🏀 Basketball coaching changes...

[TerryP]

A bit of deductive reasoning on my part here...

If you guys recall when we had just fired Gottfried my contacts in T-town were pointing to CM and saying he's got the influence in the hire. Grant was his guy and I admit I had a little fun laughing at all the Izzo speculation that started running rampant because I knew it wasn't true.

Fast forward to today...well, yesterday...spent a little while getting in touch with the same contacts that shared the Grant news back then. The one thing that I came away with is there's no "money movement" happening with boosters.

When we were after Saban, back in November of the year when Shula was drawing his last breath, there were moves with Associate AD's asking for boosters to pony up cash...right now, there's no moves like that with the basketball boosters.

It's something that won't sit well with some folks...but CM still has his power within the athletic department when it comes to basketball...more importantly, he's got Battle's ear. While the clock is definitely being set on Grant it's the opinion of Battle (and CM as the thread indicates) that Grant is a good coach. But, he's had a lot of bad breaks in his tenure.

Anywho...

There isn't any movement within the "money circles" around basketball right now that indicate they want to put a package together for another coach or they want to come up with the cash to buy Grant out.

 

[bamaraider]

Sweet mother of god, NOOOO

 

[bamaraider]

Well, I hope there is at least some moves for new assistants.

 

[psychojoe]

ere might have been an effort had we played poorly versus the boogs. Since we put together one of our stronger games, I think he is back. Barbee is probably toast for the boogs though.

 

[TideAlum05]

I believe we'll keep him unfortunately, but I think it just sets you up for mediocrity. What happens next year if we bubble the NCAA tourney? We'll have improved after losing our best player and at that point he's getting another year. I'm not shocked that CM is backing the guy that he wanted here in the first place.

 

[TheChief]

Has every single sport at Alabama had a higher national finish (in the school's history) than Bama basketball? Bama basketball has never been higher than number eight (in the Great Eight at the end of the season). Have all of the other programs finished higher? I'm doubtful in track and cross country. I'm doubtful in women's basketball. Baseball has been second twice. All the others have won championships, I think.

Talk about giving up on a sport!!! Geesh.

 

[TerryP]

Has every single sport at Alabama had a higher national finish (in the school's history) than Bama basketball? Bama basketball has never been higher than number eight (in the Great Eight at the end of the season). Have all of the other programs finished higher? I'm doubtful in track and cross country. I'm doubtful in women's basketball. Baseball has been second twice. All the others have won championships, I think.

Talk about giving up on a sport!!! Geesh.

Rhetorical question, I assume?

Volleyball, soccer, swimming and diving I'd assume. Women's soccer is a sport we should be doing well in but we're not. There's a case of not caring about a sport.

Volleyball is showing signs of life. Tennis is ranked higher than I can recall. Both of those, non-revenue sports.

Saying there's no money moves happening right now isn't saying there aren't critical eyes on the program right now. There is an attitude of ... puzzlement? I'm not sure that's the right word.

I understand the sport of basketball, think I understand what Grant wants out of a team, and still find myself in a bit of a state of disbelief.

I am fairly convinced if we get rid of Grant there's no option out there right now that's a solid hire. There's a lot that's going to be said about this team tonight. And what I think even more when we play Arkansas.

 

[alabama mike]

Women's basketball WAS a power back in the early 90's. If not mistaken, I think we finished number 2 one year. Rick Moody had some very good teams for awhile.

Mens basketball, even with Coach Newton and Coach Sanderson, HAS always been treated like a stepchild. For whatever reason, we would make the NCAA and never go deep in the tourney except for one or two times. In 76 we gave Indiana all they wanted and then we made the one run to the elite 8. I'd love to see 1/4 of an emphasis put on basketball as football. There is no reason IMO why Alabama basketball cannot be a regular player in the NCAA.

 

[psychojoe]

As much as I love basketball, I have to admit that our fan base is only excited about hoops when football is mediocre.

 

[bamaraider]

So I'm going to throw out some names, and tell me if they would be interested in the Alabama job:

1. Chris Mack (Xavier)- Sweet 16 his first year, 2nd round his his second year (was 24-8 overall and 15-1 in conference), Sweet 16 his 3rd year, 17-14 last year, and is currently 20-9 this year.

2. Jim Crews- been at Saint Louis for 2 years now. Got them to the 3rd round last year with a 28-7 record and is currently 25-4 this year ranked I believe 12th in the nation. Not sure how much his record has to do with the competition in Atlantic 10, but I've seen them play this year and they look impressive to me.

3. Shaka Smart- no chance IMO, just throwing him out there for the hell of it.

4. Tommy Amaker (Harvard)- I know he had a rough career at Michigan, but he's picked it up at Harvard. Obviously, some of you may remember he was a candidate for when Wimp stepped down but turned it down.


Not the best list, but its better than nothing.

 

[psychojoe]

Hard to tell with coaches Uming ftom mid major to major schools. Lets not forget that Grant had a top notch record at VCU. Stan Heath did well at the mid msjor but flsmed out at Arkansas. Bruce Pearl did very well at UT, but was caught in major rules violations. Better the one we know.