Would you rather win 20 games in the regular season and go to the NIT or win 18 and go to the real tournament? Your post seems to express that you prefer the former. Grant has a winning record in conference play because the SEC is in it's worst slump ever. The SEC was actually a quality basketball conference when Gottfried was here. Why do you think we win 20 games and finish with 12 conference wins and get left out? You realize that 7-9 in the SEC used to get some teams in at-large, right?
Grant has won exactly 1 NCAA tournament game in his 7 year head coaching career (and that wasn't at Bama). In Gottfried's 4th year we were a #2 seed in the dance and won the league's regular season. We did choke in the tourney, but just getting a #2 seed is worlds better than anything Anthony Grant has done here. The only thing you're right about is that Gottfried isn't in the same class as Wimp and CM, but he is still very much ahead of Grant.
What I don't get is why your ilk love Grant so much? Hey, I can understand at least some of the Gottfried hate, but why do you have such blind faith in Grant? He's proven nothing and it is evident that a lot of his players hate playing for him.
For lack of a better way to put it, you're putting words in my mouth.
I've not professed an undying love for Grant. I've stated I'm not on the anti-Grant bandwagon. To me, there's a huge gulf in between those two islands.
I don't "hate Gottfried." I've lost respect for the man and that's largely based on things off the basketball court. I don't include his current tenure at NC State in my judgment in his coaching acumen. My opinions are based solely on what he did—in this case didn't do—while he was at UA. Case in point, the failure to move away from his high post offense when we didn't have the talents or personnel to run such effectively.
I alluded to player development in an earlier post. Let me go a little further on that subject for a second.
With TL, he certainly was highly touted on his arrival in Tuscaloosa. Going into this season some considered him to be the most talented player on the roster. Yet, in retrospect, where does he rank now? Third, fourth?
Now, when looking at player development, we've seen Releford develop into perhaps our most talented back-court player. If we are going to point to Grant and say there's a deficiency should we not also point to Trevor and consider his success?
The transfers do make me skeptical. However, when I look at those we lost from the season before last we've got as many that should have been gone as we do who left on their own accord.
In terms of the strength of the SEC as a conference, we have dealt with a few down years. However, the last two have given us an Elite 8 team along with a national championship.
I'm not disagreeing with you on the 20 win mark. It's not the same benchmark as it was a decade ago. However, it still bares consideration.
Winning road games? Winning conference records? In my opinion, that still carries weight.
