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...
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