EVENTS
 Sportsman of the Year
 Heisman Trophy
 Swimsuit 2001

CNNSI.com GROUP
 Sports Illustrated
 Life of Reilly
 Television
 SI Women
 SI for Kids
 Press Room
 TBS/TNT Sports
 CNN Languages

COMMERCE
 SI Customer Service
 SI Media Kits
 Get into College
 Sports Memorabilia
 TeamStore

Click here for more on this story

Posted: Sunday November 07, 1999 06:35 PM

Alabama

1998-99 record

17-15 overall, 6-10 SEC (NIT first round, lost to Wake Forest)

Coach

Mark Gottfried, 238-64 (11th season at Utah); 17-15 (1 year at Alabama); 85-39 overall

Projected starting lineup

G Schea Cotton, 6-5, So. Prep All-American who averaged 26 points per game in one season at junior college. Kind of player the Crimson Tide needs to keep up in this league. G Doc Martin, 6-3, Jr. Scored 20 in Tide's upset of Kentucky last year; as for this year, Gottfried said he's playing "exceptionally well." C Jeremy Hays, 6-10, Sr. Quietly one of the SEC's leaders in rebounding (8.4 per game) and scoring (12) last year, was married in off-season. F Rod Grizzard, 6-8, Sr. Listed as a guard, but height and talent make him option at the "3" spot; averaged 25 points, 7 boards, 5 assists as a high school senior. F Sam Haginas, 6-8, So. Started 10 games as a freshman and coach says he's improved greatly on offensive end.

Top guy off the bench

G Tarik London, 6-1 Jr. Averaged 20 minutes per game last year, had 87 assists against 60 turnovers.

Key Newcomer

Cotton Gottfried first met California native while recruiting older brother James for UCLA.

Key Games

at Louisville (Nov. 11). First real test for Tide. vs. Arizona (Dec. 30 in Bank One Fiesta Bowl Classic). This game hinges on both teams winning (or losing) first-round matchups. at Auburn (Feb. 2). Tide fell to archrival by combined score of 195-122 in two games last year.

Outlook

Alabama could unseat an inexperienced Arkansas team and jump to second place in the West or could fall behind Mississippi State to fourth. But that's about as much wiggle room as they have. They aren't talented enough to catch Auburn and they're too talented to fall into the mire with Ole Miss and LSU. Cotton, the sophomore transfer, will be a force in the SEC. The only question is how soon. He'll immediately help Alabama addresss its most pressing need -- offensive production. The Crimson Tide averaged just 67 points per game, 10th in the SEC, last season. Gottfried expects that to change. If Cotton and fellow freshman Grizzard can make enough of an impact, then a four-year NCAA Tournament drought could end.

Crimson Tide's 1999-00 schedule

 

Related information
Multimedia
Visit Multimedia Central for the latest audio and video
Search our site	Watch CNN/SI 24 hours a day
	Sports Illustrated and CNN have combined to form a 24 hour sports news and information channel. To receive CNN/SI at your home call your cable operator or DirecTV.

Copyright © 2000 CNN/SI An AOL Time Warner Company. All Rights Reserved. Terms under which this service is provided to you. Read our privacy guidelines.