I'll take Kentucky in a close one...

Calipari turns the 'Cats around...

 

    Let me say that my personal regard for John Calipari is just less than I have for convicted sex offenders. He exemplifies the words slick and sleeze. About the only thing kind thing I can say good about the man is that Jim Calhoun hated him. Those two are a pair alright. Cheat and re-cheat as far as I'm concerned. Still, you have to give Calipari a tip of the hat for what he did in the last two weeks for so the Wildcats is pretty impressive. When they beat the Tide 55-48 in Lexington they looked pretty average. They grew from MildCats to Wildcats in a matter of weeks. What UCONN coach, Kevin Ollie has done with his team may be more impressive. He beat Florida twice. He was in a tough bracket and behind t strong guard play made it to the championship game. His team's inside game leaves a lot to be desired.  Good coaching makes a difference. The fact that he had to replace Calhoun and then took the Huskies to the big game is amazing. How hard was it to replace Calhoun? How hard will it be to replace Nick Saban? It's that sort of thing. In the AW era (after Wooden) his Huskies have a chance to win their forth national championship which is as good as anyone. People might think that Cinderalla wears Big Blue, but in reality it is the dark Huskie blue that the princess chose to wear. I'm an SEC guy. But it is going to hard to pull for a team that I think was bought and paid for. My proof? The history of Calipari. His Wildcats might be young, but if you think they came into the season unexperience you need to think again. His five starters played in over 300 AAU games before turning pro and signing with SEC bad boy Kentucky. 

     

The same holds true for almost all incoming freshmen these days. AAU ball has it own unique set of problems, but giving the players a chance to play against the other great players isn't one of them. I personally think that Florida pulled off the great robbery this season playing with a bunch who probably won't find their names called on NBA draft day. I think that Kentucky will because they are so strong inside. I think that UCONN has the edge in the guard department despite the Harrison twins heroic efforts in the Big Dance. One thing is for sure to me - it's not nearly as much fun watching the NCAA when your team is a fading ping in the world of basketball. But what a great tournament. It just proves that the NCAA Tournament is the biggest event in the NCAA bad of tricks. Kentucky by 6. 

Tide's woes continue...

Two more players leave...

        Woe is we so to speak. Two more players leave the program. I don't think it was much of a surprised that Carl Engstrom decided to go back to Europe. His playing time was going down next season with the addition of Michal Kessens. The departure of Algie Key was a surprise. I'm not sure why he has chosen to leave the program, but Coach Grant cited a limited number of minutes next season. He was a two time JUCO All-American who couldn't make an outside shot.

 We need some inside size...

 

NYC big man Delarosa down to four schools

    I'm sorry to say that none of this looks good for Grant's master plan. I call it the second five year plan per the old Soviet model. The Soviets would call the first five year plan successful even it was a miserable failure.  Grant maintains he thinks good is right around the corner, and his plan has been laid out.  I wish he'd actually condescend to talk with his fan base and at least give us a hint of what is going on in Tuscaloosa.  The coach continues to maintain that Bama is close. I hate that word. Close is a synonym for failure. The only time that close counts is in horseshoes, hand grenades, and atomic bombs. Charlie Brown, that gifted American wit, used to say that potential is the worst thing a person could have. In sports, when a coach tells you his team is "close" it means they are losers, or at least they are losing. That doesn't mean he doesn't sincerely believe what he is saying for public consumption. After all, he can't very well say we are so far from going to the NCAA that Auburn is going to get there first. I hope that's not true. Bruce Pearl is dynamic and exciting. He isn't John Wooden or Adolph Rupp. He is going to cause Bama some problems in the future but Grant can cause more for himself by poor recruiting and public  relations. Grant isn't Bruce Pearl in the personality department. Frankly, he just needs to be himself but try to ramp up his game a little. 

 

Bama needs some bodies...

 

Jeff Garrett still has 'Bama in his list...

   Pearl is going to make an impact at Auburn but that doesn't mean Grant can't make a bigger splash in his second chance at Alabama. Don't joke yourself - Grant has one year to make some substantial improvement in all areas of his program. He can start to gain a little bit of fan capital by signing a couple of good players this spring. You know the names we are after. One lists UAB as his top choice. The other is being pursued by Louisville. Louisville is a tough opponent.  The third, is a huge inside banger, and he is going to choose from South Carolina, Pitt, Bama, and maybe Rutgers. Those are four good programs. He is a Frank Martin type guy. Pitt and Rutgers are close to NYC. Bama has made it clear that playing time early is going to happen in Tuscaloosa. If the other goes to UAB it is a very serious problem for Grant and his program. Pearl is going to hit the JUCO ranks like a demon on speed. He'll get a couple of players.  The real question in my mind is whether Grant's tenuous future at Bama is going to cause him problems. My belief is that Pearl's arrival and this extra year is going to cause Grant work harder than ever. He is a hard worker already. Why he had success at VCU in finding players and has struggled some at Alabama is hard to understand. Logic would tell you that Alabama would be an easier place to recruit. The truth is that VCU is a better program right now. My personal opinion is that Grant believes VCU type players are better suited for his style of play. I'm not sure they are, but VCU has had a lot more success than Bama lately. 

 This is a big spring for Grant and the Tide...

     This spring is very important to Grant and his future at Alabama. Fans need something to give them some hope and confidence for the future. Battles understands that he clearly misjudged fan reaction for keeping Grant, and I think it caught him flatfooted. There is some serious love for the basketball program from long time and new Bama hoop fans. If Grant and Bama falls on his face next season and he's finished. If he has tremendous success (NCAA bid) he'll get an extension. It's that in between. It's that being close or closer that will put Battle in a bind.