Lemme refresh your memory

[mannish]

Bama BB has not always been a dawg like some ya'll act. CMG is not the first coach to take us to a tournament or win the SEC.

We had CM Newton & Wimp Sanderson who won SEC championships, went to the tourney almost every year. I know they never went too far but don't act like Bama BB is like Vandy Football & CMG is the one that will put 'em on the map. They been on the map. CMG needs to get the BB team back where it was when CM & Wimp were coaching. David Hobbs (who didn't get his 12 years like Wooden) may have left CMG with some not so great talent but hey that excuse is gone. So Bama BB has played in the NCAA Tourney before, they have won many SEC championships before CMG got there.

So it is VERY reasonable to expect BAMA to continue in that tradition that CM & Wimp started.

 

[NYBamaFan]

Aaah, but there-in lies the rub. It is because of recent success that the fans expect more. Alabama has not achieved a championship in basketball yet, and the fans want to see a gradual progression towards that goal. To accept any other long-term goal is impossible for the Bama faithful.

So the problem is not that Bama basketball is sub-standard, but that it doesn't seem to be any closer to the NC goal than in previous years. Alabama fans are spoiled by success (thank goodness).

 

[mannish]

The problem is they are not only not getting closer but getting FARTHER away that is why some people are upset.

I am not upset I am disappointed. A player like Dudley does not come along every year. I felt like they had as good of talent as Bama Basketball is likely to get. It appears (however anything could happen) that we squandered that talent this year.

In MY (that's me) mind I either over-rated the coaching or the talent level. I expected big things out of this team. I thought we were as talented as we would be in years to come. Mo Williams was Freshman OY in the SEC, Dudley was MVP..etc. So YES I am very disappointed
in this season, I THOUGHT it was our best shot
in years to make a difference in the NCAA Tourney.

 

[Richard Alderson]

You bring up some interesting issues mannish. Some have said this years team had more talent than some of Wimp's teams from the 80's. Some coaches are unable to make it work. Some are. Take Coach K(no way I'll try to spell it) for example. He has a bench full of McDonald's All Americans and they win year in and year out. Take your UA's, MSU's, Tulsa's etc. They'll have one or two Superstars and 3 or 4 above average players. They can win and go far in the tournament some years. Maybe CMG is unable to handle a "ton" of talent. I mean, he stuck Winston in at Vandy I think, he played alot of minutes. IMO, this is where the trouble started. E Thomas had to sit after giving some good minutes, and Winston never saw a shot he didn't like. The overused "chemistry" cliche was rampant, and the team went into a tailspin. Sorry to ramble, but just my thoughts......

[This message has been edited by Richard Alderson (edited March 11, 2003).]

 

[CajunCrimson]

But, the important thing everyone is missing is...if we make the tournament, and win two games, we better last year (regardless of records....)

Wimp went to the Sweet 16 with a few 8-9 loss seasons....In fact, I think we went 17-10 one year and went to the Big Dance, and progressed to the round of 16..but, I'm not totally sure....

So, let's save the grumblings until the season is over, if we haven't achieved our preseason goals (most said we were a Sweet 16 team....) then complain away!!

Until then, let's support the team, and give them as many good vibes we can provide.

 

[UA DJ]

In 91 with Horry and Sprewell (juniors) and Robinson, we went to the sweet 16. They all returned for the 92 season. Arguably, that was the most talented trio in Alabama history. They got bounced in the second round of the tournament. Does that make Wimp a bad coach? I don't think so. I think in 91 we had a better overall team with Gary Waites and Melvin Cheatum. My point is I think we had a better overall team last year (with Grizzard) compared to this year.

 

[mannish]

I am not stupid enough to say CMG is a bad coach. I am stupid enough to say this was not a stellar job of coaching this year. I do not think there is any proof YET that is is a great coach or will evolve into one. I think he is a fine person and a great recruiter. The verdict is still out on whether he is THE coach that will take us farther. Like I said I doubt he'll have much better talent (on paper) that he had this year. The season is not over and hopefully
this time next month I'll be saying 'CMG did a wonderful job of coaching the team throught the national championship'. If you watched the Villnova women whip the UCONN then you know it can happen. The first thing to do is BEAT
VANDY