Started By
Message
0
Posted on 3/6/13 at 8:35 am to BigBird09
quote:
I wasn't terribly upset with the way we played the game.
We showed up with no intensity in either half. We had no idea how to switch on Henderson and keep him from getting open. Then we opened the 2nd half in the same way. It was a terrible performance, but something I kinda expect with this team and staff. I don't think anything will change with Grant and we'll just be a perpetual bubble team. He has no fire about him. A lot of times the team plays with that same demeanor.
Posted on 3/6/13 at 9:20 am to Bryant91092
Yeah...coming back to make it a close game at the last minute doesn't excuse the first 37 minutes in any way. In fact, it probably makes them worse. In those last 3 minutes, they had nothing to lose and just did whatever. And, unsurprisingly, they actually looked pretty good. They did what this team is built to do. Guard oriented teams simply have to live and die by the 3 and transition baskets. Grant seems to want to avoid this at all costs and play like we have a tremendous distributor at PG and a couple of bangers in the post.
I honestly don't even know why we bother with the pressure defense to be honest. What good are turnovers and long rebounds off missed jumpers if you have no fricking clue how to run a break, on the rare occasions that you do? Unless it's a fricking 3 on 1, they are lost. With the roster as it is currently composed, plus the guys coming in next year, we need a coach who is going to run. We aren't built for a halfcourt game now, and we won't be next year either. Turnover, everyone runs hard to their positions down the court, catch the defense before they are set, find an open shooter on the wing for a 3, take it to the basket, or find a cutter for an easy layup. It isn't fricking rocket science.
I honestly don't even know why we bother with the pressure defense to be honest. What good are turnovers and long rebounds off missed jumpers if you have no fricking clue how to run a break, on the rare occasions that you do? Unless it's a fricking 3 on 1, they are lost. With the roster as it is currently composed, plus the guys coming in next year, we need a coach who is going to run. We aren't built for a halfcourt game now, and we won't be next year either. Turnover, everyone runs hard to their positions down the court, catch the defense before they are set, find an open shooter on the wing for a 3, take it to the basket, or find a cutter for an easy layup. It isn't fricking rocket science.
Posted on 3/6/13 at 9:50 am to Robot Santa
I don't think we should play at the speed of Arkansas, but like you said earlier, we also shouldn't be playing Wisconsin type basketball with the guys we have. I read an article today with Ben Howland about how he finally gave in and let his guys just play. They play better when you give them freedom on offense.
Posted on 3/6/13 at 10:07 am to Robot Santa
quote:
coming back to make it a close game at the last minute doesn't excuse the first 37 minutes
We covered by a half point
Posted on 3/6/13 at 10:08 am to Bryant91092
quote:
I don't think we should play at the speed of Arkansas, but like you said earlier, we also shouldn't be playing Wisconsin type basketball with the guys we have. I read an article today with Ben Howland about how he finally gave in and let his guys just play. They play better when you give them freedom on offense.
There would be nothing wrong with Arky's tempo if they actually had good players. But no, I don't think we could be effective at that pace either.
Our problem is the fact that everyone on the team is hesitant to pull the trigger with the exceptions of Releford, Lacey, and Retin. The rest of them double clutch and pass up open shot after open shot. I don't know if it's Grant telling them to be patient and them taking that way too literally or if he actually gets onto them about taking quick shots. But at the end of the day, if you are a guard and you have an open look, you need to take the shot. Doesn't matter if there are 2 seconds left on the shot clock or 32. You have to take it.
Posted on 3/6/13 at 10:12 am to Robot Santa
Remember a couple years ago when we said 2012 and 2013 would be our great recruiting classes and that this year would be the year we make the sweet 16? Now the people that can't admit that Grant isn't everything we had hoped keep saying it takes a long time to build a program and he's a classy guy. We are idiots expecting results so soon. They say next year we'll be good. At what point does next year become this year?
Posted on 3/6/13 at 10:36 am to Bryant91092
I saw this on bamamag: I don't know how accurate it is, but if it's true, wow:
"The wins can be dressed up, but the reality is in the past 3 seasons Alabama has beaten a total of 5 teams ranked inside the RPI top 50 (2 in the first, 3 in the second, and 0 this year...total record against the top 50 is 5-16 or slightly less than 25% winning percentage). Alabama has been ranked inside the RPI top 50 just once in the last 3 years. Given that, 20 wins doesn't get me too excited."
"The wins can be dressed up, but the reality is in the past 3 seasons Alabama has beaten a total of 5 teams ranked inside the RPI top 50 (2 in the first, 3 in the second, and 0 this year...total record against the top 50 is 5-16 or slightly less than 25% winning percentage). Alabama has been ranked inside the RPI top 50 just once in the last 3 years. Given that, 20 wins doesn't get me too excited."
Posted on 3/6/13 at 10:49 am to Bryant91092
Yep, 20+ total win seasons and good conference records may look pretty good to an outsider but both are largely attributable to the state of the SEC. We're very average and it's shown against the few decent teams we've played.
Posted on 3/6/13 at 11:05 am to Bryant91092
quote:
I saw this on bamamag: I don't know how accurate it is, but if it's true, wow:
"The wins can be dressed up, but the reality is in the past 3 seasons Alabama has beaten a total of 5 teams ranked inside the RPI top 50 (2 in the first, 3 in the second, and 0 this year...total record against the top 50 is 5-16 or slightly less than 25% winning percentage). Alabama has been ranked inside the RPI top 50 just once in the last 3 years. Given that, 20 wins doesn't get me too excited."
Sounds about right. Honestly I'm kind of surprised we have 5 top 50 wins under Grant. The only notable win I can think of was against UK in Coleman a few years ago, and that team sucked away from Rupp until they got hot going into the tournament. I guess we beat Pearl at UTk a couple of times too. Our OOC performance under Grant has been nothing short of a fricking disaster though.
Posted on 3/6/13 at 11:09 am to Bryant91092
I know you don't want to hear it, especially from me, but next year. For me it always has been. I thought that there was a possibility we could be a better team this year, but that would have been relying on everyone staying healthy. I was never too hyped about the 2012 class other than the chance of landing Pollard or Cauley. Once UK swooped in and got Cauley, I thought Pollard was the only shot we had for a decent 1 or 2 man class, turns out I was wrong, for now at least. I was very excited about the 2013 class, but that shite got ugly quick. It's easy to blame Barber for that, but with the fact that Coach K didn't even offer a top 3 PG begging for one, it probably should have raised some red flags. After that, shite just went south, quick. Our plan B changed his mind and decided early, JJ chose the more talented class, and we have pretty much swung and missed on every other back-up plan we've gone after. It's been a terribly disappointing 2013 class, but even so we did still end up filling our biggest needs for next year in this class. Even if they aren't any better than the ones we have now, we will be a much improved team just with the depth they'll provide. As for the 2014 class, I had been pretty vocal about how I didn't see a great 2014 recruiting class most everyone else saw before the season, but now, especially with Coleman bursting on to the scene, I don't think it is going to be great or anything, but it will be a pretty solid class granted we land a good PG. With the instate class we have, it'll be pretty hard for us to completely screw this shite up.
If we are in this same boat next year of either missing or squeaking into the tournament, I will pay a fricking membership fee if I have to and join the "Fire Anthony Grant" club if they allow me. He has his roster management error alleviated, he has the depth he needs, he has the "experience" he has wanted, and there aren't any excuses I can see for us not having that top 25ish team (Our whole team catching the bubonic plague, maybe?).
If we are in this same boat next year of either missing or squeaking into the tournament, I will pay a fricking membership fee if I have to and join the "Fire Anthony Grant" club if they allow me. He has his roster management error alleviated, he has the depth he needs, he has the "experience" he has wanted, and there aren't any excuses I can see for us not having that top 25ish team (Our whole team catching the bubonic plague, maybe?).
Posted on 3/6/13 at 11:16 am to Robot Santa
My biggest question about Grant is the losing stretches we go through. Every year we have this resume-killing stretch of playing piss-poor. His teams are so unbelievably streaky.
This post was edited on 3/6/13 at 11:18 am
Posted on 3/6/13 at 11:17 am to BigBird09
quote:
If we are in this same boat next year of either missing or squeaking into the tournament, I will pay a fricking membership fee if I have to and join the "Fire Anthony Grant" club if they allow me. He has his roster management error alleviated, he has the depth he needs, he has the "experience" he has wanted, and there aren't any excuses I can see for us not having that top 25ish team (Our whole team catching the bubonic plague, maybe?).
Are we really going to be much different next year though? I used to be in this boat, but after watching this team fail to improve at all over the course of the last 4 months I'm pretty skeptical. Is Randolph going to suddenly become an aggressive player over the summer? Is Lacey going to stop being retarded with the ball and lazy as frick on defense? Is Releford going to learn how to run a fast break where there is more than 1 defender in front of him? Is Pollard going to learn how to play basketball? Is Gueye going to become Hakeem Olajuwon? None of these things are likely to happen. Taylor has no post game and Hale is more of a stretch 4 than a banger.
Remember when Auburn fans argued before last season that their football team would be better because they were young in 2011? Well...poorly coached, shitty players just become older poorly coached, shitty players with another year of experience under their belts. That is what I see in our future.
This post was edited on 3/6/13 at 11:19 am
Posted on 3/6/13 at 11:24 am to Robot Santa
quote:
Are we really going to be much different next year though? I used to be in this boat, but after watching this team fail to improve at all over the course of the last 4 months I'm pretty skeptical. Is Randolph going to suddenly become an aggressive player over the summer? Is Lacey going to stop being retarded with the ball and lazy as frick on defense? Is Releford going to learn how to run a fast break where there is more than 1 defender in front of him? Is Pollard going to learn how to play basketball? Is Gueye going to become Hakeem Olajuwon? None of these things are likely to happen. Taylor has no post game and Hale is more of a stretch 4 than a banger.
Valid questions and points, and to be honest I'm not sure any of that happens. That's what next year will determine.
Posted on 3/6/13 at 12:46 pm to Robot Santa
quote:
Are we really going to be much different next year though? I used to be in this boat, but after watching this team fail to improve at all over the course of the last 4 months I'm pretty skeptical. Is Randolph going to suddenly become an aggressive player over the summer? Is Lacey going to stop being retarded with the ball and lazy as frick on defense? Is Releford going to learn how to run a fast break where there is more than 1 defender in front of him? Is Pollard going to learn how to play basketball? Is Gueye going to become Hakeem Olajuwon? None of these things are likely to happen. Taylor has no post game and Hale is more of a stretch 4 than a banger.
Remember when Auburn fans argued before last season that their football team would be better because they were young in 2011? Well...poorly coached, shitty players just become older poorly coached, shitty players with another year of experience under their belts. That is what I see in our future.
That's exactly how I feel, especially the Auburn part. Just because you get older doesn't mean you get better. The coach has to make you better and the player has to want to be better.
Posted on 3/6/13 at 5:34 pm to Bryant91092
i see a lot of our guys being over seas pro players..This tells you all you need to know about their development under AG
Posted on 3/6/13 at 6:03 pm to mrbroker
Ill tell you what. A lot of this goes on CAG but a lot goes on the players as well. I go to the same gym as Lacy goes to in the summer and he rarely plays like he is to good to get on the court. All they want to do is get on twitter and post pictures and frick hoes.
Posted on 3/6/13 at 8:07 pm to mrbroker
If a lot of our guys are playing professionally overseas that actually speaks well of their development under Grant and I don't think that's what you're trying to do. You can't expect 'a lot of our guys' to develop into NBA players. There aren't many programs that do that.
As for the big picture, I've been the biggest Grant supporter since day one. I still do support him, but I'm teetering on the edge and like Bird, if we're back here next year I'm done. Until this season, the program seemed to be moving in the right direction from year to year. This year had obviously been a move in the wrong direction. I want to see how he responds and evaluates himself and his program in the off season. I don't think this season is reason enough to abandon all hope and faith, but there are certainly things that need changing. To be fair, some of you also know that Gottfried is one of my least favorite people on this planet, so I'd probable prop his successor up too much no matter what. I know many people have lost faith in Grant and I really don't blame anybody for that and see their points. I'm going to ride the train for another year and I hope that at this time next year I'll be proven right. If not, I'll be the first to admit it and join the Fire Anthony Grant club (I was going to abbreviate that but it came out to fig club).
For now, my blind optimism is leading me to be more concerned with getting a top four seed and winning the SECt
As for the big picture, I've been the biggest Grant supporter since day one. I still do support him, but I'm teetering on the edge and like Bird, if we're back here next year I'm done. Until this season, the program seemed to be moving in the right direction from year to year. This year had obviously been a move in the wrong direction. I want to see how he responds and evaluates himself and his program in the off season. I don't think this season is reason enough to abandon all hope and faith, but there are certainly things that need changing. To be fair, some of you also know that Gottfried is one of my least favorite people on this planet, so I'd probable prop his successor up too much no matter what. I know many people have lost faith in Grant and I really don't blame anybody for that and see their points. I'm going to ride the train for another year and I hope that at this time next year I'll be proven right. If not, I'll be the first to admit it and join the Fire Anthony Grant club (I was going to abbreviate that but it came out to fig club).
For now, my blind optimism is leading me to be more concerned with getting a top four seed and winning the SECt
Posted on 3/6/13 at 11:19 pm to bigpapamac
Alabama now moves up to 3rd in Lunardi's last 4 out 
Posted on 3/6/13 at 11:52 pm to Bryant91092
I don't get it. Us getting in, would be just as bad if not worse than VCU and USC getting in 2 years ago. If history repeats itself, I guess that means we will just lose in the play-in game......or make it to the final four. 
Page 49 of 70
Latest Alabama News
Popular
Back to top
Follow SECRant for SEC Football News