottfried said. "I wouldn't trade him for anybody."
Davidson has added muscle during the offseason, a development that could round out his game.
"I think as his strength improves, it'll affect other parts of his game," Gottfried said. "A lot of things he lacks were a result of his strength."
The Crimson Tide opens fall practice Friday night and will hold its Crimson and White game on Dec. 30 at Coleman Coliseum.
Alabama still has to go through Florida and LSU in the SEC
Tuesday, October 10, 2006 By THOMAS MURPHY
Mobile Register Sports Reporter
TUSCALOOSA -- Before it ever hits the hardwood, great expectations will accompany the University of Alabama basketball team.
In fact, the projections for this 2006-07 edition of Crimson Tide basketball are higher than any Tide team ever, including the 2002-03 team, which was coming off an SEC championship and was ranked No. 1 for two weeks in December.
Athlon has picked Alabama to qualify for the Final Four. Street & Smith's ranked the Tide No. 11 in its preseason poll.
CBSsportsline.com selected Ronald Steele as the best point guard in the country and Jermareo Davidson as the No. 8 center in the land. Steele and Davidson are both virtually unanimous first-team preseason All-SEC choices.
"The individual accolades our players are getting are well-deserved," coach Mark Gottfried said. He has a different opinion about Final Four projections and SEC championship contention for his Crimson Tide.
"The writers and editors who are picking our team high need to go on vacation for a while," he said.
Immediately, Gottfried starts jutting out fingers and listing the major obstacles for his club.
"The first thing, in this league you have Florida, who returns everyone from the national championship team. And in the SEC West, LSU returns three starters and the SEC player of the year (Glen Davis) from a conference championship team. I don't think there's any question the rest of the league is chasing those two."
Alabama, which was 18-13 last season and lost to eventual national runner-up UCLA in the second round of the NCAA tournament, is on the verge of selling out all its Tide Pride season tickets.
If hunger has anything to do with a drive to the Final Four, count the Crimson Tide as contenders.
"I want to win a national championship," Steele said this summer. "Knowing that we beat two of the teams in the Final Four (Florida and LSU), and had a chance to beat one more (UCLA), that's kind of a motivation for us. We know we have the tools to get to that level."
Having the junior Steele and the senior Davidson back to wage SEC battles is a significant first step for Alabama, as both contemplated early departures to the NBA. Throw sophomore big man Richard Hendrix into the mix with a solid cast of role players and Alabama does appear to have the weaponry to contend with SEC heavyweights like Florida and LSU.
Steele, who averaged 14.3 points per game, was picked as the No. 1 floor leader in America by Athlon and as a first-team All-American by Street & Smith's. Davidson shared the Alabama scoring lead with Steele at 14.3 points per game and added a team-high 8.9 rebounds.
"With Ron, I think he is the best point guard in the country," Gottfried said. "I wouldn't trade him for anybody."
Davidson has added muscle during the offseason, a development that could round out his game.
"I think as his strength improves, it'll affect other parts of his game," Gottfried said. "A lot of things he lacks were a result of his strength."
The Crimson Tide opens fall practice Friday night and will hold its Crimson and White game on Dec. 30 at Coleman Coliseum.