A 23 point halftime lead for the Tide and I’m still concerned that we will blow it.  For a while in the second half that appeared to be the case.  However, something has happened because this team did not die like they usually do.  Yes, the bad coaching is still there, but it goes back to that confidence thing I said the other day.  Having it at this point in the season can only be a good thing and these players know what they are capable of doing. 

The Tide did rally late to put the game away.  The final score was 80-69 in the first round of the SEC Tourney.  Florida was a bubble team, but with this loss the NIT has already sent it’s invite.

Mykal Riley led the way for the Tide scoring 26 points on 9-15 shooting.  Richard Hendrix was 2 boards shy of his typical double-double but did add 22 points to the mix.  There were also some flashes of talent in Yamene Coleman’s game.  Some of the moves shown tonight by Coleman were ones I never thought he had.  Finally, Alonzo Gee showed why And 1 street ball might be his calling of the future (only kidding) with a nice dunk from the pass of Rico Pickett.  Oh yeah, he also had 13 points.

Hope for a miracle remains in the eyes of Tide fans as Alabama will take on Western Division rival Mississippi St. tomorrow.  Alabama lost the two regular season meetings to State, but not with the confidence they have now.  It should be an interesting game and if Alabama continues to show the emotion and passion they have in the past two games, expect this one to be a tight affair.   I might actually watch the whole thing.