Best case? Coach Newton only went to 2 tourneys....
That is true, but lacks context.
True, Newton did go to only two NCAA tournaments. But in those two years (1975 and 76), there were only 25 and 32 teams, respectively, in the tournament at all.
He was in the NIT (which, at the time was a most respectable tournament), an additional 4 times. There is no doubt that, if the NCAA tournament had had 68 teams back then, he would have been to six out of his last 8 years, and a good chance of 7 out of nine.
Keep in mind, he took over an abysmal program. Went 4-20 his first year, 1-17 in the SEC. The second, he was 8-18 (5-13 SEC). Then 10-16 (6-12). Then the breakthrough at 18-8 (13-5 SEC).
After the three-year total rebuild, he finished worse than 3rd in the SEC only once (4th). Won three SEC championships in a row (1974-75-76).
Also, that was during at a time in which the SEC schedule was a double round robin....every team played every other team home-and-home, so schedule luck was kept to a minimum.
CM Newton was a fine coach, and the only one we’ve had that you could mention in the same breath was Wimp.
Between Wimp and CM, it’s debatable. Wimp was certainly more consistent, and successful in the NCAA. But he also didn’t have the rebuilding project that Newton did, and didn’t win as many SEC regular-season titles. No doubt both were fine coaches, and would run circles around what we’ve had since.
BTW — I didn’t forget Johnny Dee. But I didn’t include him because he was at Alabama only 4 years, was really good only two of those, and left the cupboard pretty bare when he skipped town.
