Alabama Basketball & Close Losses

[Marshal Dillon]

Really, it is about more than coaching.  It's also about facilities, fan support, ESPN hype, NBA draft success, NCAA Tournament appearances and success, etc.  That is what drives quality recruits to a school.  That is what Bama is missing, for the most part.  That is why Bama can't recruit the top recruits, guys who can make the pressure shots, guys who can take over a game.  With the 1-and-done system, it has become more about the Joes than the Xs and the Os. 

So just accept the fact, that until fans show up in droves for every game, until Bama makes it to the NCAA Tournament every year and guys go in the NBA draft on a regular basis, that Bama is destined to be an above-average SEC but otherwise middle-of-the road basketball team.

Sorry to disagree. Everything starts with coaching. We have recruited good players, but they have not been developed, that is obvious. Winning brings the crowds, not fancy facilities. Cameron Area, Dukes place, has a paltry 10,000 capacity and was built in 1940. If we win, they will come. Everything else follows, upgraded facilities, better players, etc.

[bamaphil]

Excitement for basketball will never match football at Bama, but the crowds will come if the team is playing well and winning.  A championship program is going to be built over night, but if Bama doesn't even had a solid core by this point in Grant's tenure it's probably not going to happen.  He's now got a group of guys that have been in his system for several years and not only aren't getting better, seem to be getting worse. 

This team seems to have no motivation, no fire, no confidence, no identity, no offense.  This season is lost. 

I'm not sure the administration will fire Grant after this season, and I'm still not sure I want them too, but something has got to change or the next coach is going to come into another 3-4 year rebuilding project. 

[Jamos]

Really, it is about more than coaching.  It's also about facilities, fan support, ESPN hype, NBA draft success, NCAA Tournament appearances and success, etc.  That is what drives quality recruits to a school.  That is what Bama is missing, for the most part.  That is why Bama can't recruit the top recruits, guys who can make the pressure shots, guys who can take over a game.  With the 1-and-done system, it has become more about the Joes than the Xs and the Os. 

So just accept the fact, that until fans show up in droves for every game, until Bama makes it to the NCAA Tournament every year and guys go in the NBA draft on a regular basis, that Bama is destined to be an above-average SEC but otherwise middle-of-the road basketball team.

Good post, you are exactly right.

[pmull]

Really, it is about more than coaching.  It's also about facilities, fan support, ESPN hype, NBA draft success, NCAA Tournament appearances and success, etc.  That is what drives quality recruits to a school.  That is what Bama is missing, for the most part.  That is why Bama can't recruit the top recruits, guys who can make the pressure shots, guys who can take over a game.  With the 1-and-done system, it has become more about the Joes than the Xs and the Os. 

So just accept the fact, that until fans show up in droves for every game, until Bama makes it to the NCAA Tournament every year and guys go in the NBA draft on a regular basis, that Bama is destined to be an above-average SEC but otherwise middle-of-the road basketball team.

Good post, you are exactly right.

I do not believe teams like Drexel, South Florida, Xavier, Dayton, VCU, Mercer and Tulane have better players than us. If they do the recruiting gurus were wrong. We are a long way from being a Duke, Mich St or Kentucky but their is no reason we are not a top 50 team with our current resources.

[Catch Prothro]

I do not believe teams like Drexel, South Florida, Xavier, Dayton, VCU, Mercer and Tulane have better players than us. If they do the recruiting gurus were wrong. We are a long way from being a Duke, Mich St or Kentucky but their is no reason we are not a top 50 team with our current resources.

Those teams you name succeed with senior leadership.  But that is a cyclical thing, teams won't be successful every year.  And I'm not sure Bama consistently out-recruits teams like Wichita State, which got a commitment over Bama recently.

Bama might have that senior leadership in a year or so, if current players stick around.  Right now Bama is competing against the young-and-done model realized at major schools, except Bama has less guns.  I'm not saying there is no coaching fault here; I would like to see more player development.  But CAG did have success at VCU, which is why Bama hired him in the first place. 

(While I mentioned facilities, I didn't mean to suggest that was a factor at Bama.)

Mostly it is a public perception issue, among recruits who know what schools get the hype, get into the Tournament, and (most importantly) get their players drafted.   And also among the fans, some of whom seem to believe that purchasing tickets is the same as "supporting the team."

[pmull]

We have the # 6 class in the nation signed to come in next year. CAG has recruited well except at the post position. Until we can get decent post play we will be an NIT team.

[Catch Prothro]

We have the # 6 class in the nation signed to come in next year. CAG has recruited well except at the post position. Until we can get decent post play we will be an NIT team.

Post and outside shooting both could use an upgrade, although there is some potential there. 

[pmull]

We have the # 6 class in the nation signed to come in next year. CAG has recruited well except at the post position. Until we can get decent post play we will be an NIT team.

Post and outside shooting both could use an upgrade, although there is some potential there. 

IMO outside shooting will improve with a solid post player.

[Marshal Dillon]

Why is it that teams like Belmont & Mercer can get so many players who can hit outside shots like crazy, but we can't? Same goes for Butler which came from nowhere with guys who could shoot the lights out. What are we missing? Most of these players are white, so I don't know if they are being overlooked because there is a prevalent attitude in basketball that most white guys can't play the game. Charles Barkley & others have said that over the years.


 

[pmull]

According to Vegas we were the favorite in 4 of the 6 losses. We should be at least 8-3 in stead of 5-6.

[roll tide roll]

So just accept the fact, that until fans show up in droves for every game, until Bama makes it to the NCAA Tournament every year and guys go in the NBA draft on a regular basis,

All of these things were happening in the not so distant past.

When Wimp was in Tuscaloosa BAMA was #2, behind UNC, for active players in the NBA.  BAMA continued to consistently send players to the next level with both Hobbs and Gottfried as head coaches.

that Bama is destined to be an above-average SEC but otherwise middle-of-the road basketball team.

I would be happy with this, but as of now this is not the situation.  As of now, BAMA is a middle of the road SEC basketball team, and that is being generous.

Wins fill seats.  Coaching brings wins.

[Jamos]

So just accept the fact, that until fans show up in droves for every game, until Bama makes it to the NCAA Tournament every year and guys go in the NBA draft on a regular basis,

All of these things were happening in the not so distant past.

When Wimp was in Tuscaloosa BAMA was #2, behind UNC, for active players in the NBA.  BAMA continued to consistently send players to the next level with both Hobbs and Gottfried as head coaches.

that Bama is destined to be an above-average SEC but otherwise middle-of-the road basketball team.

I would be happy with this, but as of now this is not the situation.  As of now, BAMA is a middle of the road SEC basketball team, and that is being generous.

Wins fill seats.  Coaching brings wins.

Coaches don't win games, players win games. It's amazing that the players can look so good at times and then look so bad at other times. This tells me that the players have been coached if they can play so well at times. Again I'm not taking up for the coaches but I'm not throwing them under a bus either. These players can do a lot more than they have been showing because I've been there and watched them do it.

[Marshal Dillon]

So just accept the fact, that until fans show up in droves for every game, until Bama makes it to the NCAA Tournament every year and guys go in the NBA draft on a regular basis,

All of these things were happening in the not so distant past.

When Wimp was in Tuscaloosa BAMA was #2, behind UNC, for active players in the NBA.  BAMA continued to consistently send players to the next level with both Hobbs and Gottfried as head coaches.

that Bama is destined to be an above-average SEC but otherwise middle-of-the road basketball team.

I would be happy with this, but as of now this is not the situation.  As of now, BAMA is a middle of the road SEC basketball team, and that is being generous.

Wins fill seats.  Coaching brings wins.

Coaches don't win games, players win games. It's amazing that the players can look so good at times and then look so bad at other times. This tells me that the players have been coached if they can play so well at times. Again I'm not taking up for the coaches but I'm not throwing them under a bus either. These players can do a lot more than they have been showing because I've been there and watched them do it.

Jamos, be honest. Do you really, really believe that this Alabama football team would be 11-1 with Mike Shula as head coach or the 2009 team would be 14-0? They both would be 8-4 at THE VERY BEST. Look at Chiznik last year & Malzahn this year. All the great teams win with great coaches.


 

[Catch Prothro]

Jamos, be honest. Do you really, really believe that this Alabama football team would be 11-1 with Mike Shula as head coach or the 2009 team would be 14-0? They both would be 8-4 at THE VERY BEST. Look at Chiznik last year & Malzahn this year. All the great teams win with great coaches.

Shula actually did OK given the players he had and scholarship reductions.  He wasn't as bad as you guys like to make him out.  Bama started out 9-0 in 2005 but ultimately lacked the depth to compete with LSU and then Auburn at the end of the season.  Losing Prothro didn't help either.

[Marshal Dillon]

Jamos, be honest. Do you really, really believe that this Alabama football team would be 11-1 with Mike Shula as head coach or the 2009 team would be 14-0? They both would be 8-4 at THE VERY BEST. Look at Chiznik last year & Malzahn this year. All the great teams win with great coaches.

Shula actually did OK given the players he had and scholarship reductions.  He wasn't as bad as you guys like to make him out. Bama started out 9-0 in 2005 but ultimately lacked the depth to compete with LSU and then Auburn at the end of the season.  Losing Prothro didn't help either.

We fans have very short memories. We beat NOBODY in 2005 and when we played 2 good teams, LSU & Auburn, we lost. Also, he was 6-6 the next season. Plus, don't you think it strange that such a "good" coach has not had ONE SINGLE head coaching job in the last 7 years? Sounds like a hot commodity to me.


 

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