🏀 Big Karl is leaving

[psychojoe]

The school announced that Engstrom, who is graduating next month, will not return for a fifth year of eligibility. He will look into playing professionally in Europe. We wish him well in the future.

With Engstrom's departure, that gets us down to twelve scholarship players. Bessent, our transfer, Taylor and Jacobs are the only inside players among these twelve. There is speculation that Nick Jacobs, who took the leave of absence late in the season, may transfer as well. That would leave us dangerously thin n the post, forcing us to use Hale an Cooper inside much more than we would like.

With the late signing period coming up, we are definitely back recruiting, hopefully finding some inside depth.2222

 

[bamaraider]

Wish him the best elsewhere. Hopefully he can achieve his goals over in Europe and represent UA well.

I seriously hope Jacobs doesn't leave. We need him inside and he would be the man next year inside. Taylor is good and progressed, but still doesn't have the C/PF position fully down yet. Jacobs is faster in transition, has experience, can post up, and box out and do good on the backboards. We have no idea how Bessent will do.

 

[rolltide69]

Where is the Coach when these guys are trying to them something. Grant off to his best start yet since he has been there. Down hill

 

[bamaraider]

Algie Key is transferring too.

 

[TheChief]

http://www.al.com/alabamabasketball/index.ssf/2014/04/former_juco_all-american_algie.html


Plenty of excuses for next season.

 

[doemasters]

looks like i better start working on my jump shot, i might need to come in out of the stands and play

 

[TerryP]

Where is the Coach when these guys are trying to them something. Grant off to his best start yet since he has been there. Down hill

Hold on a second.

He's got his degree, and he's got one year of eligibility left. He's choosing to try his hand in the professional ranks.

And that's reason to criticize Grant...as if he's done something wrong? There are reason to criticize Grant; some good, some bad. Karl isn't a good one.

 

[UAgrad93]

Wish him the best elsewhere. Hopefully he can achieve his goals over in Europe and represent UA well.

I seriously hope Jacobs doesn't leave. We need him inside and he would be the man next year inside. Taylor is good and progressed, but still doesn't have the C/PF position fully down yet. Jacobs is faster in transition, has experience, can post up, and box out and do good on the backboards. We have no idea how Bessent will do.

Jacobs to me, is a cancer! He will not play defense. He gets shoved around on the boards. When he gets the ball on the block, he forces a shot up even if triple teamed. I know it puts us thin in the post, but I'd rather Jacobs move on!

 

[TerryP]

Jacobs to me, is a cancer! He will not play defense. He gets shoved around on the boards. When he gets the ball on the block, he forces a shot up even if triple teamed. I know it puts us thin in the post, but I'd rather Jacobs move on!

There's an assessment I agree with, wholeheartedly. It may speak to Grant's inability to relate, or get through to, players. I don't know. I suspect...but it's certainly a question and point of criticism.

It brings in the question of development as well. I have a hard time believing Grant can't coach defense. So, I'm left wondering if it's development issues—can't develop Jacobs or Jacobs doesn't want that type of development.

 

[UAgrad93]

[MENTION=12209]TerryP[/MENTION] Jacobs may be one of those type of kids like some of those that have gotten in Saban's doghouse only to be cut loose later. Get right or get gone! I think it is Jacobs not wanting to take to the coaching.

 

[UAgrad93]

Let me add this as well. I ran into Coach Sanderson earlier in the week. We exchanged a little chit chat, bracket talk, etc. I then asked him what he felt was the disconnect with Grant. His comment was, " Grant needs to establish a relationship with these HS coaches here in state and he can't do it with those DAMN silk suits!"

 

[psychojoe]

LOL. Maybe Wimp would loan him a few plaid jackets.

There was definitely a disconnect between Grant and some of his players. I certainly expected a lot more from this team, and especially from Jacobs. Obviously there is some kind of issue with his attitude. Coach Grant needs to have a come to Jesus meeting with him, and if Jacobs is not willing to change, he needs to leave. Even though we were thin, we actually played better after Jaobs tokhis hiatus. I agree that we would be better without a Jacobs with a "tude". It would be easy enough to find someone who will not play defense, scrap for loose balls, or rebound.

 

[TerryP]

Let me add this as well. I ran into Coach Sanderson earlier in the week. We exchanged a little chit chat, bracket talk, etc. I then asked him what he felt was the disconnect with Grant. His comment was, " Grant needs to establish a relationship with these HS coaches here in state and he can't do it with those DAMN silk suits!"

Calipari, recruiting Julius Randle, in one of "those DAMN silk suits."

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I agree with part of what Sanderson is saying here about establishing relationships with the HS coaches.

I am skeptical of how to go about that because now he'd be establishing relationships with a lot in the AAU circuit—a Pandora's Box.

I'm wondering...if we look at Grant and take into account the way he acts, speaks, and carries himself...how different is he as compared to HS coaches? Is that part of the disconnect?

 

[UAgrad93]

[MENTION=12209]TerryP[/MENTION] Wimp also made the comment that Grant "must do something to attract the fans and seem more charismatic!" He told me that he really didn't like saying a whole lot but he also seemed unsure if Grant was developing the talent.

 

[psychojoe]

I did hear over the week end that Jacobs is doing the off season conditioning work with the rest of the team. That certainly makes it look like he will be back. I am not sure how I feel about that. If he comes back convinced that he is going to give it a big effort in his senior season he can be a real asset.