re: Avery Johnson's Coaching Staff

Anybody else want to call him Coach Popsicle?

"Basically retrain" speaks volumes about the damage done by Grant's coaching.

Still having troubles with boxing out and rebounding from what I've heard

fricking hated getting destroyed on the backboards

CAJ talking about filling up their nonconference schedule

Avery Johnson updates on schedule

quote:

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The Alabama basketball coach is also trying to fill a schedule for his first season with the Crimson Tide. Non-conference schedules are starting to come out around the nation, but Alabama's is still under construction.

"We're getting closer," he said Monday. "I want you to know I'm a man of my word. We are getting closer, but we still have some work to do with some of the games we're scheduling. Hopefully ... we have some contracts that have gone out, hopefully we'll have some news on that."

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It would be nice to schedule a home-home with Wichita State. I went to the game last year in Wichita and those fans have some damn bitterness about Alabama. Cool venue, just their fans do not like Alabama for some reason. Bet they hate us now after almost stealing their coach away. I've enjoyed their games. Always close and intense.

I'm sure this year we will see garbage teams on the non conference schedule outside of Oregon and the Orlando Classic. We play at southern miss but they won't be any good. I would like us to try to start scheduling teams for Johnson's 2nd season like Belmont, Murray State, Mercer, and La Tech though. Mid majors that you should beat and that will really help your RPI.

Don't get me wrong, I love having CAJ. He's already brought energy, exposure, and actual hype to a basketball program that has faded since mid-Gottfried years, but you can't tell me that if we hired Gregg Marshall, that it wouldn't have instantly impacted the national perception of Alabama basketball. I mean there would be instant talk of Alabama possibly becoming a contender in the SEC and March Madness. But I am happy to have Coach Johnson. He's already great for the program and has me excited for basketball season.

Anthony Grant had the same flashy resume that Greg Marshall did before getting to Alabama. I believe in CAJ.

Marshall has been to the NCAA 11 times, compared to Grant who had only been twice before arriving at 'Bama and the farthest he ever gotten was the 2nd round. Marshall has been to the final four once, elite eight once, and the sweet 16 3 times.

Look, I agree about Johnson. I believe in him too and I think he is the coach to get us where we want. Great man, has been very Saban-esque in terms of working your arse off, and is doing a great job at marketing the program and getting good vibes from all around. But I'm not going to sit here and lie and say I would rather have Johnson than Marshall (at the moment). Marshall has proven that he's a great college coach. He put Wichita State on the map and has them competing year in and year out in March Madness. But like I said, I do think Johnson is a quality HC and I believe he will get Alabama to be respected and a SEC and National contender.

Marshall would've been Fran 2.0