Sunday was a sad one for 'Bama fans...
Remember the
good old days? The days when Selection Sunday meant something to Alabama? Those
were the salad days for an Alabama hoops fan. No more. Now Selection Sundays
are like drinking castor oil. It's now a bitter day. It's nothing more than a reminder
of better days when things were done in better ways. It's like a slap in the
face or a knife to the heart. Not invited. We are no longer even overlooked. We
are an afterthought. Basketball is a game where recruits look at the here and
now. The longer this dry spell continues the harder it becomes to ever come
back.
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| Kessens throws one back on McDermott |
I have no
doubt that we will return to play in the NCAA Tournament again. I guess there
is some solace at looking at a lot of teams that made the field had a hard time
beating us. Perhaps that's just salt in
the wound. Bill Battle said that basketball is a sport that the margin between
winning or losing is narrow. I find that an incredulous statement for our AD to
make. The margin between winning and losing is always small. The key to winning
and not losing is finding ways to widen that margin. We lost a lot of close
games. The losing margin was close but not, to steal from Somerset Maughn, a
razor's edge. It was like a dull blade. Losing is losing and there is no way
around that. I think that what hurts me more than anything is that the last
five years have occurred in a period when SEC was really bad. How little more would it have taken to rise
above all the riff-raff play in the SEC Conference? The answer, in my opinion, wasn't very much
at all. It is true that Grant inherited a mess. In all fairness, it's a worse
mess now. Perhaps our the incoming class of recruits and transfers will be a
smaller version of fab five. The SEC
will be marginally better next season.
1. Florida - don't see how
they can lose that many seniors and be really better.
2. Kentucky - Who knows? I personally don't follow professional
basketball
3. LSU - If the inside returns and a couple of good
guards are signed, its looking up.
4. Arkansas - Will be very
good and not so hot and cold
5. Vandy - much improved,
Vandy is always solid
6. Miss. State - can't be any
worse
7. South Carolina - much
better. Frank will get them over the hump
8. Missouri - great basketball tradition will keep Tigers
going even with Ha
9. Ole Miss - As long as
Kennedy coaches in the talent rich State of Mississippi
10. Auburn - Don't expect
much at the toughest job in NCAA?
11. Georgia - I'm looking for
the Dawgs to get better - to much talent in Atlanta to be bad
12. Tenn. - Martin is not
popular. A token appearance NCAA probably won't help
13. TAM- Texas is a hot spot
for college players. Hoops looking up in College Station
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| The New Point Guard? |
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And so that
leaves Alabama. Here's the first question we have to ask. If you lose the best
player in the SEC what happens next? Will five really good additions make up
the difference? I believe the answer to
that is a resounding yes. In fact, the Tide may be one of the most talent laden
teams in the SEC sans Trevor. Tarrant
is very good. Either he or Obasahan might grow into a point guard. Or they may
never have the chance. In my opinion Coleman is likely to end up at the point
and Tarrant at the two. Retin will always have a place as the sixth man. Then
the other two freshman figure in the mix. Both shoot exceptionally well. So does Justin. They'll get a load of minutes
as the season unwinds. The next question is what about the inside? Can Michael
Kessens help us to turn around the paint. Let me put it this way - If Taylor
can improve over the summer then we can turn Michael loose on the interior. He'll
be able to play the power forward. He can also play the post, and he can score.
Michael can rebound, and he is a good outlet passer. His defense is a little
harder to judge because his practice sessions haven't caused him to really
prove much at all. Don't forget Nick Jacobs. He could be back and I'd bet with
a new attitude. Don't sell his offensive contribution short.
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| Pleasant Grove's Tarrant is very good |
The final question is this - with Grant at the helm will it
matter? I hope so. I'm wishing him all the luck in the world. I believe we will
be much improved. How much of that is due to coaching will be determined. Grant
can x's and o's with any of them regardless of what people think. It is not the x's and o's that I'm concerned about. I
have no doubt in my mind about that. Can he start getting better players like
the five newcomers? Can he sell the program and himself to the fans? Good
players will. But from my little corner of the world the it's not the coaching.
It's about the recruiting and selling himself. I don't know if Grant cares to
reinvent himself or not. He should.
Pearl is outgoing and his enthusiasm is infectious. He is a man of the people and fans love him. He is going to pack the AU arena in short time. His animation and motivational techniques are second to none. He puts himself out there, warts and all. His energy is palpable. What about Anthony Grant? I once said Grant was the role model for zombies on AMC's The Walking Dead. He is subdued to point of wondering if he has a pulse. Does he work the fan base? Does he implore the fans to get involved? What is his relationship with life long fans? A lack of enthusiasm is just as contagious. I wonder how he is on recruiting trips? Do you think kids are breaking down the doors to come to Tuscaloosa? None of this is to say that Anthony Grant isn't a fine human being. Maybe the kindest thing you could say about Grant is that he nice but stoic. Bruce Pearl is the energizer bunny. Anthony Grant looks as if he got a letter from the IRS and it isn't a refund. If next year starts off poorly we can rename Coleman Coliseum Grants Tomb. 
