Poll: Where does Mark Sears rank in Bama Basketball Lore?

[Slowpoke Catracho]

I gave him top 5 because of his shooting ability and leadership.

 

[Cruiser]

If he averages 20+ in the Final Four and we cut down the nets Monday night; I may have to change my vote.

 

[CB4]

I gave him top 5 because of his shooting ability and leadership.

I need to ponder it for a while. Certainly top 10 based on his performance the past two years in addition to the tournament success this year. But we have had so many great ones over my 50+ years of watching Bama basketball it gets to the point of splitting hairs in some cases.

 

[TexasBama]

Reggie King, Derrick McKey, and Herb Jones would be 3 of the top 5.

 

[Slowpoke Catracho]

I need to ponder it for a while. Certainly top 10 based on his performance the past two years in addition to the tournament success this year. But we have had so many great ones over my 50+ years of watching Bama basketball it gets to the point of splitting hairs in some cases.

I just don't remember anyone that can shoot like he can, score and pass. He has developed in a complete package. He just lacks on Defense.

 

[CajunCrimson]

I just don't remember anyone that can shoot like he can, score and pass. He has developed in a complete package. He just lacks on Defense.

If you took the best of Shackleford and the best of Quinnerly, you get Sears.

 

[Slowpoke Catracho]

I mean, I thought Ennis Whatley was extra special, but Sears takes the cake.

 

[Cruiser]

Reggie King, Derrick McKey, and Herb Jones would be 3 of the top 5.

Lot of good players. Leon Douglas, T.R. Dunn, Gerald Wallace, Antonio McDyess, Richard Hendrix, Sprewell, etc.

 

[CB4]

That is just it. No question Sears is one of the top 2-3 back court guys. Possibly even the best.
But defense and rebounding is also part of it. Leon Douglas, T.R. Dunn, Mule King, Robert Horry, Antonio McDyess, Derrick McKey, among those in the front court. Then Sprewell, Mo Williams, Hollywood Robinson, Ennis Whatley, Colin Sexton and then guys didn’t have “flash” but I take on a team in a minute based on guts like Rah Rah Scott, Terry Coner, and Michael Ansley.
And that isn’t even considering guys like Wendell Hudson, Charles Cleveland, Ray Odums, Eddie Phillips, Buck Johnson, Herb Jones among others.

Like I said Sears is easily Top 10. But three of my top five would be T.R. Dunn, Robert Horry, and Mule King. The other two spots you could make a case for just about any of the others

 

[Slowpoke Catracho]

I give him points for helping get us to our first Final Four. I think he can turn it on and off when he wants.

 

[BAMAVILLE]

He's the best transfer we've had to date ... kinda of hard to say where he falls best of all time just yet. I would give him top ten consideration though.

 

[CrimsonTitles]

I've got him top 5 right now, but his story isn't over. If he continues balling and we cut down the nets, then he might just take the GOAT spot. If he stays another year, and does all this again, then there's a good chance he'll end up in the GOAT spot before he's finished.

 

[tusks_n_raider]

He’s easily Top 5 as of right now.

I’d also say he’s had the Best Career so far..

#1 Scoring Season
Top 5 PPG for Career
Double SEC Crown
Back to Back Sweet 16’s
Eight 8
Final Four
MVP of the West Region in NCAAT
All-American

If we somehow beat UConn and then win the NC w/ him playing a pivotal role… which he would have to..

Then go ahead and GOAT him.

No other player will have done as much for Bama Basketball.

 

[BamaMoon]

I think he needs to return next year to use his 6th year to help me make up my mind!

 

[22Musso22]

Top 5, but he has had the best (1) season ever by any Crimson Tide player of all time.

1. Leon Douglas
2. Reggie King
3. Collin Sexton
4. Robert Horry
5. Mark Sears

 

[CB4]

I think it is tremendously hard to compare players across the years. I look at guys like Wendell Hudson and Charles Cleveland from the C.M. Newton teams of the early to mid 1970’s and wonder how their play would translate to today’s game with a shot clock, three point line and more transition offense? Wendell Hudson was a freak. The guy could jump out of the gym and was probably one of the best, if not the best, rebounding guards in the history of Alabama basketball. Cleveland, like many of the Bama shooters today, was a threat to bury a 30 foot jumper from anywhere on the court, albeit only counting for two in those days.Three times he was all SEC and averaged over 15 points a game. And many here may not remember those teams were scoring in the 80’s, 90’s and 100’s in those days.

As far as tournament advancement, you have to remember as well the NCAA tournament was only 24 teams in the early 1970’s and it was 1975 before expanding to 32 teams. Sometimes those C.M. Newton teams ended up in the NIT or, in one case sitting at home (Bama finished second in the conference but, because of stupid NCAA rule could not accept an NIT bid because Tuscaloosa was hosting the Mideast Regionals in the NCAA tournament). In order to get in the field of 24, you had to win the conference. Lots of really good teams, including Alabama, got left at home or sent to the NIT. Who knows how far those teams may have advanced in tournament with a field of 32, 40, 48, or 64 such as today? Personally I’ll always consider the 1976 Alabama - Indiana game as a de facto national title game. No one came as close to defeating that Indiana team of Buckner, May, Benson and Wilkerson as Bama did. The two best teams in the tournament that year had misfortune of being in the same region. Even Bob Knight of Indiana said as much.

I also will admit to my personal bias as to T.R. Dunn in the Top Five. My friend’s father was freshman basketball coach at West End-Birmingham and assistant on the varsity when TR played there. He told me (and my friends father was a well respected coach and educator in Alabama) without question TR Dunn was one the most unselfish players he ever coached. He was the epitome of “team” in everything he did.

In the 1972 State Championship game, West End trailed going into the fourth quarter. My friend’s father pulled TR aside, and told him “TR…you’re the best player on this team. We aren’t going to win this game unless you decide to be a little “selfish” for once and shoot the dang ball…”

And TR did just that and led West End to the championship over Hayes High.

My friend’s father was adamant that “TR Dunn could have been a “scorer” if you asked him to be one. But TR was always one of those that felt playing defense, rebounding and get the ball in the hands of others was the best thing he could do to help the team be successful.” I’m sure C.M. and Wimp would probably agree. The guy went on to win the “defensive player of the year” in the NBA three years in a row.

So back to Sears. There is little question, based on his performance the past two years, he is in my “Top 5 Discussion”. Certainly we would not be anywhere close to Phoenix without him. And unlike all the others I’ve mentioned, he has an advantage- Mark Sears isn’t done playing yet.

And who knows where he might take us.

 

[oskie]

Mark Sears is Alabama's shortest player but is a big reason the Crimson Tide is in their first Final Four

Alabama's Sears is just 6-foot-1, but is the key to the Tide's offense

www.cbssports.com

Sears, who began his career at the University of Ohio before transferring to Alabama in 2022, is the catalyst of a top-five Alabama team that has mastered the art of weaponizing the 3-point shot. He is the audacious head of the snake and a willing flamethrower whose bold game and limitless range has unlocked previously unrealized potential for this program and put it on the biggest stage of the sport.

 

[Ledsteplin]

An awful lot of great players to consider, along with Sears. Even Brandon Miller from last year. Sears has been special. I never thought the kid at Muscle Shoals High School I kept hearing about, would make such an impact for Bama hoops. He's definitely brought energy and leadership to T-Town Basketball. And he's the motor that makes the Bama men's basketball team go. Definitely top 10. Maybe top 5.

 

[BAMAVILLE]

An awful lot of great players to consider, along with Sears. Even Brandon Miller from last year. Sears has been special. I never thought the kid at Muscle Shoals High School I kept hearing about, would make such an impact for Bama hoops. He's definitely brought energy and leadership to T-Town Basketball. And he's the motor that makes the Bama men's basketball team go. Definitely top 10. Maybe top 5.

Under CNO we've had 2 in state guys to put in the work and excell their game in Sears and Herb. That's a pretty strong showing

 

[bamamc1]

His legacy should have been better if we could’ve figured out a way to screen him open for looks at 3 point shots tonight. Good Lord.