Poll: The Future of Alabama Basketball

[Just Win]

I'll take any coach who will teach our players that you must shoot the ball and score to win. Simply trying to squeeze in 2000 passes around the perimeter each game does not cut it. Basketball is a very simple game, yet we tend to make it look like herding cats.

 

[CrimsonForce]

This goes back to the point a few of us have made - the team isn't playing the style of basketball CAG promised. We aren't running that "94 feet of basketball" style he coached at VCU and ran for the first two to three seasons on campus.

I remember using depth as an excuse for the team not running that style during the 2012-2013 and 2013-2014 seasons. There's plenty of depth on the team now though.


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I agree with you that he changed the style of basketball from what he did at VCU but the core issue, IMO, is that he doesn't or can't develop players and doesn't cater the gameplan to the strengths of the team. To me, those are staples of what any good coach can do. When you have Jamychal Green, Tony Mitchell, and Trevor Releford, and a decent supporting cast, you should do better than a first round tournament loss. You aren't getting much better talent than that at Bama at one time. Those are 3 professional basketball players. After that season I could see the writing on the wall..

 

[JDCrimson]

Yesterday was the anniversary that Pete Maravich dropped 69 on Alabama in a 2pt loss in 1970. His college days were a little before my time while I do remember him with the Jazz. He was not the same then. But anyway, I went back watched some of the highlights of that game with Bama and some of his other college games, I was surprised at how fast the game was played back then even without a shot clock. The players are much much stronger now than then but the fundamental ball movement and orchestrated offense and really good shooting was really refreshing to see. Honestly, no one plays basketball like that anymore. When was the last time you saw a bank jump shot? And when you compare the two I cant see where people say today's current version is more desirable to watch than during that time. I honestly believe some of those 70s teams would literally destroy most of the SEC teams this year.

 

[bama579]

Meant to put this here . . . not on game thread.

]Quote Originally Posted by Silverback
Unwatchable is all I can say. Yet somehow I will rationalize watching every game. I wish I were able to look away.



This post made me think of posting something snarky like " . . so watching our basketball team is like watching a train wreck, minus the excitement . . "

Then I remembered that I didn't even set a dvr [work], and it hit me hard . . . Watching this team IS sort of like watching a train wreck. There is lots of commotion then something bad happens at the end. It hurts to say that, folks. When I watch, I see lots of effort from the players and feel bad for them that they are so rarely enjoying a win for their efforts. I can't figure out if they simply are not good enough to be successful against most SEC teams, are a bad match for a coaches' system, are badly prepared for games, or some combination of all the preceding.

One thing that is more clear to me is that $$ will soon become a major factor in any desision regarding Grant. If we are indeed paying him 2 mil plus assistant salaries + operating expenses for crowds of 3k to 4k at home games, the math will not work for long. Football and mens hoops must support the other sports and at current crowd sizes it won't work for long even with the increased television dollars.

Grant seemed like such a solid get when he was hired. Sort of scary to think of hiring another coach. Unfortunately - barring some borderline miracle turnaround - signs increasingly point to that direction.

Reallly hate that it may come to that, but for all the educational mission points, it IS a business.

 

[WylieTexasTider]

Watching the 2004 BAMA-Miss St game..... Amazing to see how loud and rocking Coleman can be when the product is worth a flip! Pettway, Winston, Shelton, Davis, Davidson.... Forgot how good that team was..... Would love to see it packed and loud again!

 

[BamaDynasty]

I thin Bill Battle is simply treading water until a new hotshot, young AD is hired. I just can't see him making major personnel moves of any kind for the next year or two before he retires (for a second time in his career) and moves back to ATL to be near his kids and grandkids. He's kept things going and got the new baseball stadium approved. That will be his legacy.

I've been the ultimate optimist regarding CAG but that FLA game was where he lost me. NIT is a certainty at this point.

 

[cglaze4411]

Not that I put a lot of stock into hear say, but Finebaum said on JOX this morning that there have already been rumors of rumbling behind the scene for a replacement. Again I don't put a lot of stock into it.


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[RTR91]

Fantastic news...

‏@CecilHurt Alabama injury update: Tarrant still out for MSU game tomorrow. Obasohan (hand), Kessens (ankle) doubtful.

 

[deliveryman35]

All I'll say is this--when you're six yrs into your tenure, you are responsible for the state and condition of the program.

 

[gman4tide]

I thin Bill Battle is simply treading water until a new hotshot, young AD is hired. I just can't see him making major personnel moves of any kind for the next year or two before he retires (for a second time in his career) and moves back to ATL to be near his kids and grandkids. He's kept things going and got the new baseball stadium approved. That will be his legacy.

I've been the ultimate optimist regarding CAG but that FLA game was where he lost me. NIT is a certainty at this point.

Then he should retire now. I'm not being mean hearted or anything...i understand retiring to be near grandkids and all. BUT, he's being paid to make tough decisions...not to ride into the sunset.

 

[bamamick]

I agree. Is there some reason Bill Battle HAS to be the AD here that I don't know about? Do we not have to ability to choose another person to take this over and get us the heck out of this 'transitionary' period?

Of course, the fact that we haven't done so already does mean that if he is the one making the decision CAG will most likely be back next season, and the downward spiral of public support will continue to it's inevitable ending. Over the past three seasons we have won 1/3 of our SEC games. How does that earn you another year? I have always been a huge supporter of Anthony Grant, to the point where people are now making ugly remarks about me, but it's time for it to end.

rtr

 

[Bama Reb]

Then he should retire now. I'm not being mean hearted or anything...i understand retiring to be near grandkids and all. BUT, he's being paid to make tough decisions...not to ride into the sunset.

I'm certainly not trying to turn this into a "Fire xxx xxx" thread, but I tend to agree. When you're Athletic Director, it's your responsibility to do what's best for the entire athletic department, and that includes for all sports under that umbrella. If that includes replacing a coach, then that's what you do. If you find yourself in a position of not being able to do that, regardless of the reason, then it's time to "turn the page" and move on so that you can then be replaced.
It's clear that CAG either doesn't know enough or doesn't care enough to push the basketball program to the heights that we all know it is capable of reaching. He's a great guy, personally. He's just not a very good game coach.
It's time the AD recognizes that and replaces him, and the sooner the better. If CBB can't do that, then maybe he should hang it up so that the next occupant of his office can and will do what's in the best interest of the basketball program and the school as a whole.

 

[TitleWave]

Fantastic news...

‏@CecilHurt Alabama injury update: Tarrant still out for MSU game tomorrow. Obasohan (hand), Kessens (ankle) doubtful.

Hmm, maybe it should read

@Ghost of John Wooden. Alabama injury update: Tarrant still out for MSU game tomorrow. Obasohan (hand), Kessens (ankle) doubtful. Grant (coaching acumen) extraordinarily doubtful.

 

[BamaMoon]

I'll take any coach who will teach our players that you must shoot the ball and score to win. Simply trying to squeeze in 2000 passes around the perimeter each game does not cut it. Basketball is a very simple game, yet we tend to make it look like herding cats.

Said the same thing several times. Basketball is about outscoring the other team. It's about putting the round ball in the round hoop.

My biggest gripe of Grant is he gets good guys (typically), good althletes, good students, but when have we seen in pure shooter and prolific scorer at Bama under CAG???

 

[ptw1961]

I know these guys are hurt but something tells me they may not be in a hurry to come back and play with the way things are going. Many things have gone wrong during Grant's tenure in Tuscaloosa- add this to the list. Losses to State here and then at Auburn and things need to get interesting. Time to cut the losses and move on.

Hmm, maybe it should read

 

[ptw1961]

Grant has completely lost the fan base. If this season continues to spiral downward (as I believe it will) bringing him back will only makes things worse- and they can get worse from the fan base perspective. Somebody on up the ladder needs to make the tough call. The time has come. Our fans deserve better than what we are getting.

 

[BamaMoon]

I know these guys are hurt but something tells me they may not be in a hurry to come back and play with the way things are going. Many things have gone wrong during Grant's tenure in Tuscaloosa- add this to the list. Losses to State here and then at Auburn and things need to get interesting. Time to cut the losses and move on.

I'm afraid Auburn cleans our clock in Auburn. We barely beat them in T-town. It could be the final nail....

 

[Bama Reb]

I'm afraid Auburn cleans our clock in Auburn. We barely beat them in T-town. It could be the final nail....

I think it could be sooner than that. If we find a way to lose to a (very bad) MSU team tomorrow night, that could be the final nail.

 

[Just Win]

Lifelong Bama fan, Bama grad, 2 daughters now at Bama - love Alabama athletics. Having said all that, i'm at the point that if it was announced later today that we're simply getting rid of Men's Basketball at Alabama, it would feel sort of like a relief. I have the sickness that i must watch every game, yet you almost go into each game this year knowing that we'll just hang around 8 to 10 down most of the game and never show any sense of urgency to shoot ourselves back into the game. We just bring the ball down the court and pass it around 20 times like we're ahead by 20 points and trying to kill clock. And we show so little inspiration, we never seem to get a break from the zebras. I think the refs just give the breaks to the team who look like they give a crap. It's become ridiculous to watch.

 

[imauafan]

Lifelong Bama fan, Bama grad, 2 daughters now at Bama - love Alabama athletics. Having said all that, i'm at the point that if it was announced later today that we're simply getting rid of Men's Basketball at Alabama, it would feel sort of like a relief. I have the sickness that i must watch every game, yet you almost go into each game this year knowing that we'll just hang around 8 to 10 down most of the game and never show any sense of urgency to shoot ourselves back into the game. We just bring the ball down the court and pass it around 20 times like we're ahead by 20 points and trying to kill clock. And we show so little inspiration, we never seem to get a break from the zebras. I think the refs just give the breaks to the team who look like they give a crap. It's become ridiculous to watch.

I actually came to a similar conclusion in the Auburn game a couple of weeks ago. Every close call (and some that should have been no-calls) were going AU's way. And we were the home team. Not until Tarrant was ejected for the (supposed) flagrant foul did the coaches and players get fired up and calls started going our way. In fact there were some bad calls that then went our way. My conclusion was that Pearl (and other coaches) that work the officials from the beginning get the close calls from the refs. It was obvious the refs had no respect for Grant, but they did for Pearl.