re: 2017-18 Alabama Basketball Season Thread: 20-16 (10-11)

Why did we pay CAJ so much? Because Battle panicked when he left Witchita without a basketball coach. He had no fricking clue what he was doing and needed a quick fix. Remember, Avery inquired about the job, we didn’t go looking for him. Gregg Goff was Battle’s other hire after again, fumbling a perfect setup with the ECU coach. He lowballed him and blew the deal. How’d that work out for us?
We are overpaying Avery, there’s no doubt but it is what it is. And y’all are right, he’s struggling to figure some things out. That was one reason Pelphrey was brought in: as a former head coach, he should be there to help Avery with the college game. He’s been a disappointment so far. So has Pett just in the sense that he’s showing he’s still not ready for the big chair yet.
Obviously things can change rapidly but based on what we expect the roster to be next season and given a similar schedule, 20 wins and a tourney berth should be the absolute floor for expectations. I’m not writing this season off just yet, we still have a chance. But missing the Dance should warm Avery’s seat significantly, hopefully to the point he pursues and gets that Pelicans GM job. If we make it, I fully expect a one and done trip which buys Avery another year beyond next year.
I hope Greg Byrne has his short list handy. I think we’re probably going to need it.

Better hope Avery stays for nothing else to get Lewis and Watford. He leaves for a GM job we have zero shot at both kids. I understand the disappointment but this is what u get with 5 freshmen and 2 sophomores in your rotation, alot of highs and head scratching lows.

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That means if he has the kind of success I'm talking about he's going to making significantly more than that.

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I'd be more afraid of being Gus Malzahn'd by pulling a 2016 Syracuse

A few years of subpar performance puts Avery on a do or die season. Team makes NCAAT as a first 4 #11 seed and then makes an Elite 8 run or better

That leads to a huge salary increase + massive buyout in today's athletics

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I'd be more afraid of being Gus Malzahn'd by pulling a 2016 Syracuse 

A few years of subpar performance puts Avery on a do or die season. Team makes NCAAT as a first 4 #11 seed and then makes an Elite 8 run or better 

That leads to a huge salary increase + massive buyout in today's athletics

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Hell, I could see this team doing that. They get up for big games, so if they snuck into the tournament I could see them making a little noise. Some postseason success could at least justify a large salary though. I just don't want a situation where a guy with 1 NCAA tournament win in 4 seasons is making as much as Tom Izzo or Bob Huggins

I thought between 19-12 and 23-8.

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we could take an Auburn type leap next year.

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I'd say definitely in terms of consistency/overall play, but in terms of actual W/L results unlikely to be significantly better. The SEC top end should be significantly better whlie the middle probably is better and at worst similar


The SEC made a huge jump this year, but there appears to be an even bigger jump coming next year. I would say that SEC teams in the NCAAT in 2018/19 should be expected, 7 being a low number


Teams I expect in tournament

-UK: It's UK, likely return some 5*s + 3 more 5*
-UF: Should return serious talent + 3 Top 100 players
-TN: Return near entire team
-AU: Likely returns entire team
-UA: Returns key contributors + young talent
-USCe: Returns near entire team including Chris Silva
-MSU: Returns entire team + #16/#36 recruits
-LSU: Returns key plays + adds 2 5*s + other talent

Teams that could make a run to NCAAT birth
TAMU- May return a lot of talent but Billy Kennedy is coach
Ole Miss- Andy Kennedy always outperforms expectations + some interesting pieces in Tyree/King/others
Vandy - Play in that voodoo gym and have some talent + good recruting signings if healthy

Teams that will suck
Mizzou- Cuonzo sucks, along with their talent
Georgia- #Fox
Arkansas- Lose a ton of SRs and will be young with good not great talent

Having Sexton won't hurt our chances if it's close at the end. He has to be good for ratings.

and Gene, I don't think he meant we'd be 20-2 next year, just greatly improved as a squad.

I know I probably sound like a broken record at some point, but as long as Jr is getting serious minutes this team will never be able to play to its potential no matter who else is on the roster. He is no better than our walkons, yet he is out there for 10-15 minutes, if not a little more depending on injuries and foul trouble, every fricking game. During that time our offense pretty much always bogs down because we are playing 4 on 5 with a PG who can neither score nor facilitate.

I really think we are gonna get in with 18 wins....especially if BYU(who lost to Loyola Maramount) and Memphis who we beat on Neutral floors keep playing well.

Probably will be in Dayton with 18 wins but will be in IMO.