Crimson Red Sports

Even thought the NCAA Basketball Tournament is in full swing right now, there is a lot of media talk of who will be the next Bama coach. For a school that hasn't been in the headlines of the basketball news other than they had another dismal season, Grant's firing has really given folks something to talk about other than who Kentucky will play in the finals of the NCAA tourney.

Personally I haven't kept up with basketball country wide as some fans have and I'm not really in the know of who is  good and who is bad for the Bama job. I have looked at a couple of bios of coaches but still I don't have a clue as to who would be the best for the job.

Today on Paul Finebaum's daily tv show, he made a statement that his good souces tell him that there are two coaches at the top of the "want list" for Bama with Gregg Marshall being the most wanted. He stated that Bill Battle is ready to offer more money than Marshall has ever dreamed of earning as a coach and thought it would be very hard for him to turn the offer down regardless of how much he likes his present job. I know Finebaum likes to talk a lot but I also know that he doesn't usually just spread vicious rumors, he gets some verification before he opens his mouth. Some of his past courtroom dealings might be the reason for being so careful about what he says anymore. He also stated that if Marshall comes for an interview, all of this would be after the NCAA tourney, Nick Saban would be the first person he would talk to. he seemed to feel that Saban will play a major role in the hiring of the next coach.

I found it all very interesting and I found myself liking the fact that Nick Saban can/will play a role in the hiring of the next basketball head coach. The basketball team is like the football team was for all those years, you couldn't coach at Bama unless you played there or was a friend of Bear Bryant. All of that was finally erased with the hiring of Nick Saban and hopefully Bill Battle and his committee will follow in the foot steps of Nick Saban's hiring and hire the best coach available, regardless of the cost. Does anyone feel like Alabama paid too much for Nick Saban?

Great info, thanks for the heads up. Marshall is from South Carolina/Virginia, so he may be looking for something other than the flat plains of Kansas.
here's more info:






http://capstonereport.com/2015/03/18/brannen-coaches-tide-to-nit-win-potential-tide-coaching-candidates-tom-crean-and-gregg-marshall-will-meet-in-big-dance/25521/



 :popcorn2:

Gregg Marshall is at Wichita State now.  Hmmm.

Here's a story about him and Alabama:

http://www.al.com/sports/index.ssf/2015/03/poll_you_want_gregg_marshall_t.html

Crean should not be considered, he is barley above .500 for his career at Indiana.

He has only been to the NCAA three times in 7 years and has only finished above .500 in conference three times during that same time.

Why would BAMA want a coach who cannot win at a "basketball" school?

After the disappointment with Grant I'm not going to get excited about anything until I see results on the floor.  When Grant was hired everyone, from the fans to the media, thought Mal had hit a grand slam.  I'll always support the team, I've just learned over the years not to get my hopes up when it comes to Bama basketball. 

(http://www.smashinglists.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/Eeyore-Top-Ten-Talking-Donkeys_thumb.gif)

 :tinfoil:

something about this reminds me of dd  ???

 :lol:  :worship:

Yes, Texas, LSU and Notre Dame fans...  8)

Sorry to take on the role of DD.  It's just that we're now at 20 years of mediocre Bama Basketball with a couple of decent seasons mixed in.  We always appear to be just on the edge of going to the next level, but never able to take that step.  When Grant was hired I thought it was going to happen.  Instead, we got six more years of the same.

So, even if we hire somebody like Marshall who has had incredible success at Wichita St., I'll keep my expectations in check until we actually see results on the floor.

Eeeeeeeyorrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrre.

So, what's the solution?   :tinfoil:

  
Is there bourbon in China?

Have you guys seen a Wichita State game? The stands are packed, the fans rabid and knowledgeable.  I'm not convinced Marshall would leave that place for the sterile atmosphere in Tuscaloosa.

A home run hire like Marshall will create a buzz and immediately energize the fan base. Our program needs that bad. Coleman has been half full for SEC games for years. It has become a boring place to watch college basketball. I think Bill Battle understands how important the fan support is to the overall success of the program.

Watching the CBS guys talk about the NCAA Tournament yesterday they discussed the importance of good coaching. They pointed out that having better talent is the best way to win games. By the time to get to the NCAA Tournament most of the teams have fairly even talent unless you are an elite team like Kentucky or a 15/16 seed. The better coach normally wins those close tightly contested games. If you watched the Wichita St - Indiana game yesterday you saw a repeat of what happened in the Wichita St - Alabama game. Wichita St trailed most of the game but Marshall made the adjustments and coaching decisions that ended up being the difference in the game. Coaching matters!

I said spend the money to get the best coach available and look at it as an investment in our program. Marshall may not be available but the right guy for Alabama is out there and Bill Battle has to find him.

Wichita State plays Kanas on Sunday Could be a great game.



 :popcorn:

Archie Miller & Dayton are looking pretty good right now.



 :hug:

I don't think we see any movement before the Championship night in which Duke will end the unbeaten season of Ky. I will give KY. credit they are a great young team and next year they will really be good! RTR!

North Carolina State just knocked off No. 1 Seed Villanova to make it to the Sweet 16.

Maybe we should just apologize to Gottfried and beg him to come home.   :worship:

I was just thinking the same thing!!!!!

 :unsure:

Too bad he couldn't bring Trevor Lacey back as well!

Do you remember why he was fired? It was not pretty.


 :dog:

There were rumors of an affair, and he had decreased success over 1 1/2 years, probably distracted. 

But I never thought he couldn't coach, he had already proven it.

forgive and forget. I remember 1 time I never thought Lane would be associated with the Crimson Tide.

He was not fired he quit... mid season with a 2-3 SEC record so it was not even late in the year. Phillip Pearson finish the season as coach. It got very ugly. The whole Ron Steele think and his alleged affair with a players girlfriend. He had lost interest and focus and the team quit on him. A change had to be made and he quit before he was fired.

I liked Gottfried as a player and a coach for the first 7-8 years. I hold no grudge against him or Trevor Lacey and hope they do well. I don't want him back as coach and I don't think there is a chance in he** that would happen.

IMO it is harder to make the NCAA now than when MG was coach. MG was 210-131 (.616) compared to CAG 117-85 (.524) but the non conference scheduling is much more difficult now. MG was 83-82 in SEC play. CAG was 54-49. MG coached when there was a East and West. The West was much weaker than the East. We played each West team twice and East team once. The better teams in the league were UK, Florida and Vandy. The success he is having at NC St is more impressive than what he did at Alabama. The Elite 8 year we had a 20-13 (8-8 SEC) record. That might not made the Tournament today.

I really don't think he "quit" officially.  The University continued paying him on his contract.

The official record shows he resigned. I imagine it was a negotiated resignation. 

I heard that Battle and Bonner both were in Miami yesterday showing support for the team. I thought that was a good move.

Battle and Bonner were also at the SEC Gymnastic Championship last night because they were in the team picture celebrating the win.

He might be doing more as AD than I have been giving him credit for.

I think this entire fiasco about Grant has really gotten his attention. I was listening to JOX on Wednesday (I think) after the firing of Grant. It's the Roundtable with Dunaway, Brown, & LT. They stated that their sources said Battle had decided to to keep Grant & he went to several folks to discuss it with them. I assume these "folks" were prominent alumni, big donors, UA President, Board of Trustees, etc. He was met with a huge negative response for keeping Grant and he was described as totally stunned by the reaction. After that, Grant was fired. That sounds like a person out-of-touch with what was going on around him & now we hear he is looking to spend big money on a new coach. Like I said, I think he had a real comeuppance & reality check over Grant.


 :dog:

If this article is true, Gregg Marshall is the top choice and Shaka Smart is number 2.  Would we really go after VCU's coach on two consecutive searches?


http://alabama.247sports.com/Bolt/One-name-remains-on-the-top-for-Alabama-coaching-search-36315359 (http://alabama.247sports.com/Bolt/One-name-remains-on-the-top-for-Alabama-coaching-search-36315359)

You know, for $4M, I'm available.  You??

 :)

I might even settle for a little less.

I don't think money will matter to Wichita State, since they will probably match it. He actually makes less than Grant. Does Marshall want to leave, that is the question. Shaka Smart/VCU makes me nervous. I feel better about Archie Miller.


 :dunno:

Shaka Smart might not be available, either. Read the link. Fascinating.





http://www.vcuramnation.com/2014/04/shaka-rejects-contract-upgrade-allocates-money-to-team/

Item of interest. Wichita St. 46 Kansas 36  13:00 left in game



 :popcorn2:

Interesting pick.

I think Wisconsin has the best shot at beating UK.

Thing is UK will have an entirely different team next year with their one-and-done progression to the NBA.

UNC probably loses tonight without Meeks.

My dark horse is NCState.  :facepalm:

They have been in/could have won every game except that last game v dook in the ACC tourney.  It was a blowout from the tip.

Another year, another NCAA Tournament, another case of Izzo doing more with less.

He is a great coach. I honestly put him alongside Coach "K" and Bobby Knight. Somehow he does it every year. RTR!

I am not necessarily saying that we should go after him, but it should be noted that Steve Lavin is out at St. John's:

http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/ncaab-the-dagger/steve-lavin-out-at-st--john-s-after-five-up-and-down-seasons-192211667.html

I saw that. He brought them back to respectability. Looks like they'd rather have Chris Mullin.
We could do worse than Lavin, IMO.

It will be very interesting to see CGM's decision because I feel that CNS had a lot to do with what the offer will be to him. I also feel that Terrie and CNS will be the hosts of the Marshalls which can't be bad at all for Alabama. 

 :popcorn2:

I found this report by BOL interesting. You have to think BOL has reliable sources and not just spreading rumors.


http://alabama.247sports.com/Article/The-clock-is-ticking-36436249

I agree totally. I think Nick Saban is the architect of the contract being offered and I feel very confident it is the type of contract that will be very very hard to turn down. If CGM can turn down CNS, he is a tougher man than I ever thought. ;)

FIFY  :D

 :tinfoil:   :popcorn2:   :tinfoil:

I'd love to be wrong but it's hard for me to imagine that Marshall & family would make a decision as fast at this weekend.  They seem to decide moves as a group and that takes a little time.  Also, he may want to give WSU a chance to respond.

Or...they could be so overwhelmed in a positive way that they see no reason to delay.

I hope the Sabans do spend time with them.  The Saban family made a move to Tuscaloosa and seem to like the place.  T-town is a very nice place to live and I would think hearing that from Ms. Terrie would count for a lot.

Rick Barnes gone at Texas.

http://espn.go.com/mens-college-basketball/story/_/id/12571138/rick-barnes-coach-texas-longhorns

Hmmm....

Two articles related to the Texas job. Don't know the track record of these reporters in getting it 'right.'


http://www.sbnation.com/2015/3/28/8306775/gregg-marshall-texas-longhorns-alabama-wichita-state

And this tweet from ESPN...

https://twitter.com/intent/user?screen_name=ESPNAndyKatz&original_referer=http://espn.go.com/mens-college-basketball/

And this doesn't sound good from al.com....

http://www.al.com/sports/index.ssf/2015/03/gregg_marshall_tells_alabama_t.html

Crap!! Okay, time for Plan B.









 :wall:

Well crapola. Here we go back to my list, again.    :facepalm: :facepalm: :facepalm:


Here is a list of a few coaches worth contacting to see their interest in being Head Coach of Alabama Basketball.

Jay Wright-Villanova age 53  300-150 record-Taken 'Nova to Final Four, 2 Elite 8's, & 4 Sweet 16's
CON: He's a Villanova grad and may not want to leave. Plus, he has the program in high gear & is 22-2 now & #6 in country.

Archie Miller-Dayton age 36 79-41 in 4th season at Dayton-Been to 1 Elite 8. Currently, 18-5 on season. Brother of Sean Miller of Univ. Arizona BB HC.
CON: Has contract through 2019. Also, been HC only 4 years but father was BB coach and brother successful.

Mike Jones-Radford age 49. In 4th year as HC with overall record of 41-59. Each year has shown improvement in record, 6-16, 13-19, 22-13, & 18-8 right now.
CON: HUGE gamble & doubt we are that desperate.

Michael White-La. Tech age 37. 4th year coach 91-36, 17-5 this year. Father AD @ Duke. White played at Ole Miss.
CON: Coaches in Conference USA & never made NCAA.

Tim Cluess-Iona age 55. Been a winner at 2 different schools. Overall 230-84 (.732%). 110-51 Iona & 19-6 now.
CON: From Queens, NY & may not want to go South.

Ben Jacobson-Northern Iowa age 44. 9th year as coach of NIU. 189-103 record with 2 NCAA Tourneys.        
23-2 this year.
CON: From N. Dakota & may not want to go South. Also, could be in demand after this year.

LeVelle Moton-North Carolina Central age 40. 99-51 in 5th year & every year has improved. 17-6 now.
CON: Not sure.

Ben Howland-unemployed since 2013, age 57. Former UCLA coach. Lots of HC experience, 399-208 overall, 233-107 @ UCLA. Ten years at UCLA with 7 NCAA's, including 3 Final Four's.
CON: Why is he still unemployed, nobody knows. Does he still have the fire & were there problems at UCLA?  HIRED BY MISS. STATE

Steve Prohm-Murray State age 40. 93-27 in 4 years, 21-4 now. Graduate of Alabama & served as student assistant coach. A fascinating & intriguing choice for Tide coach.
CON: Only 4 years as head coach.


There are other coaches who could be considered, this is a starters list. The one's I would consider strongly are:

Archie Miller
Tim Clues
Ben Howland (if no skeletons from UCLA)
Steve Prohm



 :deadhorse:

This isn't over yet.  No guarantee that UTX offers their job to Marshall.  Maybe high probability but no guarantee.  Then Marshall could be in a mess depending just how he blew off Bama.  Would Bama still want him?

I still don't think Archie Miller's new contract at Dayton is an insurmountable obstacle.

And does Marshall really want to go to Texas where he will not have control?

No...   :popcorn2:

I almost feel like Battle will hire a coach that no one has even thought of yet... time will tell I suppose... :popcorn2:

I wonder if we will have a coach come BB season with all the egg on face, and lost our best bet, type reporting? Who would want to come to a school who wants winners? I can say this for myself if someone comes for the money i don't want them! If they want to come to win BB games and make a strong program I want them. I thought Alabama would have coaches calling us to get such a prestigious job. Boy i was fooled! RTR!

If this report is true (link below) then, like I said a couple of posts earlier, this isn't over.

http://www.al.com/sports/index.ssf/2015/03/texas_targeting_shaka_smart_no.html

Sooooooo.... if UTX does hire Shaka, where does that leave Marshall ??  He's already told Bama he's not interested in coming here.

This is gonna be a real test of CBB's executive recruiting skills.

If Marshall said he wasn't interested, then we should be actively be looking elsewhere. Marshall had his chance with us.


 :dog:

Can't believe everything you read in the press, or on the internet.   :o

Like... Richard Pitino?    ???

Wimp Sanderling

 :lol: The board is full of chuckles this morning.

Just read on another board that serious rumors are leaking out that Marshall is coming to T-Town for $4.2 Mil/yr for 6 years. Supposedly, the announcement is to come later today.

There is nothing confirmed on this, but I've sure got my fingers crossed.  :pray:

I'd be glad to be wrong if it's true!

 :pray:

Perhaps these rumors came from the same Texas rumor mill that had Saban going to Texas.   ???

I can't find anything on ESPN about this. RTR!

We probably won't see anything in the press until it is announced, if this is true. I'm sure he'll want to address his players first.

Cecil Hurt is reporting that Bill Battle is in route to Wichita to meet with Marshall today.


https://alabama.rivals.com/content.asp?CID=1751956

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BmlnltVzksg

If Cecil says they are meeting, I think we can believe it.  Reporters in Wichita will be all over this.

At least gotta say CBB is going after the guy he wants to hire and not just sitting around making phone calls.  Good for him!

I hope CBB brings Marshall back on that plane and not let him leave Tuscaloosa until we have a press conference announcing him as our new coach.

When the Alabama Athletic department breaks news they do it through Cecil Hurt.  Cecil would not report this unless they want it reported. This looks good for us IMO.

This is something I think I will just sit back and watch for the results without guessing or hoping because if this buble bursts then it would be bad. RTR!

I agree. And it's too late for me to not get my hopes up.  :unsure:

I don't know what to think. Did Marshall really tell us he wasn't interested thinking he would get the Texas job? Then Texas says they want Smart at VCU & Marshall is suddenly interested in Alabama. I am really confused with all these conflicting rumors & hope we are not his 2nd choice. Like I said, confusing.


 :stars:

All I know is that one hack from CBS Sports said that he is interested in Texas and Alabama should not waste their time. The rest of the sports world ran with it referencing the CBS source. However, Marshall said in an interview that if Alabama wanted to make a crazy offer he would listen. This comment was widely reported by many sources.

I believe Marshall was focused on Wichita State last week as he should have been. I also believe our people has been talking to his people and his people showed some serious interest.

Seth Davis of SI supposedly tweeted that his sources told him Gregg Marshall was "shocked" to hear reports saying he had zero interest in the Bama job.

http://www.si.com/college-basketball/2015/03/30/wichita-state-gregg-marshall-meet-alabama-ad

Why would Texas want Smart if Marshall was available?

I've been thinking about Cecil's tweet and story about CBB's trip.  Obviously CBB wanted this story out there.  We don't know why but I wonder if it was to rebut an erroneous report that Marshall had told Bama to "move on."  Don't think CBB would have flown up there if he expected to be blown off by Marshall.  And I also wonder if CBB actually went up there on Sunday and they met starting last night.

All of this confusion may be orchestrated, as McB said above.  In addition, keep in mind that Marshall's wife has a vote too.  She may have nixed either Alabama or Texas (or elsewhere).

I still think that after this negotiation with CBB is done, the Koch Bros will ante up a higher offer, and he'll stay in Kansas.

 :popcorn2: :popcorn2:

Found this over at Woolly.  :lol2:

(http://imagizer.imageshack.us/a/img661/610/DTA9SG.gif)

:lol:

Now all we need is a drunk lady to meet him at the airport and slobber all over him.  Somebody find that woman and lock her up until after he arrives.

Well...CBB left Kansas all by his lonesome.  Awsome video at the end of this link. (Ha!)

http://www.al.com/alabamabasketball/index.ssf/2015/03/bill_battle_wichita_airport_gregg_marshall.html


We'll just have to see what happens next.

Marshall may have stayed behind to talk to his players & AD. We should know more on Tuesday.



 :popcorn2:

It's already Tuesday i in Asia and I don't know anything yet.   >:(

Wow.  It's Tuesday in Mississippi too (but nobody here ever knows anything).


 :tinfoil:

 :lol:

I expect we'll hear something today.

Odds?  Maybe 20% chance he'll come to Bama?  10%??

Right now Marshall's wife is considering the offer....

 :popcorn2:

 :popcorn2:

(http://cdn.straightfromthea.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/835e1f7d87718178cad4bcc50a3fbdf3-820510054.gif)

A good report on yesterday....

http://www.al.com/sports/index.ssf/2015/03/monday_was_a_good_day_in_alaba.html#incart_river

"I am not leaving this computer until Marshall says YES!"

(https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CBcK0yEUkAA51EV.jpg)

It seems Coach Marshall would make up his mind pretty quickly because he will have a lot of work to do if he takes this job. This is the SEC and the big dogs are here. RTR!

Not looking good for Marshall. We might be in Plan B.






http://www.startribune.com/sports/gophers/298173661.html



 ???

How good is this Pitino? I don't much about him. RTR!

Rick Pitino's son. He's young and unproven. He did take his Minnesota team to the NIT last year and won it, but had a less than stellar season this year. Awfully wet behind the years, IMO.

Bingo!! Way too wet.

Things didn't go well the last time Bama hired the unproven son of a legendary coach.

Not so far off after all.   :think:

(It's that CM Newton Connection.)    :shh:

Here's some insight into what may be going on with Marshall.

http://www.al.com/alabamabasketball/index.ssf/2015/03/former_coach_gregg_marshall_fr.html

I hope CBB can get the Marshall family to T-town.  I always feel like it is a 'secret weapon'... a lovely place and nice place to live.  Ms Terrie and CNS went through the same transition that the Marshall's are contemplating and the Saban input could be persuasive.

I think we will know something about Marshall no-later-than 7am Thursday Tokyo time, for certain smart alecks out there.



 >:(

You mean 5 p.m. Wednesday?   :stars:

Here's something one of Marshall's colleagues brought up in the story:

And another voice chimes in about Marshall.




http://www.al.com/sports/index.ssf/2015/03/dick_vitale_says_itll_take_a_u.html#incart_related_stories

Couldn't the same be said for coaching in the SEC?  Well, except for the part about winning the conference every year...

The SEC has been ignored lately by the Tournament Selection Committee, getting substantially less bids than some other conferences. 

Yeah, they will pick a 21-10 ACC team over a 21-10 SEC team for the tourney, every time.

Based on this year's results, it will continue too.

 ;)

The answer to the question is yes, if the team is playing well.  We've seen this is in the past.  I was a student during Gottfried's best years, and there was genuine excitement surrounding the basketball team and Coleman was consistently full, even for second and third tier teams.

I've always believed that with the right coach Bama could become a great basketball school.  Until Saban arrived, no one in the admin cared whether basketball was good or not.  I'm glad to see that mindset is changing.  I hope we land Marshall and he can get things moving in the right direction. 

Well I have to ask what is the latest on the coaching search? Is Marshall coming or not? RTR!

The answer is........ (http://i440.photobucket.com/albums/qq126/ed263/Smileys/smiley-fingertap-gigi.gif) ......we're still waiting.

It will be 7:00 a.m. in Tokyo in 25 minutes.   MD?   ???

Finebaum said we should be getting an answer in the next hour or so. Does that count?



 :dog:






 :D

Finebaum speaks.




http://www.al.com/sports/index.ssf/2015/04/paul_finebaum_anthony_grants_r.html



 :popcorn2:

WSU reportedly working on an offer around $4.0MM per year.  I would think if they go that high, Marshall stays there.

http://espn.go.com/mens-college-basketball/story/_/id/12600968/wichita-state-shockers-working-new-deal-keep-coach-gregg-marshall

Of course that amount could be wrong.

Earlier on WA there was a quote from a post on the WSU message board saying that CBB gave Marshall until Friday to make a decision.  Also said his wife did not want to leave Wichita.  But who know what is going on.

I don't think the time in Tokyo matters anymore.

 :facepalm: :facepalm: :facepalm:







 :lol2:

I am reading and hearing Bill Battle is zeroing in on Murray State's Steve Prohm or Louisiana Tech's Mike White. Both are good young coaches who might be able to get the job done but it is a gamble. You take a 50/50 chance this will turn out well.

If we go this route CBB has lowered the bar. He said he was going after a proven winner. These guys are young and have potential but they only have one NCAA trip between them.

I will support who ever we hire. Reading message boards their are a lot of people that do not feel that way. I am was hoping for a home run hire that would get a buzz going during the offseason and give the fan base a reason to be excited about next year.

Going after a proven winner is one thing, finding one who will say yes is another.  As much as we love Bama, and as fondly as we remember the days of Wimp coaching Spreewell and Horry, winning three straight SEC Championships, Bama is not considered a top-notch job.  We're going to have to become a consistent tournament team with devoted fans in order to lure a proven winner to Tuscaloosa.  The way the fans bailed on the team the last two seasons might have influenced Marshall's decision.

Ben Howland went to Miss State, Barnes to UT and Pearl to the barn. We have more to offer than any of those schools. I appreciate the effort that we put into going after Marshall but swinging for a home run and missing is not good enough. My point is if you take the search public like CBB did and state you are going after a proven winner you need to hire a proven winner. If we end up with a young inexperienced coach we are looking for a diamond in the rough and that is a big gamble. I am still hoping there is a Plan B going on that is being kept quiet.

I remember one of the reasons Grant took the Bama job was because of Bama's past success.  Because of that, there is reason for a coach to believe he could also have success here.

But Bama's basketball clout is nothing like its football clout.  We're not Kentucky, Duke, or apparently Wichita State.  Coaches from major programs would consider Bama to be a lateral hire at best, and there is little incentive for most coaches to leave behind the players they recruited and the life they built to start over.  So there are a very limited number of coaches available for hire. 

Because of this, I'm not expecting a home run hire.  It's going to be a "cross your fingers and hope for the best" kind of hire.

Seth Greenberg is still available.

Also, Rick Byrd at Belmont.

Howland and Barnes had moderate success at schools in a better position for basketball success than Bama.  They may upgrades over the coaches they're replacing, but I don't see MSU or Tennessee suddenly developing into a national powerhouse.  Pearl has so much baggage I wouldn't want him at Bama.  Auburn got him because no one else would touch him. 

Honestly, I'd rather take a chance on an up and comer than hire someone who hasn't shown the ability to make a power conference team into a consistent contender. 

Moderate success? Howland has gone to the NCAA Tournament 10 times making the Sweet 16 twice and the Final Four 3 times. Rick Barnes has been to the NCAA 21 times. He has two Elite 8 and a Final Four appearance. At Texas he make the Tournament 16 out of 17 years.

I get the feeling that the choices are down to Richard Pitino, White and Prohm. Did Jacobson get a raise or contract extension at N. Iowa or something? I don't see why we aren't pursuing him. He's done a heck of a job there and I think he would be worth going after.

A  poster on WA floated the idea of Prohm (HC) and Mike Davis (Ass't HC) as a kind of 'combo' hire.  The idea being that Prohm can coach well and Davis can recruit really well.  Don't know if that makes any sense but I though it was at least thinking outside the box.

If CBB makes an unexciting hire, which he may have to do, then I'd guess there will be lots fewer season tkts sold for next year.

Tide to meet with Avery Johnson per ESPN.





http://espn.go.com/ncb/

Don't know about Avery as a recruiter...but I like him as a coach.

I just saw on Channel 13 news where Avery Johnson is being courted by Alabama now. If he says no, I wonder who is third in line. RTR!

With his NBA playing and coaching experience, he would have a lot to talk about. 

Johnson has never coached in college.  True the game is largely the same, but the mindset of the players is not.

http://www.al.com/alabamabasketball/index.ssf/2015/04/avery_johnson_alabama_search_2015.html

 :o :o :o

If it's on the internet, it has to be true.   :)

I don't know much about Avery Johnson but his NBA experience intrigues me. He might be just what we need.

I think hiring Johnson would create excitement around the Basketball team.  He had success in Dallas.  His personality seems well-suited for recruiting, and he knows the NBA game.  I think it would be a good hire.  No hire is a sure thing, but I'd be okay with Johnson.

IMO, he has always been a strong leader. I used to always get a kick out of him getting on David Robinson's butt. I can still hear his voice "Dave! Dave!" and then he'd light into him lol  They called him the "Little General" out here. I definitely think his style is suited to the college game.

It could turn out like the football team.  We whiffed on Rich Rod and ended up with Saban.   ;)

My question would be how much control would he have over the program? RTR!

Total if we are paying him $4 mil a year.


 :stars:

I can get excited about Avery Johnson. He can coach. I hope Bill Battle and Johnson both understand and discuss the importance of recruiting, development of players and promoting the program. There is a big difference in getting a high school player ready to play in the SEC than getting a first round draft pick ready for the NBA.

Another concern I have is why Bill Battle has taken this coaching search public. It looks to be like he is floating names around to get the fans reaction. I don't want a coach who can win the announcement press conference. I want a coach that can win games and compete for championships.

This article by Cecil says CBB has interviewed both Johnson and Prohm so you'd have to think one of them will get hired.


https://alabama.rivals.com/content.asp?CID=1753961

It's pretty hard to hide what you're doing these days, with all the press hounds, people following the company plane at the airport, etc. etc.

Good point.  Bill didn't go to the media willingly. 

It's Prohm.   :unsure:

I get the feeling that Battle is trying to send a message to the basketball world that Bama is serious about building a winner.  Perhaps even leaking dollar figures in the pursuit of Marshall in the hopes that a quality coach who was unhappy in his current situation would reach out.  Maybe Johnson was on the short list all along, maybe he heard Bama was willing to pay $4 million for a coach and made a phone call.  Who knows?

https://twitter.com/ESPNAndyKatz/status/584735646838870016

Avery Johnson would be a great hire. 

BAMA would be best served by a coach with professional level experience.

I think it is generally easier for a coach to transition from pro to college than from college to pro.

I share your concern about the coaching search going public.

Dubose was the people's choice.

Battle needs to be only concerned with what is best for the program.

I still think 5 - 7 year coaching window is a reasonable expectation.  They do not necessarily need to hire someone who will be in Tuscaloosa for 20 years.  That was the plan with Grant and here we are.