End of the Avery Johnson era? Alabama falls to Norfolk State in OT of NIT opener
Alabama was the No. 1 overall seed in the NIT after being left out of the NCAA Tournament.
The Crimson Tide then drew No. 8 seed Norfolk State for their first-round matchup, and the game was played in Tuscaloosa. However, it didn’t go according to plan for the Tide.
After going to overtime, Norfolk State ended up pulling away from the Tide and won by the score of 80-79.
Sophomore G Herbert Jones led the way with 18 points for the Tide. Alex Reese scored 17 points and grabbed seven rebounds off the bench.
Derrik Jamerson Jr. led all scorers, pouring in 25 points for Norfolk State. He also grabbed seven boards in an incredible bench effort.
The Tide’s season is now over, and fans have been frustrated with coach Avery Johnson for a couple of years now. After Wednesday’s disappointing effort, it could spell the end of an era in Tuscaloosa.
Johnson is on thin ice, and this loss certainly won’t help matters. It also doesn’t help that Johnson said he would build for the future with this game and then proceeded to play seniors Donta Hall and Riley Norris heavily.
Overall, it was an ugly loss for the Tide, and we’ll see what happens next. It’s going to be quite an offseason at Alabama.
Just embarrassing…great guy..but yea…its time. This team has no direction. I thought he might kill the doubters if he made a run in the NIT. But geesh….the program its self has taken a wrong turn period.
Gotta stop paying the players and you will get a great basketball coach.
Must be why Auburn can’t find a great Football coach…
Bammers must be worried since auburn just won the sec tournament last weekend. Auburn is on the raise… WDE!!
I wouldnt throw stones from inside a glass house. Seeing as Persons has pled guilty.
You do realize that Person’s charges were about taking bribes to steer existing players to agents AFTER they left Auburn right? That it had nothing to do with Pearl or recruiting right? Auburn didn’t benefit in any way or form and the players involved have already served their harsh punishment by the NCAA. What Person did was crappy and he will be punished, but hoping he drops some bombshell about Auburn (who isn’t being investigated) is just pathetic.
On th raise…. LMAO
Last season Collin Sexton single handedly kept Avery off the hot seat, with wins over A&M and Auburn in the SEC tournament and a first round win in the NCAA tournament. Those helped cover up a lackluster, under-performing season. Which is what with saw again this year, sans Sexton to bail them out. Avery’s teams have consistently under-performed.
Spot on. Great guy, sure the players love him and he can recruit, but no killer instinct to motivate the team and keep them focused game in and game out…which is what we saw yet again last night.
He just doesn’t seem like a college coach. Some guys are geared more for the NBA.
Losing to Norfolk St is a terrible way to go out. I expected more out of Avery and his team.
How ya doing?
Somebody recommended him to get the LSU job didn’t they earlier in the SEC tournament.
When you’re not holding that search for my post and while waiting on Fisher to call you back, why not contact the AD at LSU and recommend your choice for the job?
I bet your input is why we haven’t heard more about Wade.
Keep searching!