🏀 What are your honest expectations for the basketball program?

[planomateo]

I was curious about how the SEC fared in the NCAA tournament, here is a quick snapshot (assumes Wikipedia is accurate). Data via NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Tournament bids by school - Wikipedia

 

[JoshB]

I was curious about how the SEC fared in the NCAA tournament, here is a quick snapshot (assumes Wikipedia is accurate). Data via NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Tournament bids by school - Wikipedia

View attachment 10828

That is so freaking depressing. 2004 man... 2004! I was in high school.

 

[planomateo]

Here is a different look. I highlighted the 32 in 1975-1978, as there were only 32 teams in the tournament. So making the Round of 32 is meaningless during those years.

 

[TerryP]

80% FT as a team

1 of 347 shooting 80% from the line as of today. The best conference wise is Ole Miss hitting just under 77%.

Funny thing about that graph, Matt, those Arkansas teams were intense with a lot of that starting from defensive pressure.

Defense. I'll be hard to convince this team couldn't make a good run if they played one.

 

[planomateo]

1 of 347 shooting 80% from the line as of today. The best conference wise is Ole Miss hitting just under 77%.

Funny thing about that graph, Matt, those Arkansas teams were intense with a lot of that starting from defensive pressure.

Defense. I'll be hard to convince this team couldn't make a good run if they played one.

Yes, I knew the FT % was a bit unrealistic.

Did CAJ warn us prior to the season about the teams defense for the season? I heard somewhere it was suggested.

 

[TerryP]

Did CAJ warn us prior to the season about the teams defense for the season? I heard somewhere it was suggested

I don't know. If he did, I missed the statement.

@#80 makes some good points about the things he's seen off this season. Did you notice how it all focused on offensive production? I'll continue to beat my own drum: defense—thinking it's the biggest issue this season.

 

[PurlJam]

Not to suck.

 

[UAgrad93]

@planomateo @TerryP I'd take 72% from the stripe every night and be thrilled to death. The lack of defense is what really drives me nuts! During the Grant years, it was stagnant, stand around lack of offense and chunk it up with 3 on the shot clock, but they played defense like wild men. This bunch does have movement on offense for the most part, but they still will take some really bad shots. Their defense, especially transition defense, is almost non existent.

 

[UAgrad93]

That is so freaking depressing. 2004 man... 2004! I was in high school.

Easy now!! I was in my 10th year teaching/coaching!!!

 

[TUSKtimes]

I want what Tennessee has, what Florida has enjoyed for over a decade, what LSU is building in Baton Rouge. To get that our AD has to hit on the next hire, period. Georgia, Miss State, Tennessee, Auburn took proven commodities with a track record and that investment, whether it works or not in the long run, is the only road we can travel this time. That means you pony up and our AD has to develop the same determined, not going to take no for an answer, as Mal Moore when he went coach hunting for you know who.


Lastly, I WANT what we enjoyed when CM Newton was our basketball coach.

 

[UAgrad93]

@TUSKtimes my question in the OP wasn't about this team in specifically BUT more so about the basketball program in general. I know that this team is what it is and it is one that isn't very tough mentally.

 

[TUSKtimes]

@TUSKtimes my question in the OP wasn't about this team in specifically BUT more so about the basketball program in general. I know that this team is what it is and it is one that isn't very tough mentally.

It's getting confusing in here. I'll stick it in "The State of Alabama Basketball"

 

[The Old Man and the Tide]

I want what Tennessee has, what Florida has enjoyed for over a decade, what LSU is building in Baton Rouge. To get that our AD has to hit on the next hire, period. Georgia, Miss State, Tennessee, Auburn took proven commodities with a track record and that investment, whether it works or not in the long run, is the only road we can travel this time. That means you pony up and our AD has to develop the same determined, not going to take no for an answer, as Mal Moore when he went coach hunting for you know who.

I wonder if Alabama would have hired any of the coaches at those schools right now. Passed on Pearl. Barnes didn't seem like a home run.

Was Duke any good before Coach K? I have no idea, but it seems like they are synonymous with basketball now - just as Alabama is with football.

Really though, thinking "occasionally make the Elite 8" is not realistic at Alabama. That has been done one time. Once.

Maybe we can just worry about football and forget about hoops.

 

[JoseyWalesTheOutlaw]

I wonder if Alabama would have hired any of the coaches at those schools right now. Passed on Pearl. Barnes didn't seem like a home run.

Was Duke any good before Coach K? I have no idea, but it seems like they are synonymous with basketball now - just as Alabama is with football.

Really though, thinking "occasionally make the Elite 8" is not realistic at Alabama. That has been done one time. Once.

Maybe we can just worry about football and forget about hoops.

Old man look at my life,
I'm a lot like you were.
Old man look at my life,
I'm a lot like you were.

Old man look at my life,
Twenty four
and there's so much more
Live alone in a paradise
That makes me think of two.

 

[TUSKtimes]

I wonder if Alabama would have hired any of the coaches at those schools right now. Passed on Pearl. Barnes didn't seem like a home run.

Was Duke any good before Coach K? I have no idea, but it seems like they are synonymous with basketball now - just as Alabama is with football.

Really though, thinking "occasionally make the Elite 8" is not realistic at Alabama. That has been done one time. Once.

Maybe we can just worry about football and forget about hoops.

You are probably right. But we have a new AD. I'm hoping with that comes new ideas and new approaches to old problems. The AD is the man with the plan. The single most vital link to any success our sports programs will enjoy anytime soon.

Beyond the baseball coach, he hasn't had to make the kind of hires an AD will get measured by during their tenure, However, the next basketball coach will say a lot about his judgement going forward. And it's mighty good practice for Byrne's biggest hire coming in a few short years.

 

[TerryP]

Seems like only yesterday when Nick's daughter said Tom Izzo was coming to Bama as the coach...……..

I've been trying to remember this for a few days now. Do you remember who it was that started, and pushed, that rumor? He was discredited as badly as we're seeing the anti-vax folks today.