Chris Stewart Sports

7:15 p.m. CST - Thoroughly disgusting. 

8:30 a.m. CST - More losses: one on a staff... one on the hardwood... and one on the roster? 

Computer issues and other business have prevented me from posting this week. I apologize, and greatly appreciate your patience as you continue to visit the site.

Running through a few notes on a Saturday morning here in Auburn...

Lance Thompson's departure from the Alabama Football staff for Knoxville is disappointing, but far from devastating - as many are acting. There is no question he did a phenomenal job on the recruiting trail, and by all accounts is a capable on-the-field assistant, as well. Obviously, three weeks before National Signing Day is not a good time to lose an assistant that is so heavily involved with some of the Tide's highest-profile recruits.

However, I've been checking the newswires. And since I haven't read anything about Nick Saban leaving, I'm not overly concerned.

I know assistant coaches are vitally important. However, I keep remembering that while many changes have taken place on Saban's staffs over the years, the winning hasn't stopped - or even slowed down.

As long as that guy is in charge, Alabama Football will continue to thrive.  

Roundball news...

I've done several interviews since Alabama's trip to Starkville Wednesday night. It was another tough road loss for the Crimson Tide, and places even more of a premium on this afternoon's game at Auburn.

I thought the Crimson Tide played another good game in terms of effort, and did a pretty decent job of execution. Senario Hillman and Alonzo Gee didn't put up the numbers they have been, but they still made contributions on that end.

Mikhail Torrence was spectacular, and many wonder why we haven't seen him much before now. Frankly, he's been either really good or he's really struggled. This team had settled into a rotation that had won five in a row and was playing well.

Now, without Ron Steele for an indefinite period of time the question becomes can Torrence and Brandon Hollinger play at a high level in back-to-back games? At Mississippi State, the pair combined for 27 points, four assists and two turnovers.

Speaking of Steele, there were all sorts of rumors this week that Ron had left the team. His father told Birmingham media outlets that is not the case at all.

Today's game is huge for the Crimson Tide. Alabama hasn't won a road conference game since January 30, 2007 at LSU. They need to experience a win, against an arch-rival, without Ron Steele. No one knows when his heel injury (plantar fasciitis) will allow him to return, and there is no time to wait. The players that are available have to go play.

And they need to win.

Today.

I'll talk to you on the radio. Airtime on the Crimson Tide Sports Network begins at 12:30, with tipoff set for 1.

Roll Tide!!!