Daily Archives: March 14, 2012

Statistical differences between Alabama wins, losses

Posted on March 14, 2012 | Leave a comment

More fun with numbers time! Today we examine the differences between Alabama wins and losses on the stat sheet.

You’ll be able to read this with much more depth in tomorrow’s newspaper, but here are a few figures to consider on a travel day for this sports writer.

Category ….Wins …..Losses
Points …………68.7 …… 57.7
FG pct. ……….46.4 ……42.8
3-pt pct ………30.2 ……25.5
FT pct. ………73.3 ……66.5
Rebounds ….36.7 …..32.4
Steals ………..8.1 ……5.6

Much more to come from Greensboro. See ya when we get there.

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The ultimate bracket challenge

Posted on March 14, 2012 | Leave a comment

It’s that time of the week of that time of the year once again. You need to finish up that NCAA tournament bracket before things heat up tomorrow afternoon when the ball is tipped.

Click the bracket for full-sized version.

So, after you finish that “just for fun” bracket for the “recreational” office “pool,” join the Daily Bama Blog party.

For the second straight year, we are doing a competition with public recognition up for grabs. The winner will be celebrated on this blog seen by thousands of eyes every day. No cash involved. Sorry.

To make things easy, we are using CBSsports.com to manage the deal. Most people use this already, so all you have to do is import your previously-filled bracket into The Daily Bama Blog competition. Here’s how to get started:

Bracket link: http://bamablog.mayhem.cbssports.com/e
Password: “bamablog”

Good luck to all.

What makes Creighton unlike any team Alabama’s seen

Posted on March 14, 2012 | Leave a comment

Doug McDermott (AP photo)

If you know anything about Creighton basketball, it’s obvious the McDermott-McDermott combo is the story. This is what I wrote for today’s print-edition story …

TUSCALOOSA — An almost-familiar sight appeared when the Coleman Coliseum interview room door swung open Tuesday afternoon.

AP photo

No, that’s not Anthony Grant. Close, though. The Alabama basketball coach sent in his teen-aged son A.J. — a dead-ringer for his father — to lighten the mood in the days leading up to Alabama’s NCAA Tournament opener with Creighton.

Another father-son combo will be waiting for the Crimson Tide in the 12:40 p.m. Friday game in Greensboro. This one is all business.

The McDermotts of Creighton have the Bluejays in position for something special. Father Greg McDermott, in his second season as head coach, has a dynamic threat with the same last name. His son Doug McDermott is a first-team All-American and the nation’s third-leading scorer who started every Creighton game in two seasons.

“I don’t know that I’ve ever seen one quite like this one,” Grant said. “You’ve got a great team whose best player happens to be the coach’s son. I think it’s a unique situation.”

And Doug McDermott is a rare talent.

Click here to read the full story from today’s paper.

Click here to read the Sports Illustrated story about the McDermott family.