TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — JaMychal Green knows he has to stay on the floor and out of trouble for the No. 19 University of Alabama men’s basketball team.
Green’s the only experienced frontcourt player and the biggest star for a Crimson Tide team that opens the season Friday night against North Florida aiming to end an NCAA tournament drought.
The All-Southeastern Conference forward led the Tide in scoring and rebounding after getting off to a rocky start last season with a three-game suspension for conduct detrimental to the team. Now, Green says he’s got a little more muscle and a lot more maturity. Alabama is counting on both qualities.
Coach Anthony Grant suspended his star for three games in the aftermath of an 0-for-3 trip to the Paradise Jam that left the team reeling and Green frustrated. Neither has said publicly exactly what happened.
“It was just a lot of frustration built up from the Virgin Islands and we were picked to win and went 0-3,” said Green, who was also suspended for one game late in his sophomore season. “We were just going through a lot of adversity and I just couldn’t control my temper. But I became a better person out of it.
“I felt like once I got back from the suspension, that’s when the season turned around for the team and we started to make a name for ourselves.”
As it turns out, that was too late. The early nonconference defeats helped cost Green and his teammates a chance to play in the NCAA tournament for the first time since 2006.
Green also fouled out of five games, putting him in a three-way tie for third-most in the SEC with Vanderbilt’s Festus Ezeli and Mississippi State’s Kodi Augustus.
Tide coach Anthony Grant sees signs that Green has grown up — and into a bonafide star.
“I think JaMychal is one of the elite guys, not only in the SEC but in the country,” Grant said. “I’m very excited to have him back as a senior, not only because of the type of talent he brings to the team but his leadership.
“The biggest thing about JaMychal that we’ve talked about all along is that maturity. When you become a senior, there’s a different sense of urgency, a different understanding that you have.”
The 6-foot-9, 225-pounder comes into this season about 10 pounds heavier than his playing weight as a junior after a summer representing the United States in the World University Games. He returned for his senior season with high hopes for the team, instead of turning pro.
“Coming back this year was a good decision for me just because of the talent we had coming back and coming in,” Green said.
It was certainly good news for the Tide.
Center Chris Hines, a defensive presence and solid rebounder, is gone. That leaves Green, 7-foot-1, 250-pound sophomore Carl Engstrom and 6-8 freshman Nick Jacobs handling most of the duties around the basket.
Engstrom averaged 5.3 minutes in 21 games last season, producing 25 rebounds but just nine points.
“I feel like he could be a big help to the team with his size and his presence down low,” Green said. “He became a better scorer, more aggressive.”
And Jacobs? “He’s very talented. I think he can be a great frontcourt player because he can score in multiple ways in the post.”
The main man, though, is Green. The three-year starter averaged 15.5 points and 7.5 rebounds last season to lead Alabama to the NIT championship game.
Alabama point guard Trevor Releford said he’s seen a change in Green’s work habits.
“You could tell he wants to make that next step,” Releford said. “He’s staying after practice, doing extra work, trying to get there. You can definitely tell it’s a different JaMychal Green.”
Green led Alabama with 21 points in Monday night’s exhibition win over Alabama-Huntsville and even made one 3-pointer — the same number he attempted and hit last season.
Small forward Tony Mitchell said Green returned to the team for preseason practice determined to finish his college career on a high note.
“He’s really focusing on helping his team and also helping himself,” Mitchell said. “It’s a good sign. He wants to go out on top instead of going out on bottom.
“His game got a whole lot better. He’s starting to pick and choose his spots better. His shot has gotten dramatically better.”
Green said he’s also fitter going into this season and expects to average 30-plus minutes a game, which means staying out of foul trouble.
“I think it’s going to be important for me to be out there with my team and lead them,” he said.
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