Is this what we are aspiring to?

[porkchop]

Since I eluded to it in another thread let me come out and just ask the question to everyone.

Are you content with the direction the basketball program is going? Why or why not?

Any thoughts?

------------------
"The Tide is the Grinch that stole our team's self-worth"

TheTushHog


Come visit us at Tide-Talk.com/

 

[Pluck and Grit]

Well Chop, why don't you head on down to Mal's office and tell him that if he doesn't fire CMG, you're going to inundate Tidefans with posts on the subject. Maybe he'll listen to ya. Did somebody steal porkchop's password? Just doesn't seem like the same porkchop I used to know.
Of course nobody aspires to be 17-10, 7-9. Does this mean people should lose their jobs everytime there's a disappointment? Should Coach Bryant have been fired after the 1970 season, since 6-5-1 wasn't what we aspired to? Granted, CMG doesn't deserve the same consideration that Bryant did, but he deserves more than you're giving him.

 

[CajunCrimson]

First of all, I loved Coach Bryant as much as anyone.....and I understand the point you were trying to make with your post.

However, why doesn't CMG deserve the same consideration. Didn't Mama call him home too? When you look at the strictness of recruiting now.....the gotta win fast mentality of the 21st century, and the fact that David Hobbs managed to undo 20 years of success in about his 3rd season...our quality of recruits dried up, and the "want to" was way gone.....we had resorted to James Robinson style basketball (no slighting Hollywood, just making a point).

Why can't we give CMG the same consideration. He's made steady progress (until this season).......but, IF we'd have had Kennedy and Lucky from Day 1.....which we were supposed to have had......things would have turned out much different....

We'd have probably lost to Oklahoma and then go 12-4 in conference.......

Let's give him the same consideration that Bear got.....he's certainly gotten us a #1 ranking, and that's something that Wimp or CM couldn't do......I'm proud of him

I think he's a great talent, that's learning his trade. He made some mistakes this year, but since all of us know just enough about basketball to be a critic, and not enough to play or coach on the college level....let's trust that this man, who's played College Ball, Coached on a NCAA Championship Team, tutored with John Wooden (who didn't win anything his first TWELVE years), and has taken us from ruins to rewards, very quickly.

I'm happy with where our program is. I'm not happen with the season, totally. But, if we get into the Big Dance, does it really matter if it's a 2 seed (which helped us very little last year) or a 10 seed? I'm a big fan of CMG, and he has my devotion until he does something to disrespect our program.

until then......he DOES get the same consideration from me that Bear would have gotten his first few years too...

 

[porkchop]

Guys I am only asking a question. I wasn't trying to bait anyone with this. I was just curious as to everyone's opinion.

If you don't want to answer that is fine but I was not baiting you.

Guys, I am not calling for Mark's head, I'm just saying that there are some things here that really bother me.
Some of the issues that were brought up several years ago are still issues. The road play is one that comes to mind. Why can't we win on the road? After this long we're still dealing with not being able to win on the road.
The offense is stagnant, or atleast looks that way. That is not a new issue either. Why after all this time are still dealing with it? I mean, I would think that even the most avid supporter would agree that the team looks like it's playing street ball on offense with no movement and no direction.

I see the team struggle in some areas and it just seems like the problems could have been fixed long ago yet they're still issues. Just my opinion.

What do you guys think? I'm not asking you to agree with me, I'm curious to know your veiws and why you feel like you do.



------------------
"The Tide is the Grinch that stole our team's self-worth"

TheTushHog


Come visit us at Tide-Talk.com/

 

[Pluck and Grit]

Cajun, CMG doesn't deserve Bryant-type consideration because he hasn't earned it. Bryant had brought home 3 NC's and got robbed of a 4th prior to those late 60s doldrums.
I completely agree that things would have gone much better if Kennedy and Lucky had been allowed to play from day 1. IMO we'd have 21-22 wins right now, and speculation would be what our tourney seed would be and not whether or not we could get in.

 

[porkchop]

The Bryant/Gotfried comparison is a little like mixing apples with oranges but only because Coach Bryant was here for so long and succesful. Mark is still a relatve newcomer.

Let me re-iderate what I was saying earlier;

I am happy that Coach Mark is bringing in quality talent and you can't argue with the wins he's put up, but it's the other issues that cause me concerne. The underlying issues like the losses not the wins. The really bad losses (like the blow out road losses every year) and the team's focus at times.

Am I calling for his head? No.

Can he succeed and coach here for the next 20 years? I hope so.

Are there some things that need to change? It's my opinion that some things do.

------------------
"The Tide is the Grinch that stole our team's self-worth"

TheTushHog


Come visit us at Tide-Talk.com/

 

[crimsonblake]

Porkchop..this is the SEC. You are going to have dissapointing season. Look at last year. Kentucky was calling for the head of Tubby Smith..now they are ready to build a statue of the guy.

 

[TruCrimson]

Crimsonblake..not only the SEC, NCAA B'Ball period. With these guys leaving for the NBA early every year & assistants leaving getting other jobs, & scholly reductions which has allowed smaller schools become so competitive, but not only in playing but in recruiting also, & the list goes on & on. Look at Zona a few years ago they just about lost their entire roster & they were not that great, look at Tom Izzo @ Mich St now, & take teams like Michigan & Georgetown who were B'Ball super powers at one time, & I guess you could throw the B'Ball super nation, the cream of the crop, UNC, look at their program right now. It really is hard.

------------------
This is Erwin Dudley's world...We just live in it!!

!!!ROLL TIDE ROLL!!!

 

[mannish]

I dunno what will happen next year still hoping for good things this year. I do wonder who in the world will step in to Dudleys spot.

 

[PsychoJoe]

I'm a big fan of CMG, but there are things that bother me about this year. Like the apparent lack of mental toughness on the road. Getting manhandled at Ole Miss bothered me. It is one thing for Kentucky to shove you around, quite another for Ole Miss.

Obviously the chemistry of the team changed when Winston came aboard, and it took a long time for things to get straightened out. I'm not sure that throwing him in to a lot of PT right away was good for the team, but then we pay Mark a lot of money to make that kind of decision, and hindsight is fifty fifty, to quote Pat Dye. Kenny Walker has had a disappointing senior year. Ernest Shelton, Anton Pettway and Terrence Meade had long mid season scoring slumps. It took us most of the season to figure out how to play offense without Rod. Only the last one is in Coach Gottfried's control. I must confess disappointment that neither of our freshmen big men seemed to develop as the year went along. I was hoping that one of them woul improve to the point that ED could get meaningful bench minutes, or Walker would be goaded into a higher level of play.

Criticisms aside, it is time to cinch up and go with what we have. The team showed signs of jelling in the second part of the SEC season. And at least from here on, there will be no more road games, only neutral courts.

 

[porkchop]

I'm concerned about who is going to replace Dudley too. All of our other inside players are pretty green. Davis and Bias got some playing time early on but then it tailed off.

We might be looking at a hole in the middle next season. Atleast till some of the younger guys get more experience and confidence.

------------------
"The Tide is the Grinch that stole our team's self-worth"

TheTushHog


Come visit us at Tide-Talk.com/

 

[BamaNFla]

Tru--As usual, I agree with nearly all that you say, but this time I think you must be thinking of someone else when you mention Arizona. They've had 18 straight appearances in the NCAA, 15 straight 20 win seasons, the same coach for 20 years, have won their conference eight times under him, and he's been conference coach of the year no less frequently than once every four years. Maybe you were thinking of UCLA, whose fortunes have waxed and waned regularly since Coach Wooden.

http://arizonaathletics.ocsn.com/sports/m-baskbl/mtt/olson_lute00.html

 

[TideRoller]

porkchop,
I assume you are referring to Davis and Brock. I think that Brock has a much better shot of contributing to this team than Davis. Davis' recent attitude and lack of support for his teammates concerns me. Clearly, someone or several people will have to step up next year to lessen the load on Mo, Ken, Pett, etc.

 

[PsychoJoe]

As far as next year's post players, I really think that Brock's future is as a three, maybe an occaisional 4. Recruit JeMareo Davidson out of Marietta would be the favorite, IMO, to start at center next year, and I'm not looking forward to battling SEC big men with a bunch of skinny freshmen and sophoores. Rambo seems best as a role player coming off the bench. He is only 6'7", doesn't contribute much on offense, and fouls a lot. It would be huge (pun intended) to sign James Lang, though that would require a decision on which of our returning players would stay on scholarship.