re: Is Anthony Grant the best Alabama can do?

quote:

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If you guys didn't have those bad ooc losses (they were cos of injuries right?), you guys would be a lock for the tourney I think.

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I agree.

For all the criticism of Grant as far as coaching, had they not lost Engstrom from an already thin front line and immediately suffered some bad OOC losses, Alabama would likely be around an 7-8 seed and people would be singing a completely different tune on Grant.


Grant's recruited pretty well in most regards: Alabama's perimeter players are a very solid young group and why they're better than most of the SEC right now.

However, he's missed badly on bringing in the one difference making big man. It's really that simple in my opinion. Add that one guy and all the pieces are in place and they're young too.


Everyone can mention Miami this year or Texas or Jones' class at LSU but let's not forget that Texas hasn't been good for a couple of years now, Miami may just as easily be in the NIT too in coming years and Grant also had a top class at Bama and players like Releford, Lacey, Randolph, Cooper etc are easily good enough for a Top20 team if there's close to equal post talent.

The reason for optimism at Alabama under Grant is that, unlike a lot of middling NIT teams, this team is one missing piece away from being really good instead of suffering from average talent across the board.