Crimson Red Sports

Makes more sense of why we brought in the JUCO guy now.

http://www.cbssports.com/collegebasketball/blog/eye-on-college-basketball/22122698/alabama-loses-secondleading-scorer-trevor-lacey-to-transfer

Any word on where?

It makes you wonder what's going on. One way or another, all this reverts back to coaching, or even maybe lack thereof.

I personally think he has made a horrible decision, as things would likely have opened up more for him next season. I am more concerned with filling his shoes defensively,  than offensively. He could not shoot off balance, whatsoever, or with a hand in his face.  If he made his first shot or two of the night, you could count on 12-15 attempts on the night, no matter what the situation or how well he was shooting.

I  am still hoping that CAG gets rid of Engstrom, freeing up a schooly. Actually 2 now-- and with some creative recruiting he may be able to parlay that into a team capable of making a run in 2013-14. Lacey and Engstrom are/were not the answer and I'm holding my breath that the remaining 5 or 6 improve greatly, with big help coming from the two inside recruits and a couple good JC transfers. 

crap

Something is stinking to high heaven here. There is definitely something going on, ie., disciplinary problem, drug use, disaffection with the coaching (like we had with Gottfried), or what?


 ???

The recruits mind. I don't understand what they are thinking, especially being with his teammates for 2 years. I don't know if it is coaching, integrity of a player or what. He will be hard to replace.  :o RTR!

Hold on, boys, we may not be done.

Rumors are that Devonta Pollard might not be far behind Lacey.

I really hope you are making a joke. If true, then I would have to start looking at the coach.


 :o

Just because a player becomes disgruntled and wants to transfer doesn't mean it's the coaches fault. There's more to this story than family issues unless he's referring to the basketball team as his family. If he's thinking he's pro material and he can do better elsewhere, then he's way off base and letting his ego make a bad decision for himself. I can't remember any player, and I'm sure there are some, that transfered to another school and did that well after his transfer.

I think I'll wait for more info on this before I start to crucify someone. ;)

 

That's why I said if Pollard goes, then we have to start wondering about the coach.

 :think:

I wasn't kidding about Pollard, at least that the rumor is out there.  No clue where it came from.

I was told by a coworker two months ago that Lacey was gone after the season.  The story he was told by an agent friend was that Lacey planned to go play pro in Europe for a few years. 

So the family needs money?

Pollard hasn't impressed me at all, he's got a long way to go.

Now that makes some sense but I don't think he's ready for European ball. They are very physical and know how play.

 :dog:

Lacey's old coach at Butler High said today that his decision wasn't final until a meeting with Grant this morning.  He claims that Lacey has lost faith in being developed as a player at Alabama, and that he's hoping to go to Syracuse, Michigan or Indiana.

Now the rumor mill has both Pollard and Cooper considering leaving.  Apparently some of the players really like the assistant coach that left and he acted as somewhat of a buffer between Grant and the players.

He is a couple cheeseburgers away from making you forget all about Lacey, as a sophomore.

The big picture may be that these players realize that any team built around Engstrom cannot win anything.   

I thought the team was being built around your boy Jacobs. ???

Yep. Hopefully Jacobs can be motivated to playing 30 min + of winning basketball. But more than ever, this team will have to be built around Releford. CAG can no longer afford to waste a scholly on Engstrom.

I am waiting on the dust to settle before I say too much but I am very concerned about Lacey leaving and the talk of others leaving. This tweet by Nick Jacobs does not make be feel good either.

Nick_jacobs15
Just wen I thought things couldnt get any worst

Basketball players transferring is becoming a big issue in basketball. Not only at Alabama but everywhere. The linked article was written right after the Final Four and 260 players are listed as transferring. The list is still growing. Over 400 transferred last year. Many of these players, like Lacey, were starters for their original school.

Having to sit out a year does not seem to be a problem if you still have a redshirt year. Maybe the rule should be changed so you lose a year of eligibility if you transfer.

http://www.cbssports.com/collegebasketball/blog/eye-on-college-basketball/22007798/transfer-list-first-edition

WOW!! That speaks volumes to me. Are we about to have a player mutiny?

Could we possibly get some transfers to come in Alabama that championship type players? If all these different players are jumping around then surely we could get 3 or 4 good players. RTR!

Why would they come here, if they are that good, they will go to Duke, UNC, UCONN, UK, Memphis, Arizona, or other high profile programs. Plus, all this turmoil at Bama will not go unnoticed by other players.


 :(

 :o, Yes sir you are right Marshall Dillon. I really hadn't thought about other programs but I guess if your going to transfer it would make sense to go to a better school than an under rated team. So this seems to be hurting our recruiting as we see it now. RTR!

Right now, Grant has to be scrambling after the comments from the Butler coach & the Jacobs tweet. This is starting to get out of hand and Grant has to get in front of it or it could swallow him up.


 :facepalm:

I am not ready to panic yet. We don't need Pollard and/or Cooper to transfer but that has not happened yet. We can overcome Lacey's departure.

I am excited about the incoming class and the return of Engstrom.

No panic, just great concern about our team. Everything was looking so good for next year, but everything might unravel if we lose Cooper &/or Pollard. The loss of Lacey is going to hurt, he was the 9th leading scorer in the SEC on a team starving for scoring.


 :tinfoil:

I have no sympathy for Lacey, he has let his teammates down by quitting. Player developement, who's fault is it if he isn"t a Kobe Bryant or a LeBron James, CAG's, I don't think so. Lacey was given every chance in the world to excel as a player, he led the team in minutes played this year. Is it the coaches fault if he shoots 3-15 from the 3 point range or 5-10 from the free throw line and if he has 5 turnovers in a game. These are personal issues that a player has to take on himself to get better. The coaches will design and call the plays for the players but it is the players responsibility to execute the plays. The better players in the country are gym rats, they work on their game every day to better themselves and I don't mean an hour a day either.

Quitting is so easy, but being successful isn't.

So, if a rated football prospect fails, the coach bears NO responsibility? That means every coach in America is a great  coach & teacher and he only fails because of lazy, non-committed players. DuBose, Ears Whitworth, Chiznik, Ray Goff, David Archer, Shula, David Hobbs, Gottfried, & many, many more will be happy to hear that.


 :dog:

Good Coaches have programs designed for players to expand their skills in the offseason to be the top player that they want to be. Not all players buy into the designed programs and in most cases fail at achieving the star status that they wanted to be. Sometimes there are injuries that will play a role in this though. Some coaches have no designed plan, Cheezedip for instance, but they aren't considered a top coach.

I don't know what type of offseason program CAG has in place but somehow I get the feeling that something of this sort may have the players in a riff, this is only specualation but something is wrong internally. Last year I was told that Releford went home for the summer and when basketball started, Releford was on the bench and not a starter when the season started. If Releford did go home, was he activily in a program to stay condition and to improve his play? Again this is what I was told and I wasn't there to acxtually know this but I know he didn't start the opening games and something was wrong for him to not be starting.

Who knows what is wrong but something definitely is. :dunno:

All I can figure is it probably revolves around the offense. Players are not happy with the poor-performing offense and they may think the offensive game plan to be too slow and plodding, with way too much emphasis on defense and very little on the offense. This is pure speculation but I am worried about the BB program and what appears to be a major rift with the players & HC. I hope this whole mess can be straightened out.

This reminds me of the same situation that happened with the LA Lakers in 1980 (maybe 81) in which Magic Johnson complained about the offense and the HC and how the offense was not geared to the players abilities. The HC was fired, Pat Riley becomes the HC, the Lakers go on to win 4 NBA titles. In no way am I saying this is the same at Alabama, just giving an example.


 ???

Lacey is gone and I hope everyone else comes back. This spring and summer is where players get better. I hope CAG has an off season program that is successful. Last year Jacobs came bad in terrible shape and looked like he never picked up a basketball all summer. Pollard and the two incoming freshmen (Taylor & Hale) need to not only practice but work on strength and conditioning. They all need to add weight while maintaining quickness.

I don't know what Releford did last summer. He went home to Kansas City and that concerned me. He game back in the dog house but there is no doubt he was a better player this year. Some of that is experience but he improved his outside shooting last summer. Was he following CAG's off season program or working out with his brother and following Kansas off season program?

I still think CAG is a good coach and I expect an improved team next year.

Honestly, this whole situation has my head spinning and I don't know what to think, except that I am concerned for the program.


 :unsure:

After Lacey's departure we have 11 on schorlarship with 10 available to play next year. I hope CAG has his eye on another recruit or two during this late signing period.

I think May 17th is the signing date, surely he has some folks he is looking at out there. I know there's a 6'7" small forward at Hoover we could look at & the 6'6" SF in Gurley, or some other player. This is assuming we lose no more players.

Here are the guards we have on the roster, so far, for 2013/2014:

Blackledge    SR
Cooper        JR
Johnson       SO
Obasohan     SO
Randolph      JR
Releford       SR
Wilson         SR




 :popcorn2:

I would not be unhappy if we signed another guard.

The walk ons were on the team last year. If they could play CAG would have given them a sholly by now since we have some available.

If Obashan or Releford get hurt we only have one point guard. Releford did well as the #2 guard last year with Lacey running the point much of the time.

The late signing period started on April 17 and ends May 15.

I knew a couple of the guards were walk on's, just showing the guards we have for 2013, so Tarrant was not listed. I think Cooper could player guard if needed, but we definitely need another point guard. I am holding my breath about what is going to happen next.

 :tinfoil:

Y.B.&G F.O.E Coop ‏@RodneyCooper21 
All these rumors need to stop.. I'm not transferring..

I also read where his HS coach said he is happy at Alabama.

I am guessing Pollard transferring is just a rumor as well.

CAG cleaning out the deadwood (Gueye and Lacey). Not sure what Lacey's problems are, but his parents showing up to meet with Grant, possibly wanting to know why their boy is not the team star "like he promised", is a clue.  Maybe Engstrom next to announce "his decision to move on", but maybe CAG has decided to keep him to use as a tackling dumby for the 2 new big guys to practice on.  This would be the case until he finds a immediate impact guy to fill Engstrom's scholly.

As I said earlier, CAG seeing the handwriting on the proverbial wall and going "all in" on next season to show real progress. This shows self preservation skills on his part. RTR

Great info! I'm glad you found this and posted it. This puts everything else in a different light.


 :worship:

Well I also am glad it stops all the  :'( over what will happen next. Now we see CAG has some talent but he has to win and build more power. Coach welcome to the SEC. We are not a lose conference.  :wave:, RTR!

According to ESPN Kansas is not interested in Lacey. I am sure someone will pick him up but he may not be the big dog he thinks he is.

They may not have room for him on the roster. Supposedly, he was interested in Syracuse & Indiana, but wouldn't it be something if he signed with NC State & Gottfried?


 :yawn:

What's interesting in the Kansas news is they made a big late push for him and really made a big impression on him before he signed.  I guess he felt like they'd still be interested.  Several teams may have cooled on him based on his first couple years.

Don't hand out 4 year schollies just to be filling up the roster.  An attractive Juco only costs us a year or two but to make a 4 year commitment on a less than stellar kid in this  class is a waste.  You have to look at what you already have on board, to ascertain you have the numbers and talent to have competitive play in practice.

If no big name HS recruits break our way, the JUCO route is the way to go. Particularly in the "all  in --make it or break--last chance dance--scenario" I believe CAG is facing.

The Kansas thing was a tit-for-tat move for recruiting Releford

There are some high regarded uncommitted recruits remaining. I don't know if CAG is after them or if we made any their short lists.

It only makes sense to recruit top players. We don't need practice squad players. We have walk ons for that.

If top rated high school guys are available-- then heck yeah. I just said that instead of no one at all, at least get some JUCOS to make practice competitive. I learned from CNS that having a competitive practices leads to a better product on both sides of the ball in football. The same goes for basketball. Play the best guys possible against each other to closer assimilate the competition we'll face during the season. Don't go recruiting just to fill schollies, buit if you have to, do it with the JUCOS so as to only waste a year or two,--not 4. But JUCO or high school, do not recruit anyone you cannot envision as a possible starter next season.

I have no problem signing a high school player that may need time to develop if he has a high ceiling. If you get them from JUCO they need to be able to make the 7-8 man playing rotation immediately.

CAG may not have the luxury of your time frame.  My insistance that he'll need to show results this season.

Lacy visiting NC State & maybe UNC. Good luck being picked up by UNC. I thought we was concerned about his development but he wants to go to NC State? That's hilarious.


 :lol2:







http://www.al.com/sports/index.ssf/2013/05/former_alabama_guard_trevor_la.html

Doesn't the State of North Carolina have any guys of their own that can't shoot?