Final thoughts...

[Bo]

There is really no defense for a perfect shot. Vandy was plain and simple on fire tonight. Our perimiter d was lacking at times, but they were sinking shots even when we were on them. We don't match up nearly as good with them as we do with USC. Everytime we cut the lead down to 3, Vandy would rip off 5, 6, or 7 straight points. We never got that one big stop we needed. An underdog team feeds off of a lead more than anyone else. If you take the lead from them, most of the time, they will die. We never did that, and Vandy just killed us. Dudley wasn't there for the second week in a row. We had little/no inside game at all. Mo and Pett both had good games, and Shelton was pretty good too. Tough way to end a career/season for Erwin, Terrance, and Kenny. This year didn't live up to the expectations, but they are still 3 great young men who will all do great things with their lives. I am very proud of them, and you should be too. Mark Gottfried needs to STAY as our coach. He is only 38 years old. He's still learning. Sure he had a bad year, but so did Bear. He went 6-5-1 in '72 (I think), and I doubt many folks called for his head. Give CMG some time, if we let him go, we will regret it. Will we get an NCAA bid? I don't know. The announcers tonight really think we are in, but I'm about 40/60 right now. We need all of the favorites to win the conference tournaments right now, or a team that would get an at large bid anyhow. Our RPI is 33, SOS is 12 (I think). A 7-9(10) conference record. FSU got in at 6-10 in '98 I believe. The Xavier, Oklahoma, Providence, Miss. State, @UT, LSU, and AU wins all look good. The 2 Vandy losses, Ole Miss, and UGA at home all hurt. If we do get in, we will be heading out West, probably as a 10 seed. Some of you may say you don't care about getting into the NCAAs, but you do. I'd rather lose in the first round of the NCAA any day than not go. Next years team will be very gaurd reliant. I hope Mo and Kennedy both stay 4 years here, but I don't know if they will. It's always tough to end the season on a sour note, especially when you have a great senior class that did so much for your program in it. Sorry that this post was kinda off the wall, but I had some stuff to say. Here's a big RTR!

 

[WISHBONE67]

Bo, I agree with you on some points but in others no. I'm trying to see how we have improved since MG got here. Yes we won the SEC regular season crown but that's been done before by BAMA. I don't look at the talent as being any better than it was 3,4 or even 5 years ago. I look at this years team as having 5 maybe 6 players. I also remember some of Whimp's teams being very deep. I know not all players contributions show up on the stat sheets but i don't remember too many of those great defensive games by any of our players in a long time. We use to have some tremendous defenses in the past but not anymore. ROLL TIDE ROLL!!!!!

 

[boaz bamaman]

coach bryant went 6-5 in 1970.we were sec champs in 72(10-2).i don't think we should fire mark either,but lets not compare him to coach bryant.with all his great success a bad year was easily forgiveable.

 

[RollTideNAlbertville]

theres no excuse for the downward spiral of this basketball team! There must be leadership in coaches and the team, we lack both! I for one feel that being ranked #1 went to Marks head and blurred his vision, too bad coaches like him can not handle sucess!

 

[Bo]

I wasn't trying to compare CMG to CBB, sorry if it sounded like that. CMG needs time. He needs support. He's asked for better facilites, and he hasn't gotten them. People call for his head after a loss, these are the same people who didn't even know what Alabama basketball was when David Hobbs was coach. I hope for Coach Prices sake he doesn't go 6-5 next year....RTR

 

[RollTideNAlbertville]

Bo, theres a big difference in going 6-5 and being ranked #1 in December and not even in the top 25 in March! He needs time??? How much time?? What more does the man need??? This year he has proven to be anothe Mike Dubose...OVERRATED!!!

 

[GATIDER]

I agree with WISHBONE67, the D was not there tonight. This Bama team has not played tough defense all year long. I couldn't believe my ears when the commentator said CMG told him we are not a pressing team. I thought we had all this talent and were so quick we would be awesome instead we are just awful.

 

[RollTideNAlbertville]

OH BOO....where is David Hobbs now?? and whats his team ranked, head coach or no head coach, hes doing a great job!