|
Steve Victory JOURNAL – ACT 2014
The 2014 ACT has plenty of names you might expect to find in the NCT instead: Virginia, Purdue, Temple, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Michigan, Georgia Tech, Cincinnati.
Alabama is making its first appearance in the “Almost Championship Tournament” in 10 years. The Tide last played in the ACT in 2004 when coach Michael Williamson engineered a Sweet 16 finish and a 17-14 season record (the last time ‘Bama had a winning record in men’s hoops by the way – yikes!). At least that's one positive streak Victory helped snap this year.
Coach Steve Victory’s crew opens at home against South Florida as the number two seed in the South. Alabama is the strong favorite but is playing without PG Erazem Lekivicius, who fractured his skull (ouch!) late in the regular season and is unavailable the rest of the way. Fortunately, freshman SG Cliff McWilliams steps in beautifully, scores 21 points and leads an 84-55 stomping. Fellow guard Waitari Condill adds 20 points. Brody Adams pulls down 13 rebounds. Steve Victory earns his first-ever post-season tournament win (outside of conference tournaments) – hey, and it only took 11 seasons.
Round two brings a date against Georgia Tech of the ACC. ‘Bama travels for this one but takes the sting out of the Yellow Jackets in the first half, building a 44-29 lead. Five Crimson Tide players reach double figures – with Michael Bliss leading with 20 points – and ‘Bama rolls to an 81-67 triumph. McWilliams fills in nicely again – 10 points, three 3-pointers. Rude has 12 assists. On to the Elite Eight – ACT style!
Here, Alabama meets up with always tough Temple, still coached by John Cheney, who is something like 90 years old now. Again the Tide travels and again they silence the home crowd with a great performance. Brett Fischer leads the scoring in this one, providing 19 points, and ‘Bama wins 75-61.
Adams and Bliss each have 12 rebounds. Jason Rude proves rude to Temple’s defense with 8 assists. Hey, hey – Steve Victory is going to his first Final Four. Even if it is only the ACT, he’s pretty pumped to be still playing in late March! The coach has always held quite a bit of reverence for Madison Square Garden. Others making the trip: SEC rival Arkansas, Virginia and Xavier. ‘Bama must get through the Wahoos of UVa to make it to the title game…
|