ESPN.com - No. 11: Alabama

ESPN.com: ESPNMagazine

Tuesday, November 12, 2002
No. 11: Alabama

By By Ryan Hockensmith

Last Season: 278, NCAA Second Round


	Look for plenty of traffic around Dudley.

Bama players have taken their favorite prank to the big screen. "Hey, there's Erwin Dudley!" one of them yells when they go to the movies. Sure enough, rubbernecking fans swamp the star forward. And that's a good thing, because it means that hoops is back in Bama, where Dudley (15.2 ppg, 8.9 rpg) and 78% of the offense return. Mark Gottfried plans to run the attack through his 6'8", 260-pound senior pivot, knowing that Dudley will draw double-teams galore. Expect a lot of kickouts to soph PG Maurice Williams (10.4 ppg, 4.5 apg) and senior SG Terrance Meade (8.4 ppg). An improved shot makes Williams, the SEC's Freshman of the Year, a threat to extend the D. And you know what that means: "We'll find Erwin," Gottfried promises. So will the fans, no doubt.

One Step Ahead: What's the power of 1? Bama hadn't been to the Dance since 1995. Then Williams shows up, settles down the offense (56 fewer turnovers than the year before) and the Tide takes the SEC West. Dudley's finally getting his due because Mo puts a winning face on the program. And that goes a long way in recruiting.

One Step Behind: The cupcake-gorging Tide scheduled tougher last season, but didn't play tough when it counted most (44 SEC road mark; Tourney flameout). This season? They've got Oklahoma in New York City (Nov. 14) and Ohio State in Springfield, Mass. (Nov. 29), but there's just one hostile road game out of conference: Utah, Dec. 30.

2002-2003 NCAA PREVIEW
MEN
1. Arizona Wildcats	9. Georgia Bulldogs
2. Kansas Jayhawks	10. UCLA Bruins
3. Oklahoma Sooners	11. Alabama Crimson Tide
4. Pittsburgh Panthers	12. Kentucky Wildcats
5. Florida Gators	13. Virginia Cavaliers
6. Texas Longhorns	14. Michigan State Spartans
7. Duke Blue Devils	15. Xavier Musketeers
8. UConn Huskies	16. Indiana Hoosiers

This article will appear in the November 25 issue of ESPN The Magazine.