Crimson Red Sports

When the season started for Bama, there seemed to be a good chance that this years team had a chance to finally make it to the Big Dance. There were enough returning players as well as some transfers on the team that had practiced with the squad last season but were ineligible to play but had some experience from the practices that should make them more than a first year player.

Bruce Pearl on the other hand was hired by Auburn and inherited a team with little or no experience and he had to go out and find what players that he could to make a squad. All of the players that he found seemed to be a bunch of no names.

Bama started the season on a good note and won some good games but lost some close big games. Auburn started the season as expected, a very bad team. As the season went along, Bama seemed to progressively regress in the quality of their play and Auburn just struggled along winning a few games but losing more than they were winning. At this point in time in comparing the two programs I thought Auburn was improving the most as Bruce Pearl was packing their arena with fans even in a losing cause. On the other hand, CAG had done nothing to improve the fan base at Bama, Coleman seemed to have an echo at each game. There were only two games in the whole home schedule that brought the fans out, Kentucky and Auburn and there was a very good reason for the fans at both of those games. But in all fairness to CAG, his team beat Auburn twice which should say something for them or did it.

The whole season schedule is what decides the quality of a team and and provides their leverage in post season play and Bama was in a decent position to make some post season noise this year if they could just win some key games in the last three weeks of the season. That never happened as they did their usual end of the season tailspin. Auburn on the other hand kept plugging away, playing as well as they could and won some games that they were not supposed to. All of this with Pearl's on and off the court antics got their players and fans in a tizzy that provided a new energy level to their program. You can say what you want but good fans can make a big difference in the outcome of a game and season.

With all of that being said, Auburn is now in the semi-finals of the SEC Tournament and Bama is home doing whatever. Bruce Pearl has clearly out coached Anthony Grant in every aspect of the game, which is the players and the fans. I couldn't be more disappointed in Bama's program than what I am right now. I pulled as hard for this team as you can and never gave up until the last two weeks of the season. So in the battle of Grant vs Pearl, Pearl is a clear winner.

Where does Alabama's program go from the lack of success again this year, I have no idea but I am like the majority of the fan base, a change needs to happen. Bill Battle may have a plan for that change  but from listening to other fans and the media, that doesn't sound like the case right now. Could Auburn's year end success have any bearing on a coaching change for Bama, probably not but it's a good enough reason in my opinion.

The clock is ticking for Bill Battle as he will have to make a public statement in the very near future on whether there will be any changes made or not. I know what will make everyone happy but I also know what will set off a public outcry which at one time caused a brick to be thrown through a window at Coleman. Hopefully nothing of that sort happens again, the best way to voice an opinion of disagreement is at the ticket window not with violence.

Anyway, it is what it is and hopefully things will work out for the best. RTR!!

 #+, Jamos I must give you an e-cred for this mind blowing but great personal opinion of the season. I do however, have to say, I am in agreement. Next year will be the same I guess because doing the same thing over and over and with the same stuff and expecting change is what they called at one time insane. So I look to next season but i won't be surprised. RTR!

I was thinking the same thing.  Pearl has the Barn in the Semis.  Grant was one and done in the SEC Tourney.

Gottfried is 7-3 in the ACC Tourney, and he has always made the semis, except this year he lost to Duke.  The NC State looked terrible against Duke though.

I have been thinking about this the last few days too.  I have come to the point where I agree with the masses of folks that are ready for a new coach to head the Bama men's basketball team.  However, like you said, some in the media have been theorizing that Grant may be given another year.  If Battle is going to replace him then it needs to be announced soon.

Now I'll play the devil's advocate for a minute to see how you guys feel.  Let's say that Battle doesn't replace Grant this year.  Also, if Grant were to somehow not just get the team to the NCAA tourney next year but for kicks and giggles let's say that they go deep into the tourney, say the Sweet 16 or better.  Would you all still want him replaced if that were to somehow happen?  I don't for a minute believe it will but let's be honest, a few breaks going our way here and there could have definitely gotten us into the tourney this season...

Thoughts?

This says it all.




http://www.sportsdaynow.com/the-future-of-anthony-grant-is-still-in-doubt/



 :problem:

There is more and more talk that Battle will not make waves in what is left of his tenure as AD, and that Grant will not be canned.

I think Grant is a man of high character, but just doesn't have what it takes to be a successful BB coach, at least at Alabama. And to add fuel to the fire, Pearl has put Auburn in the national spotlight with their play in the SEC tourney, and don't think recruits aren't paying attention. With Pearl's ability to recruit, what do you think is going to happen with the recruiting this year between the 2 schools? Are the few in-state blue chip players going to play at one and done Bama, with their emotionless coach, or to the barn, that has made a deep run in the SEC tourney, and their coach, who exhibits real passion, a player's coach and one who is very hands on with promoting the team with the fan base?

Exactly!

I understand Battle not wanting to bring in another coach that the next AD will be stuck with, whether he likes him or not, but another year with Grant and there won't be anyone left to watch their games.

I just can't see him being allowed to coach another year.

Auburn has made nice run in the Tournament. No one expected them to win three games. Too bad that they stunk up the season so bad that there is no way of getting a bid to the CBI or NIT. Their only hope is to win two more games and they play Kentucky today.

Before you start talking about how great the barn program has improved this year you need to look at the regular season. They are 14-19. They finished the regular season 11-19. They were 4-14 in SEC play. They started SEC play 2-2. They lost their last 6, 7 of their last 8 and 12 of their last 14. They appeared to be getting worse as the season went on. The attendance at Auburn Arena also faded as the season went on. Keep in mind 6000 looked pretty full in a 9000 seat arena. 6000 looks empty at Coleman.

Pearl may do well at Auburn but even he expected to have an overall record of .500 this year. If we are comparing our program to theirs we have set the bar far too low. I am not writing this post to say we had a good year but I will say we are still the best program in this state. We finished ahead of them in league play and beat them in both head-to-head games.

Tomorrow, after the barn loses to UK today, both teams will be at home. Auburn's season will be over. They will have a 14-20 final record. Alabama will have a winning record and hope for a NIT bid. We are not happy with where we are at. Auburn has a long way to go just to get to mediocre.

I do not know what Bill Battle will do. I think it is 50/50 chance we make a coaching change. I am on the fence. I can make arguments to keep CAG as well as arguments to let him go. I will support the coach and program next year regardless of who the coach is.

I agree with this analysis.  Bama lacks any effective inside game.  I really don't see that changing if Grant is given another year.  No way a team like that is going to make any waves in the NCAA Tournament.  No way a team with such a poor record against top teams is going to miraculously have Tournament success.  

Like pmull, I'll support the team next year whoever is the coach, but I just don't see it happening.

Belatedly, thanks to Jamos for his heartfelt, thoughtful and well written post to start this thread.  I thought he i.d.'d one of CAG's biggest failings, i.e. the inability to develop players.  To me, this is critical since we will not be able to recruit a boatload of 5-stars.  Some coaches are good at developing players; CAG is not one of them and that isn't going to change.

I still hold out hope for a coaching change.  I still believe that CBB knows what a winning team looks like and thus he knows that this team is not that.  It will be a hard decision for him but I think (hope) he knows what his job is.

I haven't seen anyone claim Auburn had a great season, but they are having a good run in the SEC Tourney. Pearl has brought a real energy & enthusiasm to the program and has worked with a team that has 3 real players. He has been playing walk-ons in the Tourney & one scored 16 points. Pearl can recruit, develop talent, & knows how coach. Pearl has recruited the 11th best class of 2015. It includes 2 players rated in the Top 150 by Rivals (#61 & #80), two other 4 star recruits, & a Juco. Grant has signed three recruits, all 3 star rated. Texas A&M has the #3 class, Florida #13, LSU #24, & USC #30. Meanwhile, Coach Tuberville Grant has recruited 3 in-state guys & probably never went more than 200 miles to recruit. I guess Grant is going to coach them up & they have high character. I wonder if Grant goes turkey hunting?


 :facepalm: :facepalm: :facepalm:

We have our own problems. There is no doubt about that. But to compare our program to the train wreck in Auburn is ridiculous. Nice run in the tournament does not erase a 14-20 record, RPI of 128 and 13th place finish in a 14 team league.

Pearl has been there less than a full year & was left with a train wreck, so I don't understand why you're breaking on Auburn & Pearl so hard. Again, who is comparing the Tide to Auburn BB? Auburn has a bright future with Pearl, how good have Grant's 6 years been?


 ???

The opening post and title of this thread is comparing the job Pearl did with his Auburn to that of the job Grant did with our program. I am defending our program. We are not a good team but we are not one of the worst teams in the SEC.

Okay, now I get it. I never saw the thread as a criticism of the program but of Grant. I think the gist was that Alabama has talent, but Grant has not developed it or used it effectively. Pearl has taken a total train wreck but still beat Georgia, LSU (twice), & Xavier along with the run in the Tourney. There is just so much frustration in the program & the thought of Grant coming back is sickening.


 :wave:

The expectations of the programs at Auburn and Alabama are very different.

My comparison of the the two programs is from what they started the season with and what they ended the season with. I am by no means bragging on Pearl and Auburn but just stating that another promising Bama team did their usual annual tailspin from mid-season on to the end of the season. Auburn and Pearl on the other hand started with nothing for a team and went through injuries and suspensions and still made it to the semi finals of the SEC tournament. In comparing those results I have to give Pearl's coaching job being the better of the two coaches.  I sat there night after night and watched the Bama team do a meltdown as the season progressed, something that seems to happen every year with the team. I'm not beating on Bama, I'm beating on the coaches who are responsible for the teams preparation for the games.

Kentucky stomped Auburn, 91-67.   So Bama lost by 2 fewer points.  Not a big deal really, but with Bama's two wins over Auburn, and better record against tougher competition, it does suggest that Bama is a better team.

But like others said, these programs didn't start from the same place. 

I don't think any decision made will have anything to do with what the Barn is doing.  That is how Auburn operates.  That isn't how Bama operates. 

It is pretty clear that Bama's offense lacks clear focus, inside game, and the capacity to take over a game.  Grant is more of a defensive coach.  It seems that if Gottfried and Grant were co-head coaches, one coaching offense and one defense, that team would be awesome.  But not going to happen.  And Grant has failed to address the offensive failures.

I don't think he deserves another year.  The teams have improved, despite adversity, but after so many years one would expect results, and we haven't seen it.  Grant has been learning on the job.  He can't recruit/develop/plan/implement an effective offense. 

Wow, just looked at ESPN.  Pretty enlightening:

Season overall national rankings for Bama:

Points per game:  194th nationally

Rebounds:  223rd

Assists: 317th

FG Percentage:  160th

Those are some completely inept numbers. 

I respect your opinion I just do not agree with it. Auburn beat a bad MSU team in the first round. You have to be bad to even play in Wednesday's Round one game. They beat A&M in round 2. A&M is reeling. They had a good season going but they did not finish it. Remember we beat them twice. Auburn caught a huge break in the LSU game. LSU missed 19 free throws. They missed easy layups and played a terrible game. It reminded me of our loss to Georgia. A game we should have won. It was a nice tournament run but it does not erase the 2-12 finish to the regular season or the overall 14-20 record.  

Auburn still has a long way to go just to be mediocre. We are mediocre and have a long way to go to be a good team. Can CAG get it done. I don't know. Will he be our coach next year. I don't know. We were just a few breaks away from a NCAA bid this year. Who ever is the coach next year has a lot to work with. I don't think we need a major overhaul. We just need to get over the hump that is keeping us from being one of the better teams in the league. We also need to beat Florida.

 #+ #+ #+, I have to give you all some e-creds for all the posts and the replies. These were neither hateful or overly embarrassment or something. I really enjoyed reading all the opinions on this one. My compliments everybody. RTR!