🏀 Hello NIT

[TheChief]

PJ, do you think this is a staff that can ever think about a Final Four though? Be honest. If not, what are the University's goals for the program?

Personally, I can't see it. With these recruits, I don't think anyone would have ever considered that Bama would have a chance at Final Four. I know the staff gets the best they can get, but in reality I feel like Vandy fans must feel when it comes to football. Sure, you got some good players, but they ain't great. Forget about it when you play Bama.

Grant appears to be a good man and definitely a class act. But, it seems to me that if this were football, he'd be gone already.

 

[TideAlum05]

The thing that blows my mind is why on earth would you play at such a slow pace when you're playing a "4 guard offense?" It just doesn't make any sense at all. I'd rather us go back to playing 2 true bigs as our "normal" lineup. I know we can't really do that because we literally have 2 non walk-on bigs. But next year I'd like to see Jacobs out there with Gueye/Engstrom/Taylor (if he's as advertised as a rebounder defender).

 

[psychojoe]

I agree, I'd like for us to play two bigs as well, but this year we can't for the reasons you mentioned. Taylor may not be an answerright away. From what I have read and seen he is a very good defender but his offensive skills need work. Yep, another project. Shannon Hale, our other signee, may be nearer to helping right away.

I would klike to see Pollard develop his game to the point where he can be a 4. That gets Cooper back to being a 2/3 where he should be.

Chief, I don't see this team advancing to the final 4. We need that missing piece, else we have those impossible match ups I mentioned. Getting to the top is tough. Right now we need to get out of the middle of the pack, to the stage where we are always mentioned as a top 25 team, as we were in the days of Newton and Sanderson. That in itself will attract better players.

 

[bamaraider]

If we're trying to be more Wisconsin-esque, we need to be able to hit open shots consistently and player tighter on defense. Yes, our defense is better than most, but it was not that great. And a TRUE CENTER!! Gueye is good for defense, but my god how can you sign a guy that cannot play offense??? Engstrom the same.

We need to sign Isaac Haas. Another big man in the middle will give us good rotation inside and a lot more size upfront. Hale, Taylor, and possibly Haas is a good top 15 class IMO. We might need to go after another SG.

 

[Bo]

I think we missed Engstrom more than a lot of people realize.

 

[psychojoe]

I agree, Bo. People just weren't coming inside that much when he was in the game, and he had learned how to set picks and screens without fouling.

 

[ElephantStomp]

It's irritating beyond belief watching this team. I was excited when we hired AG, but that excitement is gone. Expecting us to be in the final four I think is unrealistic, but my god having a team thats in games and a team that can play offense (at least a little) and some defense.

The problem with firing Grant is who in the hell are we going to hire thats better?