Alabama embarrassed by Vandy at home

For the first time in SEC play, Vanderbilt showed why it was a pre season top 15 team by dismantling Alabama in Coleman Coliseum. Its the first time in the 3 years that Anthony Grant has been the head coach at Alabama, that I've actually seen an Alabama team out hustled during a game.

Alabama built an early lead followed, by a huge drought in scoring to end the first half to give the 'Dores a 7 point advantage the intermission. Vandy quickly extended the lead to 13+ and would eventually push the lead to 23. Again we weren't in Memorial Gym, it was Coleman Coliseum.

Alabama was inefficient in the game on the offensive end, showing no continuity. As things spiraled out of control, the team glue stick, Andrew Steele suffered another blow to the head and could have a possible concussion. Add into this mix the questionable officiating led by Tome Eades and Mike Stuart that led to a 29 to 10 free throw disparity, all the ingredients were there for the worst performance of the Anthony Grant era.

As for the officiiating, it did not cost Alabama the game, but it did contribute to the loss. The foul disparity hurt Alabama and it looked as if the officials were trying to bait Jaymicahel Green into a technical foul by getting right in his face after a couple of calls and non calls. Their was also an injury incident that was handled incorrectly on both ends of the floor that hurt Alabama twice. Anthony Grant received a tech and was lucky he was not ejected from the game, which I don't blame him one bit because it was bad. Mike Stuart was part of the same crew that screwed Alabama out of a win in Fayetteville last season.

Another note, the disappearance of Tony Mitchell. He looked injured last night, constatnly holding his left hip/hamstring area throughout the game, but their seems to be no mention of this from the Alabama camp. But right now, #5 is not the same player he was a few weeks back.

But now their is no rest for the weary as the Tide heads to Lexington for an 11 am tip off. Facing the two best teams in the SEC in 36 hours (thanks tv schedule makers) was no easy task before the season, but it looks more daunting even now.