In four days, every underclassman who declared for the NBA Draft without an agent has a decision to make. 

Stay or Go. 

It's as simple as that—but the simplicity stops with the question.

Either of those words could spell "title" or "trouble" for many teams next season, and the Alabama Crimson Tide are no different. 

Outside of Indiana, who will have only two players returning from their 2007-08 team when next season tips off, Alabama had the roughest offseason that any program could have. 

Two key transfers, three players declaring for the draft, and three graduating seniors left a feeling of emptiness in Tuscaloosa for much of March and even into the beginning of May. 

Things got somewhat brighter when Alonzo Gee, one of the three who declared for the draft, didn't receive a camp invitation and came back to school.

However, the two other guys who declared, Richard Hendrix and Ronald Steele, did receive camp invites, and both have said very little since the camp.

The two players remain silent heading into the final 100 hours leading up to the June 16, 5:00 pm EDT deadline to return to school. 

As I reported two weeks ago, Steele said he was coming back to school for his senior season...just to change his mind the next day. 

According to Ian Rapoport of the Birmingham News, Steele was all set to return to The Capstone until Steele's father talked him out of returning and to go through the entire process of the NBA Draft. 

Many members of the media, including BamaOnline, Alabama's Rivals.com site, have made attempts to contact Steele for an interview to get a feel about his status.  Every attempt has been denied or ignored by Steele. 

The general consensus among Bama fans is that Steele will return for his senior season to lead the Crimson Tide, just as he had previously declared—but a little assurance wouldn't hurt anyone. 

The consensus for Richard Hendrix, however, is completely different. 

Just like Steele, Hendrix is refusing any interviews post-Draft camp, and many fans want to know his stance and status, more so than Steele. 

Viewed as one of the most underrated players of this year's draft by SI.com, Hendrix was supposed to have individual workouts for teams once the camp ended at the end of May.

But no word has spread about whether or not those workouts happened, and if they did, what the general feel was about each one.   

Hendrix is currently predicted as the No. 42 pick to Sacramento, according to NBADraft.net's predictions from June 2, but most Bama fans feel that isn't good enough for the man who led their team in points and rebounds last season.

Despite that line of thinking, many fans feel that Richard's silence signifies the end of an era in Alabama Basketball history. 

So as the hours tick away this weekend and on into Monday, Alabama Basketball fans will be on the edge of their seats for one of two words from these two potential All-Americans...

Stay or Go.

Title or Trouble.

After facing an uncertain future on May 1st with the news of three Crimson Tide players entering the NBA Draft, Alabama head coach Mark Gottfried was wondering what his 2008-09 team would look like. 

Gottfried had already dealt with two players leaving the program in Justin Tubbs and Rico Pickett, who are both transferring to still-unknown schools. News got worse once his potential core for 2008, Richard Hendrix, Ronald Steele, and Alonzo Gee, all declared for the draft. 

This wasn't going to be Gottfried's first rodeo with this scenario, having dealt with multiple players in his tenure leaving for the league early, with some results better than others. 

However, a month later things are looking a lot better for the Tide. 

Gee vowed to return about ten days ago when he did not receive a pre-draft camp invitation. Now, Gottfried is two for two on keeping players in school for another year, as he received news of Ronald Steele returning. 

Steele did receive an invitation to the camp and worked out for the NBA scouts.  However, he impressed few, if any, teams and as a result, has decided to return for his senior season at the Capstone. 

Steele was "testing the waters" for the draft after red-shirting the past season to increase his health after a total of three knee surgeries. 

"He made the right decision," said Gottfried of Steele.  Many 'Bama fans will agree with this statement and hope Steele returns to his sophomore All-American form.

The one remaining piece to the puzzle is Hendrix, the Tide's leading scorer from last season and almost an assured double-double every game. 

The question now is, does Alabama really need Hendrix back next season?

There is no doubt the fans and coaches would like him to return, but how does that shape the season for the Tide?

The return of Steele alone should make Alabama the 2009 SEC West favorites and in a great position to take the conference. Adding Hendrix to the mix will not change that prediction, but imagine Alabama without him next season. 

Alabama would have a much more open offense, having the paint unclogged with the absence of Hendrix. This would allow Steele to drive and dish a lot easier to outside shooters such as Gee, Senario Hillman, or new JUCO transfer Anthony Brock. 

Hendrix's spot can be replaced by incoming freshman JaMychal Green, a McDonald's All-American, just like Hendrix was coming in to 'Bama. 

Green is faster than Hendrix, but he doesn't have the experience that Hendrix has, which is extremely useful in the SEC. Either way, the Tide will have a presence in the middle. 

But if Hendrix returns, Alabama gains strong depth in the middle, something it has been lacking for the past few years. Demetrius Jemison, who started opposite Hendrix this past season, would either become a 6th man to Green, or would have a reliable back-up next season, and the front court would remain the same. 

A Hendrix return also makes the Tide a more dangerous team in the SEC. 

Now the fans and coaches play the waiting game for two weeks to see if Hendrix will return to help the Tide in their 2008-09 campaign.   

Even if Gottfried goes two for three, the Tide has already regained the most important piece it needs in order to regain their dominance in the SEC next season. 

The Great Games

The Third Saturday in October, 1995

(14 October 1995)

vs.

Tennessee 41 • Alabama 14

Legion Field

There are a fair number of people in Orange Nation who — ignoring the whole “national championship thing” in 1998 — are of the opinion that the 1995 Tennessee Volunteers may have been the best football team fielded by the Big Orange in the modern era. Regardless of whether they were better than any other team — the 1995 Vols were pretty darn good, and were a hell of a lot of fun to watch. Thus, a few of the games from that season make my all-time list.

It’s probably not all that hard to figure out the first one (No, I’m not referring to the stinkin’ East Carolina Game)

I don’t know that I necessarily agree or disagree with the folks who think the 1995 team is better than the 1998 team. I think there are strong points that can be made for both squads, but hardly settle the issue. After all, who is “best” is really a matter of opinion. This is the sort of debate which leads Basilio to offer his catch phrase of deepest profundity:

“Hmmm …. Interesting.“

Translation: “I really don’t feel like arguing with you about this because I can’t prove you’re wrong, and you can’t prove you’re right.” Of course, some folks love trying to prove their opinions are fact or — at a minimum — are superior to your opinions (”Oh, but I can prove it! Really, I can — with a crayon, a note from my Mother, and this bit of string…” ). The type of people who seem to gravitate toward that sort of behavior are usually a little short on knowledge and a little long on ego which, while annoying at times, is forgivable. The rest are just egomaniacal degenerates, politicians, and lawyers (ugh)…

… but I digress (sigh).

By the time 1995 rolled around Tennessee had managed to keep from beating the Alabama Crimson Tide for nine (that’s right, I said “NINE”) utterly abominable years. To that point, Tennessee had only beaten Alabama four times in my entire lifetime, which — from my perspective — sucked. The Vols came within a hair of beating Alabama in 1993, only to tie (this game was later forfeited by Alabama to Tennessee due to NCAA sanctions, but that is anything but a win).  In 1994, my freshman year on the Hill, another freshman — some Manning kid — didn’t see an open passing lane to James “Little Man” Stewart who was standing in the endzone, all by himself, and practically sending smoke signals begging for the ball on the final play of the game. Victory to the Tide. Needless to say, I — along with every other Tennessee fan — was ready for that streak to end.

The game, like every other Tennessee-Alabama contest played in the state of Alabama from 1932-1999, was played at Legion Field in Birmingham.

If you’ve never been to Legion Field … skip it.

I always referred to Legion Field as “Gray Lady Down Stadium,” because it had a remarkable resemblance to a WWII vintage US battleship sunk into the ground up to its gunwales, with the exception of its hood-ornament. This was shortly after the Mercedes-Benz plant had opened in Alabama and, as a result, the stadium was festooned with an obscenely large Mercedes hood-ornament over the scoreboard in what I think was the South Endzone. It was probably somewhere between 30 and 50 feet high (and according to the New York Times weighed 5600 pounds). Apparently, the locals liked to refer to the stadium as “The Mercedes Benz of College Football” — I always thought it was more in the class of “The 1977 AMC Eagle with Bondo Fenders and a Cracked Engine Block of College Football,” but that was just me.

vs.

A few years later, the hood-ornament disappeared from the stadium after Logan Young stole it and had it made into a necklace which he gave to Albert Means in return for Means agreeing to play for the Tide.**

Many people also think the area around the stadium is also a little rough. I have always felt this is an unfair characterization. In 1995 it wasn’t a little rough — it was like stepping into Dresden after the Air Force carpet bombed it for several months. Think Baghdad, but without the “local color.” I’m not trying to be pissy toward the Bammers, but I have never understood why in the name of God the Tide chose to play at Legion Field when they have a great facility in Bryant-Denny Stadium situated on campus in Tuscaloosa. Fortunately, since 2003 all Alabama home games have been played at Bryant-Denny since Legion Field was declared partially unsafe and the upper deck was demolished.

Moving right along…

On that particular Third Saturday in October, I sat on about the 10th row of the North Endzone because I was in the Pride of the Southland. I had a friend who had decided that it was unlucky for him to actually watch the game since everytime he watched Tennessee lost. Thus, he resolved that he would sit in the stands facing away from the field. It was funny, until the game started, and after the first play from scrimmage, everyone in my section decided he was absolutely right and forcibly restrained him from turning around for the next 4 quarters.

Tennessee got the ball on the 20 due to the touchback, and the offense came up to the line to get things going, then this happened (Ron Franklin with the call):

I can still remember watching Joey Kent running straight toward me, and thinking that I must be dreaming. When I saw the referee’s arms go up, however, I knew it was for real. Tennessee scored on the opening play, and never let up the entire night.

It was less than 11 seconds into the game and — truthfully — it was over …

Bama never came back, and never really even made it a game. Tennessee went on to rack up 41 points that night, including a touchdown off of Peyton Manning’s beautifully executed bootleg …

… and another off of a fabulous run by Jay Graham to put the game away.

The 1995 Alabama game was literally a virtual highlight reel as the Vols absolutely pounded the Tide and found themselves back in the saddle again — finally scratching that 10 year-itch

I can honestly say that the 1995 Tennessee-Alabama game was one of the most electrifying displays that I have ever seen from a Tennessee team. That night was truly memorable.

In my own way, I did my part to let loose on the Crimson Tide that night as well. More accurately, I actually “let loose a Crimson Tide.” At halftime, I got hit in the mouth by a cymbal as the Pride of the Southland performed the 1995 iteration of the Circle Drill. I swallowed about 5 inches of my horn (hey now, no comments from the peanut gallery) and managed to bash both of my lips into a bloody pulp. I finished the show (pretending to play as I bled like a stuck pig), but by the time I came off the field, my once white glove and the front of my uniform were covered with blood. I ended up being unable to play for almost 2 weeks after that little crunch, and I still have scars in my mouth from that one…

… but you know what, it was worth it.

– Go Figure …

---

Tags: Alabama Crimson Tide, Albert Means, Bammers, Championship, College Football, College Football, Complete Bullshit, Fark, Fark, Flashback, Flashback, Football, Great Games, Jay Graham, Joey Kent, Knoxville, Knoxville News Sentinel, Legion Field, Logan Young, Marching Band, Mercedes Benz, Orange Nation, Peyton Manning, Photoshop, Pride of the Southland, SEC, SEC Football, SEC Football, Tennessee Football, Tennessee Volunteers, University of Tennessee, Video, Vols

Related Posts (or so the Germans would have us think...)

• BasketVols: The Joy of Disappointment (6)
• ACC Angst… (1)
• Whatever it is, It’s Spreading… (0)
• Shoutin’ Out: Basilio & Beano on the Edge (0)

"Anything you can do I can do better. I can anything better than you". 

Only weeks after Alabama's Nick Saban signed (by most accounts) the top football class in the country, Bama basketball coach Mark Gottfried displayed his recruiting prowess by landing three of the nation's top high school basketball players, and a top-15 class of his own. While an incoming class of that calibre is a big deal any time, it is a huge deal for the Crimson Tide this year given what has been an uncertain offseason.

The one certainty as of now is that Bama will be looking to replace a point guard. At least one point guard, and possibly two. Unhappy and feeling as though he'd been misled by the coaching staff, freshman guard Rico Pickett elected to take his toys and go home to junior college.

While the facts surrounding Pickett's departure are unclear, it appears that the young freshmen felt that he was going to take over the point once Ronald Steele left. That plan fell apart when Steele redshirted this past season, securing him one more year at the Capstone. Pickett also didn't do himself any favors with his erratic play and frequently found himself giving way to more experienced players as the season wore on.

Steele's situation is a little different and likely wont be resolved until the NBA draft concludes on June 26th. While there is still a chance Steele could leave, the indications at this point would appear to have him returning to Tuscaloosa for one more year.

Steele, often considered one of the top point guards in the country when healthy, has been battling nagging injuries for the better part of two seasons now. And while some observers might note that a 75% Ronald Steele is better than most other college point guards at 100%, NBA teams don't normally like gambling on a guard with bad wheels. Expect Ronald to wear crimson next season, but brace for the worst, however unlikely it seems.

For all of the grief that coach Mark Gottfried has received recently regarding his foresight and planning, you have to give him his due here. Expecting the worst, Gottfried went out and signed junior college point man Anthony Brock to fill the void that could be left by two potential departures. 

Brock comes in as the least-heralded member of this year's class—partly due to his JUCO status and partly because of his diminutive stature. Brock doesn't come close to 6 feet, which could really handicap his shooting in a conference like the SEC, but Gottfried doesn't appear to be overly concerned. It appears that the staff is looking to Brock as a manager of the offense and not a primary scoring option.

With Brock running the point would there really be enough firepower next season for the team to compete? Maybe, but chances are it wont come to that. And to be fair, we're speaking of Brock like he's never shot a jump shot in his life. Bottom line is that Steele looks to be returning and that means it's his ballgame at point. Along with Steele, forward Alonzo Gee is set to return for his senior season after withdrawing his name from draft consideration. Bama's last remaining question mark is junior forward Richard Hendrix, and with his stock dropping it looks probably that he'll be making a return to Tuscaloosa for next season as well.

As a junior, Gee contributed 14 points per game while Hendrix averaged a double-double over the season. A healthy Ronald Steele is good for between 15 and 20 points per contest as well. All Gottfried has to do now is fill in the missing pieces.

Maybe the most anticipated member of the incoming class is also the guy that could end up being the real key to next season. JaMychal Green (6-8 power forward) comes to Tuscaloosa after a stellar senior campaign that saw him average an eye-popping 26 points, 17 boards, and 7 blocks for St. Jude's High School. Both Scout and Rivals recruiting services list Green as one of the top 10 power forwards coming out of high school this season.

Figuring out how Green fits in might be almost as important as having Steele back. Can Green live up to the hype and develop quickly enough to come out and get significant, meaningful minutes next season? And where does Green fit in? Can he be the inside compliment to Hendrix that sophomore Demetrius Jemison was never able to fulfill?

Depending on how quickly Green develops goes a long way next season in determining just how successful the Tide can be. If Green can come in and get meaningful minutes, it allows Gottfried to move Jemison (who looks to be over-matched and playing out of position) to the bench with sophomore Yamene Coleman and soon-to-be sophomore Justin Knox. Doing this would keep Hendrix, the team's only true inside threat, fresher and out of foul trouble as the season goes on.

Another high-profile newcomer expected to make an impact is Swainsboro, Georgia swingman Tony Mitchell (6-6, 185). Like Green, Mitchell comes to Tuscaloosa with an impressive list of accolades. Generally regarded as one of the top small forward prospects in the country, Mitchell is an aggressive scorer who  possesses size for the position. The only real knock on Mitchell is his outside shot.

With Gee's decision to return to campus, chances are that Tide fans may have to wait an additional year to see Mitchell get much action. The coaching staff will have to make the decision to either let Mitchell develop further or get him on the court as a freshman, and this leads to the problem of where and when he plays. Small forward Mykal Riley is gone, but there is still Gee to contend with. Out of necessity Gee saw a good deal of action in the backcourt this year with the absence of Steele, but he has the game and the physical makeup of a small forward.

Last but certainly not least in the recruiting class is another Steele. Andrew Steele (6-3 combo guard) and younger brother of....you guessed it. Unlike his older brother, Andrew will eventually find a home at shooting guard for the Tide. While Steele is highly-touted, there's no guarantee that he'll come in and make an immediate impact.

In fact, it's this writer's opinion that Andrew will indeed redshirt. At this point the numbers game works against Steele and a year off to develop may serve him, and the team more in the long haul. Even with Pickett gone the team looks to be getting Ronald Steele back, a new JUCO point guard, holdovers Justin Tubbs, Brandon Hollinger, Mikhail Torrance and Senario Hillman. While Hollinger and Torrance have the most experience, Hillman is by far the most explosive of the group and the most likely candidate to see big-time minutes this next season.

If Mark Gottfried and Bama basketball ever needed a huge recruiting class, this was the year. Losing small forward and second-leading scorer Mykal Riley to graduation hurt, but the potential of losing the team's top 3 scorers and emotional leader (Steele) would have been catastrophic to the program. 

So love him or hate him, Gottfried did not disappoint. He delivered a class that has the star power and potential to be the cornerstone for tourney runs in the years to come. Add some of these young kids into the mix with Steele, Hendrix, Gee and a developing Senario Hillman and you could see something very special next season.

It was a weekend of firsts. Something any sports fan can appreciate—and something those that follow these particular teams closely will remember for ages.

“To have four straight shutouts versus SEC teams is unheard of.” That was a quote from Patrick Murphy following Saturday’s action, when the Tide not only shut out the South Carolina Gamecocks softball team, but both games were called under the mercy rule.

Now, I have to wonder what he’s thinking? After Sunday’s game, the Alabama ladies have shut out five consecutive SEC teams, dating back to last week's two-game series against Arkansas.

The team sits comfortably as the crowned SEC West Champions. The ladies have lost two SEC games this season, one of them to Florida. I bring that up, because it’s Florida that holds the best SEC record right now and they still have one of their toughest series on the horizon.

Barring an Alabama loss, which I don’t see happening, Alabama fans might find themselves in the unusual position of rooting for Tennessee when the Vols face the Gators in a three-game series to conclude the season. One loss by the Gators would put Alabama and Florida sitting together on top of the SEC.

Breaking that down a little further…

Regular-season champions in SEC Softball are determined by the win/loss record. If two teams are tied, which Bama and Florida may be, it becomes a shared title.

The next question falls into where they are seeded in the SEC tournament, scheduled to be played in Baton Rouge in May. If both teams are tied, the tie-breaker is the winning percentage. That puts a lot of weight in the series UT and the Gators are looking at the last week of the season.

The softball teams’ sweep of South Carolina wasn’t the only sweep UA enjoyed this weekend.

The Alabama Men’s Golf team swept, for the first time in our history, the SEC Championships this weekend at Saint Simons Island in Georgia.

Not only did the team win the tournament by an impressive margin, but nationally-recognized Michael Thompson won the tournament as well.

The win makes the sixth victory in 10 stroke tournament play this year. What is more striking is the team's SEC title marks the first title for Alabama in the last 29 years. Thompson’s win marks the first individual title for an Alabama golfer in the last 56 years.

Undoubtedly seasoned by the rigors of facing PGA competition several days ago, Thompson would be a great example of something Saban talks about often.

Finishing.

“Michael played unbelievable golf. A 65 today under all the pressure and everything that’s going on,” said Alabama Head Coach Jay Seawell, “that was a total round today. I’m very proud of him and happy for him.”

“There’s nothing I can describe in words how pumped up we are,” said Thompson from the clubhouse after his team won. “We were high-fiving on 18 green, just going nuts. It was crazy. And then one of our former golfers who flies us, he was calling all the guys who played on that 1979 team (the last Alabama squad to win the SEC title,) and he said that they were all screaming.”

Just to demonstrate how strong a team Seawell has put together this year, Thompson’s win marks the fourth different UA golfer to have won a tournament this season joining Joseph Sykora, Mark Harrell and Matthew Swan.

The NCAA announces the fields for its three regionals on Monday, May 5.

Did I mention the Alabama baseball team won its series against Mississippi State this weekend? Alabama has won 51 of the 69 SEC home series under Jim Wells since the 1995 season.

Dating back to the 2005 season, Alabama has won 16 of its last 18 SEC home series. The Crimson Tide has won six straight SEC home series, dating back to last season.

By Capstone Report

Richard Hendrix looks to be a late first round or early second round NBA draft pick, according to consensus mock drafts from NBA experts. Hendrix is listed as the 40th overall pick by CollegeHoops.net, NBAdraft.net, and the 29th pick (a late first round pick) by draftexpress.com. Hendrix was not listed on the latest mock draft from insidehoops.com.
NBC Sports lists Hendrix as the 22 pick, which would send the forward to the Orlando Magic. (H/T Bama Hoops)

Advertisement: Story continues below

Recruits due on campus early
Nick Saban said 2008 recruits could be in school by June, the Mobile Press-Register reported.

“It’s the intention of every one of our freshmen that we recruited that they will come in early if they can get certified academically through the (NCAA) Clearinghouse in time,” Saban said Thursday night. “That’s the philosophy that we’d like to use.”

The same story also confirms recent speculation that Destin Hood could forgo playing at UA if he is drafted high enough in the Major League Baseball draft June 5-6.

“It’s starting to head that way,” his father Dewayne Hood said Thursday. “If he’s drafted right, he’s probably going to play baseball.”

USC upgrades facilities while APR burns
South Carolina is spending millions of dollars on facility upgrades, and the program is has kicked into high gear, according to GamecockCentral.com. One important phase for the Gamecocks is the academic enrichment center. USC needs the academic help, but it isn’t academics on the mind of USC’s leadership:

“The academic enrichment center is going to be as good as there is in the country,” Hyman said. “It’s going to be the heart of the athletic department. This will help us recruit all student-athletes from every program as much as anything we do. It will have a major impact.

“Recruits want to see an across-the-board commitment. Male athletes are looking for bells and whistles. Female athletes look at it from a different perspective. They’re more of a sense and a feel and relationships.”

At least we know USC has a commitment to playing SEC football. They’ve put academics in its place—it is just a tool to land the next five-star.

Who can be an Alabama fan?
Tide Druid ranted about the arrogance of some Auburn fans who say derisively that Alabama’s fan base is composed of many non-alumni. As if this somehow lowers the “quality” of the fans.

The Druid deconstructs the argument, and then examines why all alumni feel a special love for their schools.

I would like to know how much different the level of connection a alumnus feels for their University compared to Auburn alumni. Isn’t every university special for their current and former students? And if not, then I would like to know why the “Auburn Experience” is so much better. Every time I’ve asked, I’ve gotten cookie cutter answers that usually involve “well, it’s hard to describe” or, “you wouldn’t understand. You just have to go there to get it.” To me, that is a tell-tell sign that you can’t identify any quality that makes your school better than the others, because deep down you know that everyone feels a deep sense of pride and connectivity with their alma mater.

I’d recommend The Druid or anyone else who wants to know about the Auburn Experience, purchase the definitive book by Phillip Marshall. It is an oversized coffee table book published in December 2004. It features more than 300 slick pages of stories and photographs of many of Auburn’s greatest traditions, teams, players and coaches in every sport. The book is available for $20, plus $5 shipping and handling. For orders of multiple books, there will be just one $5 charge for shipping and handling. Send check or money order made payable to Phillip Marshall to The Auburn Experience, P.O. Box 968, Auburn, AL 36831.

Saturn V one of the 7 Wonders of America
The Alabama built Saturn V rocket was named one of the 7 Wonders of America by Good Morning America, al.com reported. “A panel of experts was tasked by “Good Morning America” to help choose the 7 Wonders of America. The morning show began unveiling one “wonder” each day this week and will be filming in Huntsville Monday morning to announce the Saturn V on display inside the museum’s new Davidson Center for Space Exploration as the sixth wonder, said Al Whitaker, a spokesman for the U.S. Space and Rocket Center.”

In the 2008 NBA Draft, the Denver Nuggets have been shown selecting Mareese Speights with the 20th overall pick in several mock drafts. Why draft Speights; a freshman, when you can instead draft a proven leader in Alabama F, Richard Hendrix.

Hendrix averages 17.1 PPG,10.6 RPG, and 1.3 SPG

One of the few players in college basketball to average a double-double and he plays in perhaps the toughest conference, the SEC.

In each of the first 5 games of the regular season, he notched double-doubles including a 22 point-23 rebound performance in College Basketball's opening weekend. Hendrix posted 16 double-doubles on the year, and of those 16, 6 were 20+ point, 10+ rebounds performance. A 24 point 16 rebound gem against Florida, a 20 point-12 rebound effort versus Tennessee, and a 30 point-9 rebound explosion were his highlights of the year.

His points, rebounds, blocks, steals, free throw attempts, minutes, and field goal percentage were all the highest they've ever been last season also. Speaking of FG percentage, he shot 59.8% FG from the field.

Reverting back to his defensive skills, look who Richard Hendrix has defended against: 

Held Anthony Randolph to 13 points on 4-14 shooting 

Held Mareese Speights to 6 points on 3-7 shooting and fouled him out of the game

In his junior year, he led the Crimson Tide to victories over Florida, LSU, Arkansas, and Vanderbuilt.

He was also All SEC first team last year as well.

Reasons why the Denver Nuggets should Draft him

1. Richard is in my eyes, the draft's top pure rebounder, and attacks the board with amazing force. With Hendrix in the mix, Denver would instantly have of the best inside tandems in the game with Marcus Camby and himself.

Marcus would be able to take the young man under his wing and groom him into a potential All-Star. Opponents points in the paint, FG percentage, and rebounding would all be down if R.H. is taken by the Nuggets.

2. Hendrix can become an automatic replacement for Kenyon Martin, who holds a monster contract crippling Denver, age, and less than average agility. All Nuggets owner Stan Kroenke needs to do is find some poor sucker to unload Kenyon Martin on. #35 brings fresh legs, a desire to win, and good speed for a man his size. Richard's size and speed is an advantage that the Nuggets would be able to exploit against other teams that lack in that category.

3. He is versatile. That is the key word for the Denver Nuggets. They need someone who can provide a combination of offensive production, defense, and good attitude. Richard Hendrix is the man for the job.

The Nuggets should choose Richard Hendrix with the 20th overall selection in the 2008 NBA Draft.

You see it every year. College players who should go pro, go. Others who shouldn't go pro, go.

Wouldn't it be nice if some players decided against the NBA and played one more season collegiately? This does not include Roy Hibbert, of course, who has lost millions in the last year.

But, of the early entrants as of today, these ensuing five players should make the wise choice to return to school.

5. Richard Hendrix, Alabama Power Forward: Right now, Hendrix is projected to go anywhere from the late first round to the mid second round. A better projection will be available after Hendrix competes at the Orlando Pre-Draft Camp. Individually, he's coming off a season in which he averaged a double-double, leading the SEC in rebounding. However, the Tide had an abysmal season and should be a very solid squad next year. With a better team comes more solid exposure for Hendrix, who would move up draft boards if he puts up big numbers yet again, but for a winning team.

4. J.J. Hickson, North Carolina State Power Forward: Heck of a season Hickson had as a freshman, but in no way is he one of the lottery-quality youngsters. He is likely a first-round pick (maybe early second), but he should return to a Wolfpack team that will hopefully win more than four games in the ACC in 2008-09. He has the potential to average a double-double in the ACC next season and skyrocket his stock for next year's draft.

3. Derrick Caracter, Louisville Power Forward: Caracter should return to build his character, but it is highly doubtful. In a late March press conference, Caracter said, "I'm definitely not coming back." If Caracter desires any shot at being a first-rounder, he should return to Coach Pitino and learn to play the game the right way. Hate to say it, but Caracter could be seeing Europe his first couple of professional seasons.

2. Trent Plaisted, Brigham Young Power Forward/Center: Plaisted will not hire an agent, so his return to BYU is likely, and that's exactly what he should do. He plays in the Mountain West Conference, so exposure is certainly lacking. He put up great numbers as a junior, but like the aforementioned forwards, he could increase his draft stock for next year with a return.

1. Jamont Gordon, Mississippi State Guard: If he goes back to school, he's the SEC Player of the Year. He's one of those guards that isn't a definite point guard or shooting guard, raising question marks among NBA officials. Gordon, however, said he intends to go through with the draft if he remains injury free, despite not hiring an agent.

Speights, Randolph declare for Draft, will not hire agents 

Floridasophomore forward Marreese Speights and LSU freshman forward Anthony Randolph are both looking to test their luck in the NBA lottery.

Neither one has hired and agent, make a return for their respective next season possible. 

Speights averaged 14.5 points per game for the Gators this season, good enough for second on a team who made it to New York this season for the NIT Semi-finals.  To go with his 14 points, Speights had 8.1 rebounds a game and 49 blocks on the season, averaging just under 25 minutes a game. 

In an average of 32 minutes of play, Randolphaveraged 15.6 ppg, 8.5 rpg, and 70 blocks on the season.  Randolph was a leader for a LSU team in turmoil for most of the season, leading the team in rebounding and being second in points per game. 

Hansbrough looking to transfer from Mississippi State, no school named as favorite 

Mississippi State sophomore guard Ben Hansbrough has made it known that he will transfer out of Starkville. 

Hansbrough, the Bulldogs leader in free throw percentage and three point percentage, has not named his possible new location nor given a hint as to where he may go. 

MSU head coach Rick Stansbury cited that Hansbrough was leaving because he feels that he can’t “be the best basketball player” he possibly can at State and a lack of suitable practice facilities.

“As simple as that may sound, that’s a huge thing for me,” Hansbrough said in reference to the practice facilities.  “That has a lot to do with it right there.”

“Ben is a good kid and we wish him the best of luck in his future endeavours,” Stansbury said in a statement.

 Alabama faces potential problems amid transfers, draft declarations 

The off-season has already been a tumultuous one for the Alabama Crimson Tide.

Two of the team’s potential stars for next season, forward Richard Hendrix and guard Ronald Steele, have both declared for the NBA draft, but neither have hired an agent. 

Steele will return as long as he is not ensured of a first-round pick.  He missed this whole season recovering from off-season knee surgery.

Hendrix, a member of the 1^st team All-SEC team, was the only player in the SEC this season to average a double-double. 

Not only does the Tide face these potential departures, two guards have also voiced the desire to transfer.

Freshman Rico Pickett and sophomore Justin Tubbs have both said they will not return to the team next season.

Pickett was suspended indefinitely for the second time in his short tenure at Alabama on Sunday night.  The very next day, his father had said that he would transfer.

“Nothing possibly that (head) Coach (Mark) Gottfried can talk about can make me come back,” Pickett told the Decatur Daily, his hometown newspaper.

Tubbs, who was mysteriously benched this season, has informed the coaching staff that he will be changing schools for next season.

Rumor has it that Gottfried decided in the middle of the season to try and run off either Tubbs or Pickett to save a scholarship next season for Ron Steele.  Now, Gottfried may be without all three of them.

Counting those four players, as well as the three graduating seniors, the Tide may lose half of their team from last season.  If this holds true, Alabama would lose 41.3 points of the 75.3 they averaged last season.

The Tide’s incoming recruiting class is #11 according to rivals.com right now, with three players in the top 50 nationally coming to the Capstone next season. 

Sitting on the floor of the Georgia Dome on Friday night, watching my beloved Alabama Crimson Tide in overtime against a very despised Mississippi State team, a very odd occurrenceum—occurred.

At about three minutes left in overtime, a loud, thunder-like roar was heard inside the Dome.  The fans and band members around me all looked at each other like, "Did you just hear that," but we all dismissed it—until it happened again.

With about 2:25 left in overtime, the rumble began again, but this time it stayed for a good minute at least.

The second rumble was identified easily after hearing the first, so since it was a reoccurring sound, my attention went straight to the bleachers that are set up to create a basketball atmosphere, wondering if those fans were trying to make noise.

I soon recognized that those people weren't making noise, they were running for the exits, as were the Alabama dance team who was sitting right behind me.  As it turns out, a large beam spanning the length of the Georgia Dome floor was swaying back and forth along with a temporary LCD screen, both hanging over the temporary bleachers.

Then came the tornado.  The fiberglass roof of the Georgia Dome began to ripple like a parachute in an elementary P.E. class.  Nuts and Bolts began to fall from the ceiling of the Dome and the lights along the ceiling begin to shake.  At this point, I knew something was wrong.

I looked around me and one of the 'Bama fans who was on the floor with me was practically on the concourse by this time.  I later found out he was an Atlanta native and remembered a story in which three people were killed by the roof fiberglass a few years back. 

Then, two side panels of the dome were blown open, shooting insulation out like snow. 

The rumbling finally stopped and my attention returned to the court, which was without players, coaches and officials and 2:11 left on the clock.  An hour later, I would find out that Alabama was about to shoot free throws.

Jerry Mincey, a Georgia World Congress Center police officer, was quoted in this morning's Birmingham News about what he saw.

"I saw the bottom of what looked like a tornado just come up out of nowhere and rip across the top of the Dome," he said.  I have no reason to doubt this account because, as I have been told for 20 years, it sounds like a freight train, and I just wanted off the tracks.

This whole ordeal has led me to one conclusion: The SEC and Georgia Dome officials must be reprimanded for how this situation was handled.

For starters, there was no warning of the storm until it introduced itself to the roof of the Dome. 

According to CNN and Fox News articles, the warning was given out at 9:26 pm ET.  The storm hit the Dome at 9:45 pm ET.  That was 20 minutes in which no one inside the Dome was warned of the conditions outside the Dome and the potential danger.  Somewhere along the lines of communication, this should have been brought to an important someone's attention so they could take proper action to protect the fans.

Even after the storm hit, they had no update on the weather outside for 30 minutes.  Fans were encouraged to stay inside the Dome, which could have been without a roof by this time.

Mississippi State guard Ben Hansbrough said, "I thought it was either a tornado or a terrorist attack."  Either way, the SEC or Georgia Dome was not prepared for either.

Second, the SEC had to scramble for a back-up plan, not having one in place. 

Sure, maybe Philips Arena was the back up plan, but being so close to the Georgia Dome, a terrorist attack would more than likely affect both arenas.  Philips Arena received extensive damage to its exterior and pieces of the outside were found scattered around the area.  The Arena was hosting a Hawks-Clippers game at the time of the storm.

The SEC has finally settled on using Georgia Tech Alexander Memorial Coliseum arena on their campus, but it only holds 9,100 fans, not even half of how many tickets would be sold for a sell out at the Dome. 

Also, the winner of the Georgia-Kentucky game must play a second game tonight in order to finish the tournament in time for an automatic qualifier for the NCAA Tournament.

So as the SEC Men's Basketball Tournament moves to Tampa and the St. Pete Times Forum next year and other arenas in the three seasons after that, the SEC needs to prepare for a similar problem from now on, as well as the rest of college basketball.

 Someone may need to go ahead and get on the phone with South Florida and begin planning the back up plan for the Sun Dome for 2009.