Hendrix's return needed for Tide against Rebels

TUSCALOOSA | The University of Alabama basketball team’s chances against Ole Miss tonight may hinge on Richard Hendrix doing two things: recuperating and rebounding.

Hendrix appears to be recovered from the bout with illness that kept him out of last Saturday’s Alabama-Kentucky game. He is expected to play in tonight’s 7 p.m. Southeastern Conference game at Coleman Coliseum.

The Crimson Tide will need his rebounding prowess — and that of his teammates — against Ole Miss.

Following a 66-56 victory over Presbyterian College on Monday night, the Rebels lead the SEC in total rebounds, offensive rebounds and rebounding margin.

That is the first half of the equation for the Rebels, who like to turn defensive rebounds into fast break opportunities.

“Ole Miss will push the ball in the break every chance they get,” Gottfried said. “(Freshman guard Chris) Warren has tremendous speed. I like (Eniel) Polynice in the break on the wing. They run and they are able to run because around the basket they are a great rebounding team. It is all those things combined.”

Gottfried isn’t the only coach who has a high opinion of the Rebels’ running ways.

“They’re the best fast break team I’ve ever seen with Warren and Polynice out there,” Presbyterian coach Gregg Nibert said after the Blue Hose lost to Ole Miss on Monday night.

Dwayne Curtis, the burly 6-foot09 center who started his college career at Auburn, leads the Rebels in rebounding at 9.2 rebounds per game. Kenny Williams, a 6-foot-8, 245-pound forward adds another 7.2 rebounds per game

Hendrix, who said after Monday’s practice that he was “feeling better” worked out with the team again on Tuesday.

“At the end of yesterday’s practice, he was OK,” Gottfried said. “He felt a little weak. Other than maybe not being as strong as we would like, I think he felt all right. Obviously, we expect him to play. Whether he will be 100 percent or not, we won’t know until tomorrow.”

Hendrix is the No. 3 scorer in the SEC (19.0 ppg) and leads the league in rebounding (10.3 rebounds per game.)

Tide junior center Yamene Coleman, who is expected to see some additional playing time after a 10-point game at Kentucky, said he is also aware of the importance of rebounding in tonight’s contest.

“I remember the game in Oxford last year,” Coleman said. “They really hurt us with some offensive rebounds. That’s pretty much true in every game, though. If you don’t rebound, you are probably going to lose.”

Rebounding also serves another important purpose for the Crimson Tide, involving struggling junior guard Alonzo Gee more prominently in the offense.

Gee has made just five of 27 shots from the floor in Alabama’s last two games, and has just eight total rebounds.

“When he is attacking the basket, running the floor and getting the ball on the offensive boards, he is at his best,” Gottfried said. “The last couple of games, he hasn’t had that. You take him and look at the shots he’s taking, but he’s one of those guys that if we can get him focused in on the right things, he will be all right.”

Both teams are currently below .400 in SEC play. The Crimson Tide is 2-7 in the SEC, its worst start since 1999. Ole Miss is 3-5 and fighting to get back to the .500 mark in the SEC. Ole Miss started the season 11-0 against non-conference competition and is currently No. 31 in the national RPI ratings under second-year coach Andy Kennedy.

“They had a great start,” Gottfried said. “But you jump into the SEC and we study each other so much, we know each other so well. Every game is decided by a play or two and they’ve had a couple of those that didn’t go their way, like we have.”

Despite its current struggles, Gottfried said he remains upbeat about his team.

“There is no other way to be other than positive,’ he said. “Our guys have done a lot of things very well. The areas where we haven’t done as well, we point those out, we teach and coach. I don’t think we are that far off. If you look at every game we’ve played, we’ve had a chance to win.

“When you look at our team, we’re good enough to beat everybody. I want them to play extremely hard and to keep believing they can win. We’ve got a lot of opportunities left in the regular season, then the SEC Tournament and our guys are excited about that.”

Tide-bits

Assistant coach Kobie Baker remained hospitalized in good condition Tuesday at Tuscaloosa’s DCH Regional Medical Center after an automobile accident Monday night. The Tuscaloosa native was involved in a collision with a log truck Monday evening and was admitted to DCH with a concussion and bruises but no broken bones. He is expected to make a full recovery but was being kept overnight Tuesday night while he recovers. He is expected to be released today.

Reach Cecil Hurt at cecil.hurt@tuscaloosanews.com or at 205-722-0229.