Gottfried coaching performance thread (merged)

[bamadoc94]

I guess the thing that bothers me about the team is the "fundamental" mistakes that are consistently made on the court. Simple things like boxing out and breaking the press. You know I'm just a MS coach and I don't claim to know everything about Basketball. I have 3 weeks to condition and build a team before we play our first game (We don't have an off-season). I have to have 5 things in place:

1. Half- Court Defense (M2M)
2. Full - Court Defense
3. A "Press" Break.
4. Some sort of offensive set.
5. Inbounds plays from the sideline and baseline.

In between this I have to have them working on fundamentals and other drills. I just don't understand why we are lacking in the "little" things when I'm sure that we have an off-season which is much longer than my "non-existent" off-season. It sort of baffles me when I see highly recruited players having a hard time getting the ball across mid-court against the press. (This is a Pet-peeve of mine!)

This is the most poignant post I have seen yet. Basketball 101. Bama under CMG has struggled in all five of these phases. It's not that difficult to inbound the basketball, one or two simple plays work every time. Yet I have seen countless turnovers on inbounds plays. #4 is just hillarious. Everyone talks about the UCLA hi-lo we run, I haven't seen it, if you actually see this run properly let me know( the patented JD lob to RH not withstanding), our players have no idea how to play offense without the basketball. I would add #6 basic lack of fundamental basketball skills-(stepping to receive a pass, dribble with head up, look where you are going to pass the ball ans step through the pass, keeping your feet on the floor when you play D, taking a charge, play tight on the ball but shade to the ball side when away from the ball, stay between your man and the goal(don't lose him behind you), we also have no understanding of spacing and how to play angles on offense or defense.

I could go on forever!!!!

 

[BamaSkins]

This bb team seems to be lacking something...they look like they loaf on the court...they can't shoot...they turn the ball over too much...I see no energy most of the time...not being a bb expert I don't know the answer, but I know where to look for it and that's the coach...

 

[drjamesm]

BAMARICH,
As for CMG and the current situation, I truly believe he deserves the opportunity to make changes. I have a hard time believing the University of Alabama should fire a guy that is averaging 20 wins per year at Alabama, taken us to an Elite 8, and won a conference title without giving him the opportunity to turn around what he built. Make no mistake whatever you believe the perception of our program currently is, it is because of CMG. That said, I am well aware of the other side of his tenure that has lead to this discussion. Many of you over the past weeks have made attempts to compare CMG to CMS, which I believe is asinine. When CMS said everything would be evaluated and changes would be made, that rang hollow with me, however, in light of CMG's statements earlier this week I believe he is competent to address weaknesses and deserves the opportunity.

To be honest...CMG record is just not that good. He is about 50%in SEC games with only 1 SEC champ.,and he usually gets 1 and done in the NCAA big dance. Yes,he did have one run to the elite 8.However,I must say so what,he has never made the final 4 and that is the real mark to shoot for.His teams are just not fundamentally sound on passing,blocking out,or on D. He does seem to recruit well,but developement of talent is poor once in the program if they even stay past 1 season.I really like BB,and remember as a teen watching CM Newton teams and then Wimps and will say they were much better coached with almost all local Alabama talent.The word in B'ham is CMG is not regarded as a very good coach period.IMO,this is why Ron Steele is the only great prospect that has gone to Bama from B'ham in recent history.I really wish we would go out and get a real good BB coach and be done with this guy,b/c I do not see Bama making the final 4 with CMG,and to honest I was shocked we got to the last 8 3 years ago.I say as in CMS we should pull the plug on this sinking ship.

 

[BamaDude06]

To be honest...CMG record is just not that good. He is about 50%in SEC games with only 1 SEC champ.,and he usually gets 1 and done in the NCAA big dance. Yes,he did have one run to the elite 8.However,I must say so what,he has never made the final 4 and that is the real mark to shoot for.His teams are just not fundamentally sound on passing,blocking out,or on D. He does seem to recruit well,but developement of talent is poor once in the program if they even stay past 1 season.I really like BB,and remember as a teen watching CM Newton teams and then Wimps and will say they were much better coached with almost all local Alabama talent.The word in B'ham is CMG is not regarded as a very good coach period.IMO,this is why Ron Steele is the only great prospect that has gone to Bama from B'ham in recent history.I really wish we would go out and get a real good BB coach and be done with this guy,b/c I do not see Bama making the final 4 with CMG,and to honest I was shocked we got to the last 8 3 years ago.I say as in CMS we should pull the plug on this sinking ship.

Here's my problem with many opinions on CMG:
"He hasn't made it to the final four"
NO Alabama team has. Only one made it to the Elite Eight, a CMG coached team
"He only has 3 +.500 records in the SEC"
And gues what? Two of them were 2005 and 2006. He was one game below .500 in 2007, so why didn't we fire him earlier if this was the case?

"He is almost always one and done in the NCAA tourney"
Have you seen Bill Self at Kansas? How many years in a row have they lost in the first round now? at KANSAS, a known Basketball school.

This isn't the year for a change. If the same thing happens next year, then it could be time to discuss a change.

 

[LCN]

Here's my problem with many opinions on CMG:
"He hasn't made it to the final four"
NO Alabama team has. Only one made it to the Elite Eight, a CMG coached team
"He only has 3 +.500 records in the SEC"
And gues what? Two of them were 2005 and 2006. He was one game below .500 in 2007, so why didn't we fire him earlier if this was the case?

"He is almost always one and done in the NCAA tourney"
Have you seen Bill Self at Kansas? How many years in a row have they lost in the first round now? at KANSAS, a known Basketball school.

This isn't the year for a change. If the same thing happens next year, then it could be time to discuss a change.

Nice perspective . Refreshing but rare . I honestly believe some of the stuff people are spouting is Saban related . It seems as if some fans believe we can just dump CMG and run out and nab Coach K. . Lightning won't strike the same place twice . That being said , it is time for Mal to begin sorting a short list to keep handy .

 

[wastedmason]

Here's my problem with many opinions on CMG:
"He hasn't made it to the final four"
NO Alabama team has. Only one made it to the Elite Eight, a CMG coached team
"He only has 3 +.500 records in the SEC"
And gues what? Two of them were 2005 and 2006. He was one game below .500 in 2007, so why didn't we fire him earlier if this was the case?

"He is almost always one and done in the NCAA tourney"
Have you seen Bill Self at Kansas? How many years in a row have they lost in the first round now? at KANSAS, a known Basketball school.

This isn't the year for a change. If the same thing happens next year, then it could be time to discuss a change.

You may not remember much past the Hobbs era at Bama beings you are at the University now but correct me if I'm wrong. I recall during CM Newton's time at Bama we had probably the best teams ever at Bama but the NCAA tourney was quiet different back then. Probably had the second best team in America behind Indiana in I believe '75. They didn't take 64 or 65 teams back then and I'm sure there was some great teams that I don't remember, the Rocket 8 team as one example. Maybe someone with more memory will get on here and give us a history lesson.

Wimp Sanderson's teams had a long run going to the Sweet 16 during the '80's and at one point was either tied with or just a year behind North Carolina with the most Sweet 16's for that decade. My memory is not what it used to be but the Bama teams of those 2 decades were much better than what we have now. Wimp won 4 or 5 SEC tourneys also during his stay.

Auburn has made it to more Elite 8's than we have so going once is not such a great accomplishment. It was more due to luck of the seeding and us playing our best ball of the season at the right time, teams do get on a hot streak from time to time.

3 .500 records in 9 years is a 33% rate which if we shoot 33% for a game we are likely to get beat, thats not good either. As far as other teams with a history of 1 and done thats not our concern. What they do with their coach is their problem we got our own. Besides the Big Twelve is not the powerhouse conference that say the ACC or Big East and for that matter the SEC is. Kansas may be known as a basketball school but frankly it's because their football teams have historically sucked. Their basketball tradition while good doesn't even compare to our football tradition and our basketball tradition is far better than Kansas football tradition. UCLA would be a better comparison switching football and basketball traditions. I think our basketball tradition is fairly close to UCLA'S football one.

I agree with your last sentence though. This is not the time to go coach searching. But the writing is becoming more clear on the wall with every failure we experience. What is our outlook for next year? Anybody want to make a prediction?

 

[TommyMac]

Here's my problem with many opinions on CMG:
"He hasn't made it to the final four"
NO Alabama team has. Only one made it to the Elite Eight, a CMG coached team
"He only has 3 +.500 records in the SEC"
And gues what? Two of them were 2005 and 2006. He was one game below .500 in 2007, so why didn't we fire him earlier if this was the case?

"He is almost always one and done in the NCAA tourney"
Have you seen Bill Self at Kansas? How many years in a row have they lost in the first round now? at KANSAS, a known Basketball school.

This isn't the year for a change. If the same thing happens next year, then it could be time to discuss a change.

I don't think you want to compare CMG to Bill Self. In 3 years at Kansas, Self has won two league regular season titles and one league tounament title. He also took them to an Elite Eight, He duplicated that at Illinois with another E8 appearance. He also took Tulsa to the E8. He's 13-8 in the NCAA tourney. There's really no comparison.

Doesn't matter anyway, Gottfried is our problem, not Self. If Gottfried's 9 year record was as good as Self's in the past 9 seasons, this thread wouldn't even exist.

 

[CornBiscuit]

I don't think you want to compare CMG to Bill Self.

Not to mention Illinois isn't even on the college basketball radar now that he and his former players are gone.

 

[TideRoller]

Not to mention Illinois isn't even on the college basketball radar now that he and his former players are gone.

Illinois is squarely on the bubble.

 

[BIGBAM]

Does anyone think that Godfried will get any new coaches? In particular a new defensive coach or any other assistant high profile coaches?
I want to win bad in b-ball and Im willing to be behind Coach Godfried for at least another season but I hope drastic changes are ahead because this season sucked. I want to win with defense,rebounding,assist and shooting like we did when Erwin Dudley was here with the sec title.

 

[CornBiscuit]

Illinois is squarely on the bubble.

Thats my point.

 

[drjamesm]

Does anyone think that Godfried will get any new coaches? In particular a new defensive coach or any other assistant high profile coaches?
I want to win bad in b-ball and Im willing to be behind Coach Godfried for at least another season but I hope drastic changes are ahead because this season sucked. I want to win with defense,rebounding,assist and shooting like we did when Erwin Dudley was here with the sec title.

IMO,the assistant coaches are not the problem. However,In the past the assistant coaches have sometimes carried CMG making him look better than he is.I will say again the word in B'ham is that CMG is not well thought of. Yes,that is the reason said why Bama as of late gets few big time recruits from B'ham, which has in the past been the biggest recruiting grounds for Bama BB.I will name a few Bham greats ie...TR Dunn,Mule King,A Murray,B Johnson,W Hudson,D Bowerman,Dudley etc.