Gametracker: Alabama’s Tony Mitchell

Last month I watched Alabama’s uber-athletic Tony Mitchell play some very impressive above-the-rim basketball.  But I only caught at best half of his minutes.  Some of his eye-popping play is bringing me back tonight for my first gametracker of the season.  I want to delve deeper into his game.  Does he dive like a madman for loose balls?  Just how quick is he?  How about that defensive rebounding technique?  Gametracker will answer these questions.

The Oklahoma State Cowboys visit the Yellowhammer State (Yes, Alabama!) for a Big 12/SEC matchup tonight.  Tip is in just one hour so it’s time for me to start prepping…

1st Half

19:40–Crashes weakside for offensive rebound, nice move, not to be. Careless here…could have easily been over the back
19:30–Guarding 6’7 OSU star freshman LeBryan Nash. Man to man.
18:50–Assist. Dribble drive, kickout, teammate drains 3.
18:40–Def Rebound.
18:20–Face up, drains jumper from 18 feet
17:40–Passes out of double team, teammate misses. Nice pass and correct decision.
17:00–No effort to get around defender for offensive rebound 😦
16:40–Def rebound. Taps to himself.
16:30–Alabama up 10-2
16:10–There for transition oop, bad pass to him
16:00–Nice D to force bad shot
15:30–Looks a bit tired
15:20–Wide open 3 off screen and he drains it. Swish. Slight hitch in shot…Bama up 16-2. 5 pts for Mitchell
15:00–Can’t connect on a second oop try, misses one handed dunk. Doable oop this time. His bad.
14:30–No effort to crash board with perfect opportunity. Second time teammate drains a 3 while Mitchell wathces and doesn’t advance towards basket.
14:10–Timeout 14:08 left. Bama up 19-4
14:00–Def Rebound
13:40–transition layup. Teammates attempted 3rd oop pass, no success. Caught it instead, turned around and layed it in.
12:30–Drained a 3 (swish) right after whistle blown and play stopped
12:00–Good block out, but ball caroms away
11:50–Releford hurt, and JyMichael Green did not start and will not play. Will Mitchell step up with Releford being treated??
11:00–Banks in leaner off glass. Sweet.
10:50–Almost has PG presence on court. Doesn’t rush. Confident.
10:30–Drains 18 foot jumper from baseline. 11 pts now.
9:50–Fouls guy coming thru lane. So far I’m seeing “average” defender. Mitchell comes out after foul. Refs switch foul now to teammate, but Mitchell already on bench thinking it was his second. Oh well, more rest before under 8:00 TO. Bama up 27-12 when he leaves.
8:02–Mitchell returns
7:40–Def Rebound
7:30–Misses 3 ball
7:00–Bad effort blocking out. LeBryan Nash outplays him and scores.
6:30–blocked on short shot attempt
6:10–Doesn’t crash boards. (Wonder if he’s asked to stay back??)
5:40–Nash abuses him on step back jumper. Nash in rhythm now.
5:00–Def rebound
4:30–tips def rebound, good effort, out of bounds, bama ball
3:50–Ran floor excellent and HARD. Couldn’t receive good pass from pg.
3:30–Good heady defensive play, deflects ball
3:00–on weakside just watching action…
2:40–Slow to help defense, dunked on in lane
2:20–sets his 90th (not really) pick on offense around top of key
2:10–Doesn’t try to fight arond guy for off board
1:30–Stands around top of key a lot early in posessions
1:20–misses 10 foot floater, hard off back rim
1:00–Plays good passing lane D, and nice effort to block help D shot even though he didn’t get it
0:50–misses 6 foot floater in lane
0:30–Def reb. Nice. Fought for it.
0:00–Bama up 40-22. Mitchell 11 pts, 5-10 FG’s, 7 rebounds.

Big East/SEC Challenge Wish List

The SEC and Big East announced today a two-year agreement to play one another in an annual challenge.  This follows on the heels of back-to-back seasons in which a mini-version of this challenge existed, in which four teams from each conference competed for the challenge bragging rights.  There was enough momentum from this subsample for the conferences to agree on including all members in the SEC (12 teams) against twelve (out of 16) teams from the Big East.  The twelve teams from the Big East will be chosen at a later date.

The fact that we still don’t know which Big East teams will compete makes for a great opportunity to blog.  As with any challenge it’s all about the matchups.  You have to select matchups that will ultimately be competitive but also have as much marketability as possible in order to draw the highest ratings.  I put pen to pad tonight and did my best to break down the matchups I would want to see and some logic behind the choice.  Below is my personal wish list.  The conferences are free to use this in their decision making.

Kentucky vs Syracuse

Hype factors:  Both are perennial power basketball schools; the teams met in the 1996 Championship game; they almost never meet adding to the sexy matchup factor; perhaps most importantly they are #1 or #2 in annual home attendance every year, something the announcers can hype up until you vomit; the famed Syracuse 2-3 zone defense against the Dribble Drive Motion Offense of Kentucky.

Tennessee vs Connecticut

Hype factors: I went with this matchup mainly because Tennessee has already played Pittsburgh and Villanova this year, so I feel like there’s some process of elimination here.  Next year’s matchup should have new blood.  Now that UConn has rebounded from last year’s disappointing campaign this matchup oozes excitement.  Tennessee continues to be a giant-killer with wins over several Top 10 teams in recent years.  Lets throw the Vols another chance to add a feather to the hat.

Florida vs Louisville

Hype factors:  Lock this up.  Done deal.  Ricky P vs Billy D.  Mentor vs Pupil.  Championship winning coaches.  This is long overdue.  Marketing dream.

Vanderbilt vs West Virginia

Hype factors: This is a coaching decision for me.  I appreciate what Stallings and Huggins get out of their players.  The Mountaineers stifling defense pitted against Vanderbilt’s persistent offense.  I really think this could be the best matchup of the entire challenge.  Both coaches are gracious competitors and I think they would provide a great scene for college basketball fans.