Alabama
Everything Ole Miss Coach Lane Kiffin Said About Facing Alabama
Lane Kiffin’s press convention this week was about as energetic as one would besides.
Coming off a bye, the previous Alabama offensive coordinator shared a number of ideas whereas previewing the Crimson Tide’s upcoming go to to Ole Miss:
“Clearly, no recreation recap. It was actually good to see lots of guys again wholesome for probably the most half. Clearly, we do not go into particulars on people, however that is the most effective we have appeared in a very long time—in all probability for the reason that starting of coaching camp to have so many guys on the market transferring round. In order that was nice. Glad to be coming again house. Extraordinarily difficult opponent. Now we have now the mixture of elite gamers with elite teaching. That is the most effective of the most effective. I texted Finebaum on the way in which over right here after I noticed his quotes. Like he usually does, says that the Nick Saban dynasty is over and all of that. Each time he says this, which I inform him, I name it goat gas—the alternative of rat poison. You are simply giving the goat gas, which for him, that works, and he goes and proves them fallacious each time. Actually recognize Paul saying that proper after the sport. I am positive that was on his desk Sunday morning. They’re all the time able to play. They all the time rebound through the years. You are going to go play the most effective offensive participant within the nation and the most effective defensive participant within the nation. Very difficult state of affairs. Very glad to be house. Now we have a pleasant lengthy house successful streak right here, would clearly assume the gang might be nice.”
On Saban’s groups’ potential to rebound from losses…
“Effectively, there weren’t a lot of them. There have been solely three, there have been solely two regular-season in three years, each to Ole Miss. I assumed he was phenomenal. You’ll perhaps count on to be the opposite approach like he is available in and every little thing is the top of the world like some coaches do. He does a extremely good job of addressing precisely what it was. Bear in mind guys, like Finebaum’s silly assertion, dynasty is over—they’ve misplaced two video games by two performs and each video games may’ve went both approach. Alabama makes the sector aim at Tennessee and the two-point will get stopped, then they’re the No. 1/No. 2 staff within the nation coming in right here. So we’re speaking about two performs, two groups on the highway in two of the toughest environments to play in, over 100,000 individuals at each video games. It is a nice staff and the most effective coach to ever do it.”
On the staff’s depth this season…
“I do not know. I nonetheless assume we have now depth points, particularly because the accidents have been mounting, we actually did. They’ve proven up so much on protection. It is simply seen, our defensive points, as soon as we misplaced some individuals over these previous few weeks. Our numbers over there have been dramatically completely different. I do assume we’re higher. I’ve stated all alongside, that is our greatest roster of the three years, of assortment of expertise. However it doesn’t imply it will likely be the most effective staff. We’re nonetheless coming collectively. I do know that sounds loopy this late within the season, however with so many items, I believe it says in (the sport notes) 55 p.c of one thing of the staff is new, one thing like that. Hopefully we hold transferring up.”
On Nick Saban rubbing off on him extra as a coach than Pete Carroll, …
“I believe that is in all probability simply later within the profession. It is more energizing coming off of it. Being there the three years, I used to be with Coach Carroll for six years and I have been with my dad ceaselessly. I believe that is extra simply because it was the most recent half and also you took lots of how that was carried out, and that was carried out within the SEC, on this area, the way in which coach did it and stuff. I believe that is extra only a mixture of these two issues.”
On how the staff responded through the bye week with the problem of Alabama coming…
“I am positive it sounds loopy. We do not sit and discuss Bama week and all that that everybody else within the nation appears to do. We have lots of issues to work on to get higher. It actually does not matter. It issues that you simply do issues very well. That is the way you win video games. I did not discover something completely different, however I am glad I did not as a result of that is not how we practice them. We do not wish to be a program like that (up and down)—oh we stand up for these video games however we do not for these. That is what I get mad at our followers for doing, so we’re not supposed to do this.”
On Alabama linebacker Will Anderson…
“He is such a singular mixture of pace and energy. He reduces down and performs on guards, which is absolutely uncommon, then he pace rushes after which he drops too. That basically does not appear to occur now as a lot. That was sort of the outdated 3-4 outdoors backer after which cut back. However he nonetheless does that. Simply actually distinctive mixture, and he performs with relentless effort.”
On if he addresses his title developing in job opening rumors…
“I do not, and perhaps I am fallacious for that. Simply by no means have. Our gamers, we deal with this like, we inform them ‘professional mindset.’ We’re right here to work and get higher on daily basis and fear about what we will management. We do not even discuss that.”
On how his roster matches up with Alabama’s…
“That sort of will get into lots of game-planning stuff, however these guys have nice gamers and nice schemes. That is not the standard rat poison—they do. You have a look at the draft yearly, and you will see it once more this yr. It is not usually that you’ve the returning Heisman Trophy winner and the most effective participant within the nation at positions the place one touches the ball each down and the opposite one is lined up actually near the quarterback. These are actually the 2 finest positions to have the most effective gamers at. You have to do every little thing proper so as to beat these guys. It’s important to coach very well, play very well, win conditions, handle issues, take dangers. There is a motive why they’re the most effective over time at what they do. Once more, we’re speaking about, after they’ve performed them, two of the most well liked groups within the nation on the highway in two of the toughest environments to play, they usually’re one-play video games. We’re speaking about, in the event that they win these two, then they’re the No. 1 staff within the nation coming in right here.”
On Alabama working again Jahmyr Gibbs…
“Nice participant. Actually dynamic in what he does. Offers you points. Not old-school, however actually their offense is not both. So he actually suits into what their offense does as a result of that is not the outdated Alabama offense from years in the past both. He isn’t the massive bruising again from a very long time in the past. Bryce Younger actually is not the bodily stature of the old-school quarterback. I believe I simply suits in very well with what they do.”
On what he did through the bye week…
“I did some recruiting. Went to a few completely different locations, in addition to our workers. Had an opportunity to see Knox play a recreation. Then acquired again yesterday. That perhaps sounds unusual as a result of they gained the Tremendous Bowl, why they nonetheless play. It was a regional recreation they usually acquired knocked out by this all-star staff from Arizona, they did not play very properly.”
On how Knox performed… Scroll to Proceed
“He was okay. Their staff was actually out-performed. They have to test delivery certificates. These guys have been purported to be in eighth grade. I stored saying to Knox, there’s not an opportunity these guys are in eighth grade from Arizona. These guys appeared like they have been in eleventh, twelfth grade. They have to test the delivery certificates. I stated the identical factor after I watched the eighth graders play right here towards Tupelo. That Tupelo staff, these guys appeared like they have been 20 years outdated too.”
Alabama
Portion of Alabama 59 in Baldwin County closed following two-vehicle crash
BALDWIN COUNTY, Ala. (WALA) – A two-vehicle crash on Alabama 59 near Baldwin County 34 has closed down the road, according to law enforcement.
Authorities said the crash occurred at 8:23 pm.
Law enforcement is on scene investigating and there is no timetable on when it will be reopened.
Copyright 2024 WALA. All rights reserved.
Alabama
Alabama’s recent focus on defense pays off in blowout win over Kent State
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – Nate Oats started his postgame press conference explaining why Alabama would have a much better winter break after its 81-54 win over Kent State. According to Oats, a happy holiday hinged on the Tide’s defensive performance against the Golden Flashes.
“Much better defensive effort so it’ll be a lot better Christmas break for us,” Oats said with a smile at the podium. “We did make a big point of emphasis on defense, especially after that debacle up in North Dakota with [Fighting Hawks guard Treysen Eaglestaff].”
It was far from a perfect offensive display for the Tide against Kent State. Alabama’s lingering turnover issues reared its ugly head for a second straight and the Tide continued shooting poorly from 3-point range.
However, after defensive letdowns nearly sprang an upset in Grand Forks, North Dakota, Alabama got back to the basics over the next few days at practice. The team worked on defensive fundamentals rather than solely focusing on film study.
That extra emphasis paid off as Alabama equaled its lowest points allowed in a game this season with 54. Tide forward Grant Nelson swatted a shot attempt by Kent State’s leading scorer VonCameron Davis in the opening few minutes, which helped set the tone the rest of the way.
“I think that [block] and just really everyone loading in the gaps, helping each other out,” Nelson said of Alabama’s defensive performance. “I thought that was huge. I think we kept them to six points in the first three media timeouts, that was huge for us. We emphasized that like I said and just a lot of credit to our guys for carrying it over on the court.”
While Alabama didn’t shoot the ball well, it made sure Kent State’s shooting was even more ineffective. Alabama communicated well on switches and contested shots from beyond the arc. It honed in on Davis, who averages 14.9 points per game but was limited to under 10 points for just the second time this season. Davis scored nine on an inefficient 4 of 15 from the field and had a minus-31 box plus-minus rating.
Coming into the game, Oats also felt like Kent State guard Jalen Sullinger (9.7 points per game) could be a dangerous weapon against Alabama’s defense with the potential to do the same thing Eaglestaff did for North Dakota. The Fighting Hawks guard scored a career-high 40 points, single-handedly pulling them back into the game late.
After missing the mark severely on guarding Eaglestaff, the Tide understood the assignment when it came to Sullinger and locked down the Kent State senior.
“He ended up shooting 1 of 14 and didn’t score in the second half,” Oats said. “So I think we did a little bit of a better job being locked in to a perimeter guy. We held them to a pretty good field goal percentage, they only shot 28%. Traditionally, this has been one of the hardest playing teams — I was in the MAC for six years and they get all of the O Boards. We gave up too many second-chance points but I thought for the most part our first-shot defense was good.”
Alabama continued to play effective post-defense in spite of the offensive rebounds. The Tide finished with six blocks as a team. Center Clifford Omoruyi won the Hard Hat Award for the most blue collar points and grabbed 12 rebounds while Nelson had 14. Off the bench, Derrion Reid had a pair of steals while Mouhamed Dioubate chipped in with two blocks.
Following the win, Alabama jumped from No. 57 to No. 42 in adjusted defensive efficiency, according to KenPom.com. As the Tide looks to build on its defensive momentum, better play on offense will have to follow. Alabama’s defense is much improved from last season when it was at its best, but it won’t be able to win games on defense alone when league play tips off on Jan. 4.
“We struggled a little offensively, and we’re gonna have to figure some stuff out here before SEC play,” Oats said. “The turnovers have been really just way too many — 13 in the first half. We did the same thing two games in a row. We only had one the second half against North Dakota. We ended up with six in the second half here. So we’ve got to do a better job at turnovers. I don’t have an answer for the free throw problems, but the only way to fix that is get in the gym and work. The good thing for us is we don’t have any school for a few weeks here, so after they get back from Christmas break, we’ll be in the gym and putting some time in.”
Alabama will conclude non-conference play against Summit League side South Dakota State. The Tide and Jackrabbits will tip off at 2 p.m. CT Dec. 29 inside Coleman Coliseum. The game will be broadcast on SEC Network+.
Alabama
How cold did Alabama get last night? These cities had the lowest temperatures
Very cold temperatures greeted Alabamians on Sunday morning.
The National Weather Service said temperatures overnight bottomed out in the low 20s in parts of the state and even were at the freezing mark in south Alabama.
Here were the lowest temperatures between midnight and 6 a.m. Sunday from around Alabama from the National Weather Service:
* Alexander City: 30 degrees
* Anniston: 23 degrees
* Auburn: 28 degrees
* Birmingham: 24 degrees
* Decatur: 25 degrees
* Demopolis: 25 degrees
* Dothan: 30 degrees
* Evergreen: 28 degrees
* Eufaula: 28 degrees
* Gadsden: 21 degrees
* Haleyville: 22 degrees
* Huntsville: 26 degrees
* Mobile: 31 degrees
* Montgomery: 25 degrees
* Muscle Shoals: 24 degrees
* Ozark: 29 degrees
* Prattville: 25 degrees
* Sylacauga: 24 degrees
* Talladega: 22 degrees
* Troy: 26 degrees
* Tuscaloosa: 25 degrees
Temperatures today will be a few degrees higher than on Saturday. Highs will range from the low to mid-40s in south Alabama to the 50s in central Alabama, to the mid-50s in south Alabama (today’s forecast is at the top of this post).
Tonight will be chilly again, but not as cold as last night. Here are the forecast low temperatures from Sunday night into Monday morning:
Gradual warming is expected to continue this week, with the next chances for rain arriving on Wednesday, Christmas Day. The weather service isn’t expecting a lot of rain, and no severe weather is anticipated.
High temperatures on Christmas Day will be warmer, with 60s expected across a wide area and possibly some 70s near the coast. Here are the expected Christmas Day temperatures:
The warming trend looks to hold past Christmas. Here is the six- to 10-day temperature outlook, and it shows a high probability of above-average temperatures for Alabama through the end of December:
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