Just Now: Alabama massive deal have collapsed

After the first Junior Day under head coach Kalen DeBoer, Alabama recruits have been writing reviews, and they are overwhelmingly positive.

Anthony Rogers (Bradenton, FL), the top running back prospect in 2025 and an Alabama commit, has been in communication with Bama247. Chase Loftin, a 6-foot-6 tight end prospect from Omaha, Nebraska, was the subject of our most recent chat.

Although the three-star hasn’t received an offer yet, he expects that one might in the spring after working out in front of the staff. More of Loftin’s reflections on Tuscaloosa’s new era were shared with Bama247.

To echo a cliché of athletics all time, the start of the second half of Southeastern Conference basketball competition is one of challenges and opportunities.

Following Alabama’s 99-67 win over Mississippi State in Coleman Coliseum Saturday night, the Crimson Tide has the conference lead, but it’s a slim one and the schedule sets up this week for potential clogging at the top.

Alabama is 8-1, but right behind Bama are South Carolina and Auburn at 7-2 and Tennessee – the league’s highest ranked team – at 6-2.

Highlight game this week would be a big one if the teams were 13th and 14th rather than first and second. Alabama, which escaped with a 79-75 win  over Auburn in Tuscaloosa earlier this year, heads to Auburn Wednesday. Additionally, Bama finishes the week at LSU, another team of Tigers that will be looking for revenge after the Tide’s 109-88 earlier win Coleman Coliseum.

South Carolina, no longer a surprise team with its success, hosts Ole Miss and Vanderbilt this week and will be heavy favorites to be 9-2 at the end of the week. Tennessee will be favored to keep pace hosting LSU and going to Texas A&M.

In other news, the anticipation of which team would win a conference game first, Missouri or Vanderbilt, ended when the teams met Saturday, Vandy the first to shed the doughnut.

In its long reign as King of SEC Basketball, Kentucky has probably had 100 points hung on the Wildcats a number of times, and it happened again in Lexington Saturday night, Tennessee 103, Kentucky 92.

Anytime the century mark is achieved against UK, I’m reminded of the story I’ve heard many times from some who were in Montgomery on Feb. 25, 1956, when Coach Johnny Dee’s Rocket Eight Alabama team defeated Kentucky, 101-77. It was the first time a UK team had given up 100 points, and it came in spite of Coach Adolph Rupp instructing his Wildcats to freeze the ball (there was no shot clock in those days) to keep the Tide from reaching 100.

George Linn stole the ball and went for a layup to make it 101. Jerry Harper had 37 points, Linn 27.