West Alabama Thursday Briefing
Good morning West Alabama! It is Thursday, February 20, 2025. This is the 51st day of the year with 314 days remaining.
Thursday Morning Observations:
I stayed up late to watch that fiasco? Unfortunately, I did deprive myself of a good night's sleep to watch the Alabama Men's basketball team stumble and bumble to their second straight beating. #15 Missouri 110, #4 Alabama 98 - Final.
If you look at the offensive states, you might think Alabama won. If you look at the defensive side of the ledger you will see why they didn’t.
Offensively: Mark Sears scored 30 points. UA hit 54% of their shots for the game (42% from 3). Bama hit a respectable 71% of their free throws.
Defensively: Mizzou opened the game on a 12-0 run. The Tigers built a 20-point lead with 3:58 left in the first half. Missouri scored 21 points off Bama's 14 turnovers.
Adding to the above were 31 fouls against Bama to 19 for MO. Tide Coach Nate Oats was whistled for a technical foul. Bama also drew a questionable Flagrant One foul call. Mizzou got points off both.
Like the Auburn game Saturday, the Tide lost the game in the first few minutes, getting behind big early and never able to gain the lead.
It doesn’t help to be the top scoring team in the country if your defense is awful.
Saturday Bama trailed 9-0 and lost by 9 to Auburn. The Tide trailed 12-0 to Mizzou last night and lost the game by 12.
Looking at the remainder of Bama’s demanding schedule against nationally ranked teams it is honestly difficult to see where the Tide might get another win before the end of the regular season.
Alabama's next foe is Kentucky at Coleman Saturday. UA beat UK in Lexington a few weeks ago but the Cats are a better team now, the Tide is not.
On offense, the Tide is a horrendous ball handling team. I’ve never seen a team commit so many unforced turnovers. Sometimes just falling down while dribbling the ball. Are they trying to play too fast?
On defense there is too much standing around, too many opposing teams are blowing by for easy layups.
UA can kiss the SEC regular season title goodbye and probably also a number one or even number two seed by the way it has played.
The SEC has learned to pick up Alabama defensively at the 3-point line, force them to dribble the ball and either turn it over or throw up a panicky last second shot.
Two straight losses could easily turn into three straight unless Alabama can find itself.
More than any other game this season Alabama is going to need a packed house and raucous crowd at Coleman against UK Saturday. This a game Bama will need the crowd to dominate, as Missouri’s did Wednesday. Don’t wait for something to happen. Be loud and MAKE something happen.
(Opinions expressed in Morning Observations are those of the author and not necessarily those of the ownership, management, staff or sponsors of Townsquare Media Tuscaloosa.)
Weather:
A Cold Weather Advisory is in effect for all of West Alabama until 10:00am Friday.
Temperatures will fall into the teens to 20s with wind chills about 10 degrees lower than that tonight. Dangerously cold conditions could result in damage to exposed piping and cause hypothermia.
Read More: How Cold Will It Really Feel in West Alabama Today?
The Forecast:
UA and other state colleges and universities are participating in the annual Higher Ed day at the state capitol later this morning. UA students will join about 1,000 other students, faculty, advocates, mascots and marching band members from all 14 of Alabama’s public universities will parade through downtown Montgomery. Then student leaders will sign a pledge supporting public funding for high education before lunch with state officials.
Chamber Sponsors Education Summit
An education summit panel held by the Chamber of Commerce of West Alabama brought leaders from the Tuscaloosa city and county school systems to the Bryant Conference Center Wednesday.
In the wake of two failed Property Tax Increase initiatives last year, both superintendents, Dr. Keri Johnson from Tuscaloosa County and Dr. Mike Daria from Tuscaloosa City were vocal about the importance of public funding.
With President Trump planning to axe the U.S. Department of Education, the local school officials voiced concern about it would impact local school programs that receive federal dollars.
Tuscaloosa City Superintendent Dr. Mike Daria emphasized how community partnerships are now even more critical.
Application Fees Waved at UA
The University of Alabama announced it is waiving application fees for undergraduate admission and Early College the last week in February.
The university said Free App Week will run the 24th through the 28th for the purpose of removing financial barriers that may keep prospective students from applying for admission.
Congressman Aderholt Hosts Law Enforcement Summit in Northport
West Alabama Republican Congressman Robert Aderholt hosted a law enforcement summit in Northport Wednesday to address key issues such as illegal immigration, drug trafficking, and cyber-crimes.
Aderholt said the summit was intended to, "Enhance collaboration among local, state, and federal agencies, law enforcement officers together to share information, strengthen partnerships, and ensure that they have the resources they need to do their jobs effectively."
The summit also covered advancements in policing technology, federal funding opportunities, and the increasing dangers faced by law enforcement officers.
Pedestrian Struck on Valentine's Day Dies
According to the Tuscaloosa Violent Crimes Unit, a 31-year-old man who had been struck by a vehicle on Valentine's Day succumbed to his injuries. The incident happened around 10:00pm at the intersection of Skyland Blvd and Hargrove Road East.
The 18-year-old driver admitted to having previously used a controlled substance. No arrests have been made but the investigation is ongoing.
Municipal Election Candidate Forums Set
With Tuscaloosa’s March 4th Municipal Elections fast approaching two candidate forums are scheduled. The League of Women Voters of Greater Tuscaloosa is hosting a forum at 6;40 tonight in the Fellowship Hall of Grace Presbyterian Church at 113 Hargrove Road…A week from tonight, local NAACP and SCLC chapters are sponsoring a candidate’s forum at the Central High School Auditorium at 6:00pm. Municipal elections are non-partisan.
Legislative Session Actions:
Current Week three actions in the legislature"
- A bill aimed at curbing gun violence is moving through the legislature. If passed, Senate Bill 170 would allow law enforcement to confiscate guns from individuals who pose an immediate and present danger to themselves or others.
- State lawmakers are touting a new bill which will create a new center to help veterans. It has passed both chambers and awaits Gov. Ivey's signature. Site of the new center has not been announced.
- The "Second Chance" Bill that would give incarcerated individuals whose sentence has been enhanced under the Habitual Felony Offender Act a chance to be resentenced has passed out of an Alabama committee.
- HB177 has been approved by committee action after a public hearing. It would enforce current law which mandates that children approved for Medicaid must first be covered by a parent’s private health insurance if able.
- HB202 prompted heated debate during a public hearing at the capitol on Wednesday. It would redefine misconduct by police limiting them to prosecution only if they are found to be behaving recklessly or violating a person’s constitutional rights.
- The Alabama House Public safety and Homeland Security Committee has rejected a bill that would impose a criminal penalty on a parent whose child brings a gun to school if the firearm was not secured at home, in contrast with a series of recent prosecutions nationwide that have targeted the parents of school shooters.
Topping Sports News:
Bama Drops Second Straight Conference Game
For the second game in a row the Alabama Men's Basketball Team failed to lead in a game. Its cost them a 110-98 defeat at the hands of the hot Missouri Tigers in front of a 15,062 sellout in Columbia, MO.
Read More: Comeback Attempt Falls Short as Alabama Loses Second Straight Game
Bama Women Basketball to Face an Archrival Tonight's
#18 Alabama (21-5 overall. 8-4 SEC) is in Knoxville TN for a 5:30 CST matchup against a longtime foe, #15 Tennessee (19-6 overall, 6-6 SEC).
UA is coming off a dominate victory over Texas A&M on Monday night, 88-49, as four Tide players finished in double figures. But the Vols are a totally different animal. This is the 64th meeting between the two programs. The Volunteers lead the all-time series over the Crimson Tide, 55-9.
Bama will be looking to improve to a 7-2 road record and to earn its fifth road victory during SEC play
The game will be televised by the SEC+ and broadcast on radio by the Crimson Tide Sports Network.
All Tuscaloosa Battle for 6A Region Title Goes to Paul Bryant
Paul Bryant held off Northridge in an all-Tuscaloosa Boy’s 6A Central Region Championship Game in Montgomery Wednesday. The Stampede beat the Jags 66-56.
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