Daily Archives: February 20, 2013

Quick Story: Alabama steals its way to win over Mississippi State

Posted on February 20, 2013 by | Comments Off

In another less-than-potent offensive outing for the Crimson Tide, it was Alabama’s defense that propelled the Tide to a 64-56 win over Mississippi State. Alabama moved to 18-8 on the season, 10-3 in SEC play, while Mississippi State lost its 11th conference game in-a-row to fall to 2-11 in conference play, 7-18 overall.

Alabama picked the Bulldogs’ pocket 18 times, setting a new season-high over 13 steals against West Alabama on Nov. 11. Leading the way for the Tide in steals were redshirt freshman guard Retin Obasohan and junior guard Trevor Releford, who both had five. Sophomore forward Rodney Cooper added three.

Alabama also outperformed its norm at the free throw line, ending the game with a 77.8 shooting percentage with 21 conversions on 27 free throw attempts. Cooper was 4-4 from the line, leading the team alongside Obasohan with the same mark. Junior guard Trevor Releford also had a good night from the free throw line, 7-9, as did freshman forward Devonta Pollard, who went 3-4.

Cooper led the Tide in scoring with 20 points and adding 10 rebounds, making for both a career-high in rebounds and his first career double-double. Releford added 17 points on 5-10 shooting and five assists.

Mississippi State was lead by forward Colin Borchert, who contributed 14 points and nine rebounds. Jalen Steele added 15 points off-the-bench and four rebounds.

Alabama will take to the road to play LSU on Saturday.

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Posted in basketball

Alabama vs. Mississippi State, basketball game information

Posted on February 20, 2013 by | Comments Off

When: 7 p.m.

Where: Coleman Coliseum in Tuscaloosa, Ala.

Records: Alabama 17-8, 9-3 SEC. Mississippi State 7-17, 2-10 SEC.

TV: SEC Network (Dave Neal and Jon Sundvold)

Radio: Crimson Tide Sports Network (Chris Stewart and Bryan Passink)

Alabama Lineup: G Trevor Lacey, 6-3, So., 12.0 ppg., 4.0 rpg., 3.2 assists per game; G Trevor Releford, 6-0, Jr., 14.4 ppg., 2.2 rpg., 2.6 assists per game; F Levi Randolph, 6-5, So., 7.7 ppg., 4.3 rpg., 1.2 steals per game; F Rodney Cooper, 6-6, So., 10.8 ppg., 4.3 rpg.; C Moussa Gueye, 7-0, Jr., 1.5 ppg., 4.4 rpg., 1.8 blocks per game.

Mississippi State Lineup: G Craig Sword, 6-3, Fr., 10.2 ppg, 3.0 rpg, 1.6 steals per game; G Fred Thomas, 6-5, Fr., 10.0 ppg, 3.4 rpg, 1.6 steals per game; G Trivante Bloodman, 6-0, Soph., 6.2 ppg, 3.1 rpg, 2.5 assists per game; F Gavin Ware, 6-9, Fr., 8.9 ppg, 6.7 rpg; F Colin Borchert, 6-8, Jr., 7.9 ppg, 4.6 rpg, 1.4 blocks per game, 1.3 steals per game.

Noteworthy: Mississippi State has accumulated all 10 of its conference losses in its last 10 games. The losing streak was started by its home loss to Alabama on Jan. 16, 75-43 …. The Bulldogs have lost their last ten games by an average score of 21.2 points, including five by 20 points or more …. Statistically speaking, Mississippi State plays the worst defense in the SEC. The 74.8 points per game the Bulldogs allow is worst in the conference, as is the opponent’s field goal percentage of 47.9 in conference play and opponent’s three-point percentage of 36.4 on the year …. Alabama comes into the game leading the SEC in steals with 112 (9.3 per game) while Mississippi State’s assist/turnover ratio of 0.6 is worst in the conference.

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Posted in Anthony Grant, basketball, Mississippi State

It’s official: Mario Cristobal hired by Alabama

Posted on February 20, 2013 by | Comments Off

The University of Alabama Athletic Department officially announced the hiring of Mario Cristobal as the offensive line coach and assistant head coach, replacing Jeff Stoutland.

“We are very pleased to announce the addition of Mario Cristobal to our staff,” Saban said. “He has an outstanding reputation as both a coach and a recruiter. He will be a great fit in our organization and I think our players will respond to his positive attitude and energy.

“This is a very important hire in terms of working with our offensive line and we feel fortunate that we were able to hire a coach of Mario’s caliber. We want to welcome Mario and his family to the University of Alabama and we are excited to have them here.”

Cristobal won the Sun Belt Coach of the Year Award and the Sun Bely Conference Championship as the head coach at Florida International from 2007-2012. Cristobal was fired from FIU after the 2012 season and was hired as the tight ends coach at Miami, Cristobal’s alma mater, on Jan. 10, 2013.

Cristobal was previously an assistant at Rutgers and Miami before taking the FIU head coaching job in 2007.

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Posted in FIU, football, Nick Saban

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Andrew Steele doubtful for Mississippi State game

Posted on February 20, 2013 by | Comments Off

Guard Andrew Steele will miss his second-consecutive home game against Mississippi State Wednesday. (AP photo)

Guard Andrew Steele will miss his second-consecutive home game against Mississippi State Wednesday. (AP photo)

Alabama head coach Anthony Grant did not appear very positive when discussing redshirt senior guard Andrew Steele’s status for Wednesday night’s rematch with Mississippi State. Steele was held out of Alabama’s win over South Carolina with soreness in his ankle.

“He’s doubtful for this game,” Grant said. “We’re still monitoring him, he’s still having some of the same issues we talked about before. We’ll give him as much rest as we can and get him to where he feels good and where he’s relatively pain-free as much as possible.”

Grant did not give a timetable for Steele’s return.

“I would say it’s a thing we manage day-to-day, game-to-game, week-to-week,” Grant said.

Alabama is 3-5 when Steele does not play this season compared to 14-3 when he does.

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Posted in Anthony Grant, basketball

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Baseball moves to 4-0 with upset of No. 21 Southern Miss

Posted on February 20, 2013 by | Comments Off

Alabama starting pitcher Taylor Gilbeau toes the rubber for his third batter faced in the top of the 5th inning in the middle of a pitcher’s nightmare: runners on the corners with no outs and the catcher at the plate.

Gilbeau got a strikeout and then forced a double play ball to keep the game tied, 1-1. But not for long.

The Crimson Tide scored five runs in the bottom of the 5th, two off of a two-RBI double from freshman shortstop Mikey White, and held on to beat No. 21 Southern Mississippi 10-8.

“I really like the way this team is competing right now,” head coach Mitch Gaspard said. “They make plays, they play with no fear and they really attack the game.

“We scored in bunches from the 5th to the 8th inning, which is good to see. Really good win over a quality team.”

Alabama had to escape late, however, as the top of the 9th inning saw the Golden Eagles three of their eight runs, aided by two errors.

“Certainly a wild finish,” Gaspard said. “That’s one thing we talked to the team about: you have to play nine innings, and you certainly saw that tonight.”

The win not only gives Alabama momentum for its upcoming road series against Florida Atlantic this weekend, but will also turn heads when the NCAA Tournament Selection Committee is picking teams at the end of the season.

“Potentially, that’s what it can do. These guys are good,” Gaspard said. “They’re going to do very well in Conference-USA and they’re going to be a Regional team.

“This is the win where you can look at our team and kind of go, ‘Ok, our team is for real now.’”

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Posted in baseball

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