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Alabama returns to old style
NEW YORK (AP) -- Rick Moody wants Alabama to run, shoot and pressure its way to the NCAA tournament -- just like in the old days. The Crimson Tide have had to settle for playing in the Women's NIT the past two seasons. They finished 19-11 last season, but were just 5-9 in Southeastern Conference play for the second straight year. "I just want to return to Alabama basketball," Moody said. "I want to extend the court defensively, push the ball on offense, shoot lots of 3s and establish an aggressive mentality on both sides of the floor. "That's the style I like coaching and the style I feel like I coach best." With nine players returning, including seven who have started games, Moody expects the new style to break that two-year NCAA tournament drought. "I think we're going to be hanging around at the end, I really believe that," the 13th-year head coach said. "I expect us to be in postseason play, and I don't mean the NIT. I'll be incredibly disappointed if we don't return to the NCAA tournament." Shondra Johnson is one reason for that. The 5-foot-9 guard has been a second-team All-SEC performer the past two seasons. She averaged 13.4 points and 5.1 assists per game last year and says she is fully recovered from offseason shoulder surgery. Center LaNisha Cartwell and forward Shun Hunter also return, along with backup Beth Vice, the team's leading 3-point shooter. Alabama closed last season with five straight losses, including blowouts to Georgia (72-37) and Florida (84-60) and first-round exits from both the SEC and NIT tournaments. Johnson expects better this season. "These last two years were a trial," she said. "We will overcome that if we just believe we can. This year is our year. We're much better than 19 wins." To prove it they'll need production from some of the Tide's six newcomers, which include Alabama's Miss Basketball Donyel Wheeler and LSU transfer Jamilah Johns . Wheeler is a 5-3 guard who was a two-time all-state player at Birmingham's Huffman High School. The 6-4 Johns played in 52 games as a reserve center for the Tigers but sat out last season to meet NCAA transfer requirements. "We are definitely blessed with some experience on the inside," Moody said. "It's just a great blend on our basketball team."
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