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Why not invest in the basketball program the same way we have football?

Posted on 11/7/18 at 2:48 pm
Posted by Goldtide1
Member since Oct 2018
2108 posts
Posted on 11/7/18 at 2:48 pm
Our athletic department isn’t broke. We turn a substantial profit every year. I don’t know the x’s and o’s of basketball so I’m not saying Avery Johnson isn’t the guy either, but why not spend what it takes to get this program where it could be? If that means going to find the best coach out there and write him a check for whatever he wants, then just do it. We just had one of the best players we’ve had in 20 years in Collin Sexton, and we almost missed the tournament. I also realize that we are making improvements to Coleman Coliseum and that should help out in recruiting a little bit.
This post was edited on 11/7/18 at 2:57 pm
Posted by Tide or Die87
Huntsville, AL
Member since Jan 2012
12953 posts
Posted on 11/7/18 at 2:53 pm to
You think having a new stadium will matter when we cant win on a consistent basis?
Posted by Goldtide1
Member since Oct 2018
2108 posts
Posted on 11/7/18 at 2:55 pm to
Yes, I think it will help boost recruiting. Probably not a ton, but I think it will help when you bring them in on visits and the gym isn’t 30 years old. They are also taking 4,000 seats out so that will make it easier to sell out and that matters to a recruit as well. It’s an illusion, but I think it matters. It’s better than walking in there and half of the seats are empty.
This post was edited on 11/7/18 at 3:01 pm
Posted by Sneaky__Sally
Member since Jul 2015
12364 posts
Posted on 11/7/18 at 2:57 pm to
Spending a ton of money doesn't guarantee anything though - much easier on football as its a traditional power.

Bama simply isn't going to compete with the top levels nationally. We will hopefully make the right hire and get up to consistently competing at the top of the SEC, but I don't think pouring money into the program will do a ton until the right coach is in place.
This post was edited on 11/7/18 at 2:59 pm
Posted by pvilleguru
Member since Jun 2009
60453 posts
Posted on 11/7/18 at 3:01 pm to
quote:

You think having a new stadium will matter when we cant win on a consistent basis?

When the question is investing in the PROGRAM, it goes beyond just the arena.
Posted by pvilleguru
Member since Jun 2009
60453 posts
Posted on 11/7/18 at 3:03 pm to
quote:

Why not invest in the basketball program the same way we have football?

I wish we would, but too much of our fanbase/boosters/decision makers cares too much about football, or at least too little about anything but football.
Posted by Goldtide1
Member since Oct 2018
2108 posts
Posted on 11/7/18 at 3:09 pm to
I don’t expect to be a top tier team, but with what our athletic department brings in a year I don’t think it’s too much to ask to make the tournament every year with a few deep runs every so often.
This post was edited on 11/7/18 at 3:11 pm
Posted by Sneaky__Sally
Member since Jul 2015
12364 posts
Posted on 11/7/18 at 3:16 pm to
I agree, but I think it has more to do with finding the right coach and I think we have tried - I've liked all the coaching hires when they were made - but just haven't found it recently.

ETA: We need to get the four year guys who we can (and hopefully will) develop and make runs as the team with guys who may not be as talented but have experience and have been well coached for 3 years IMO.

The one and done are great, generate a ton of excitement, but in the end don't do much for a team that doesn't have a lot of them, or doesn't have strong upperclassmen making up the base of the team.
This post was edited on 11/7/18 at 3:20 pm
Posted by McGregor
Member since Feb 2011
6313 posts
Posted on 11/7/18 at 3:21 pm to
quote:

I don’t think it’s too much to ask to make the tournament every year with a few deep runs every so often.


There's almost 350 DI college basketball teams, and about 32-35 invites outside of automatic bids depending on the year. Making the tourney is not an easy task.
Posted by RollTide4Ever
Nashville
Member since Nov 2006
18303 posts
Posted on 11/7/18 at 3:27 pm to
I would like to see elementary-h.s. programs get on the same page of bball development. In an ideal world, teams would run the Spurs Motion offense and half of a long season is solely dedicated towards developing fundamentals. Outlaw dunking and reward NBA shots with four points.

Michigan wins b/c their h.c. is a master at finding gems. That's why if Avery doesn't work, I hope Patrick Beilein is an option.
Posted by ALtoID
Boise
Member since Nov 2017
267 posts
Posted on 11/7/18 at 3:40 pm to
To answer your question...

Because the potential ROI is about 10x less than that of football. Among other smaller reasons.
Posted by SummerOfGeorge
Member since Jul 2013
102699 posts
Posted on 11/7/18 at 3:47 pm to
- Our coach is the 2nd highest paid coach in the SEC and the 15th highest in the country

- We are about to completely rebuild our arena.

- We have one of the highest recruiting budgets in the country.


Monetarily I'm not sure what else we are supposed to do.
This post was edited on 11/7/18 at 3:49 pm
Posted by TomRollTideRitter
Member since Aug 2016
12617 posts
Posted on 11/7/18 at 4:26 pm to
We invest enough into basketball money wise.

We are paying Avery a ton, the team travels as well as any team in the nation, our staff is allowed private planes to travel to any AAU event they want, and we are getting a massively overhauled arena soon.

quote:

We just had one of the best players we’ve had in 20 years in Collin Sexton, and we almost missed the tournament


This isn't really all that unusual. With the number 1 overall pick, Washington went 9-22 in 2016. One and done isn't usually a good model for programs other than the best of the best.
Posted by McGregor
Member since Feb 2011
6313 posts
Posted on 11/7/18 at 5:18 pm to
only 5 Power Five schools have made the tourney the past 6 straight years
1)kansas
2)duke
3)mich st
4)unc
5)arizona (and that one is likely coming to an end)

making it every year isn't very realistic.
This post was edited on 11/7/18 at 5:20 pm
Posted by phil4bama
Emerald Coast of PCB
Member since Jul 2011
11454 posts
Posted on 11/7/18 at 5:56 pm to
quote:

quote:
I don’t think it’s too much to ask to make the tournament every year with a few deep runs every so often.


There's almost 350 DI college basketball teams, and about 32-35 invites outside of automatic bids depending on the year. Making the tourney is not an easy task.



So despite the fact that our golf teams, our swim teams, our football team, our gymnastics team, and our wheelchair basketball team and probably some others I'm forgetting compete on a national level and have competed for championships, our men's basketball team is supposed to settle for not consistently being among the top 68 in the country?
Posted by McGregor
Member since Feb 2011
6313 posts
Posted on 11/7/18 at 5:59 pm to
nobody said anything about settling

it's more about perspective, more teams, more parity.
Posted by phil4bama
Emerald Coast of PCB
Member since Jul 2011
11454 posts
Posted on 11/7/18 at 6:03 pm to
We used to be consistently good enough to make the Sweet Sixteen regularly. With the right coach and the right mindset, we can do that again.
Posted by Lordofwrath88
Tuscaloosa
Member since Oct 2012
6855 posts
Posted on 11/7/18 at 6:08 pm to
Out of curiosity..

Who was the last Head Coach of Alabama Basketball who had previous experience as a proven College Head Coach? Just about everyone who recently previously comes to mind's best resume marks were as an assistant.

I hope we only come to this when Avery retires or is so successful here he's hired away, but I'd love to see our next coach be a guy with head coaching resume of multiple tourney success.



We keep hiring in terms of an up and comer, the hot assistant hire, not a legit program that deserves proven winning. Auburn did just that with their last hire and are reaping the benefits.
This post was edited on 11/7/18 at 6:14 pm
Posted by McGregor
Member since Feb 2011
6313 posts
Posted on 11/7/18 at 6:10 pm to
Gottfried I guess
Posted by RTR America
Memphis, TN
Member since Aug 2012
39600 posts
Posted on 11/7/18 at 6:23 pm to
quote:

We keep hiring in terms of an up and comer, the hot assistant hire, not a legit program that deserves proven winning. Auburn did just that with their last hire and are reaping the benefits.


We currently have a former NBA COY who coached in the fricking NBA Finals. That is better than anything on Pearl's resume.

We also chased after Gregg Marshall hard before hiring Avery.
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