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aztarheel · 01-26-2007, 09:35 PM

Steve Victory JOURNAL – Season Seventeen 2019-20

One of the more forgotten aspects of Jim Valvano’s miracle run to a national championship with N.C. State in 1983 — the fact that the coach failed to qualify the Wolfpack for the tournament the following season. After beating Houston in a rematch to start the year, NCSU had a mediocre ’84 campaign, capped only by a trip to the ACT (the NIT in those days).

Steve Victory’s script at Alabama takes a similar turn following his first national championship. The Crimson Tide finishes with a 16-16 regular season record in 2019-20 (counting SEC tourney games as well). They’re lucky even to make the ACT at all.

In many respects, though, Victory is counting his blessings that this bunch manages 16 wins, especially after losing eight of their first 11. The first part of the season is pretty ugly as an out-of-sync ‘Bama squad drops games to such notable opponents as Lafeyette, Wyoming (who turns out to be pretty good actually at 28-4), Southern, College of Charleston (more on them in a minute), Villanova and Illinois State.

Once the SEC season rolls around, the young guns finally start to gel a bit. Alabama loses early games against LSU (more on them too in a minute) and #3 Mississippi State but then engineers a three-game winning streak then later a four-game winning streak. All told, ‘Bama takes fifth place in the SEC with a 10-6 record. There are a few “Franks” out there who bicker about a return to the old ways with Steve Victory, but most are patient with the coach as he essentially retools his entire program…

Some of the notable wins: Vanderbilt (CRI 29), Auburn (CRI 25) and Kentucky (CRI 32). The Tide nearly beat LSU in the second meeting before falling by 3… SG Earl Dixon gets Player of the Week honors in Week 14 (26 ppg, 7.5 rpg, 4 apg). Jabari Wolff earns Frosh of the Week midway through the season. PG David Smith actually makes the all-SEC team (12 ppg, 8 apg). Wolff is a member of the all-SEC Frosh team. Not bad in the awards department…

Alabama wins two games in the SEC tournament, downing #12 Tennessee 75-63 and upsetting #4 Florida 87-81 (always nice to beat the Gators). The Tide gives #1 seed Mississippi State (who else?) a good battle before falling 79-73 in the semifinals. The Bulldogs then cruise past #2 Vandy in the championship by about 40…

So it’s on to the post-season for Victory and the Crimson Tide. Though not able to defend their NCT title, Alabama will get a chance to play some more games (something they need). And who knows, Victory might take them back to Madison Square Garden...

01-26-2007, 09:35 PM	#146
aztarheel High School JV Join Date: Sep 2006	Steve Victory JOURNAL – Season Seventeen 2019-20 One of the more forgotten aspects of Jim Valvano’s miracle run to a national championship with N.C. State in 1983 — the fact that the coach failed to qualify the Wolfpack for the tournament the following season. After beating Houston in a rematch to start the year, NCSU had a mediocre ’84 campaign, capped only by a trip to the ACT (the NIT in those days). Steve Victory’s script at Alabama takes a similar turn following his first national championship. The Crimson Tide finishes with a 16-16 regular season record in 2019-20 (counting SEC tourney games as well). They’re lucky even to make the ACT at all. In many respects, though, Victory is counting his blessings that this bunch manages 16 wins, especially after losing eight of their first 11. The first part of the season is pretty ugly as an out-of-sync ‘Bama squad drops games to such notable opponents as Lafeyette, Wyoming (who turns out to be pretty good actually at 28-4), Southern, College of Charleston (more on them in a minute), Villanova and Illinois State. Once the SEC season rolls around, the young guns finally start to gel a bit. Alabama loses early games against LSU (more on them too in a minute) and #3 Mississippi State but then engineers a three-game winning streak then later a four-game winning streak. All told, ‘Bama takes fifth place in the SEC with a 10-6 record. There are a few “Franks” out there who bicker about a return to the old ways with Steve Victory, but most are patient with the coach as he essentially retools his entire program… Some of the notable wins: Vanderbilt (CRI 29), Auburn (CRI 25) and Kentucky (CRI 32). The Tide nearly beat LSU in the second meeting before falling by 3… SG Earl Dixon gets Player of the Week honors in Week 14 (26 ppg, 7.5 rpg, 4 apg). Jabari Wolff earns Frosh of the Week midway through the season. PG David Smith actually makes the all-SEC team (12 ppg, 8 apg). Wolff is a member of the all-SEC Frosh team. Not bad in the awards department… Alabama wins two games in the SEC tournament, downing #12 Tennessee 75-63 and upsetting #4 Florida 87-81 (always nice to beat the Gators). The Tide gives #1 seed Mississippi State (who else?) a good battle before falling 79-73 in the semifinals. The Bulldogs then cruise past #2 Vandy in the championship by about 40… So it’s on to the post-season for Victory and the Crimson Tide. Though not able to defend their NCT title, Alabama will get a chance to play some more games (something they need). And who knows, Victory might take them back to Madison Square Garden... Last edited by aztarheel : 01-26-2007 at 09:38 PM.