Sunday, April 3, 2011

back on Monday morning with some links

My best of intentions include starting every week with a blog post including some of the best of what I've read over the weekend. They almost always fail, so when I actually get it right, it bears celebrating.

In any case, the Alabama sports world has been hopping lately, so it definitely bears a few minutes of our time.
— First, I'd be remiss if I completely ignored the basketball team's season-ender at Madison Square Garden, in which Alabama's season-long enemy — the jump shot — reared its ugly head. It didn't help that we fumbled away multiple transition opportunities. Or that the referees realized they were losing control of the game in the second half and completely overreacted (sending Jamychal Green to the bench for an extended stretch because of a half-assed bump).
In any case, Alabama and Anthony Grant — as we've written here repeatedly — deserve credit for overachieving with a limited roster. And, as Cecil Hurt writes, there's no reason to believe this was an aberration. Remember: the last Alabama team to finish in the NIT finals won the SEC outright the following season.
— Bama's baseball team looks sharp through three series: the Tide failed to sweep Arkansas Sunday, but our guys are still 7-2 in the SEC, with a trip to Nashville to face top-ranked Vanderbilt upcoming (Vandy just finished pasting Auburn in Auburn). And the softball is having its usual banner year: we just finished sweeping South Carolina in Columbia.
— Speaking of powerhouse programs in crimson, Alabama won yet another regional gymnastics title over the weekend as well.

— On the football field, the battle between A.J. McCarron and Phil Sims continues to be the headline of every story involving spring practice, including yesterday's scrimmage. Of course, since the scrimmage was closed to everyone except coaches, no one really knows what went on. So we'll take their for it.
— There was big news off the field as well: the impending transfer of Duron Carter, who's apparently all set to take over the No. 8 jersey. RBR has a compilation of highlights.

— One more football note: Phil Steele released yet another mock draft today, and guess who's at the top.

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