The Future of Alabama Basketball and Anthony Grant

[Padreruf]

Re: Who would we get if Anthony grant gets the Axe?

At the risk of being run off the board permanently, Bruce Pearl. I know he's damaged goods...but time has passed and he can flat recruit and coach...kids love him. We aren't in the place of being picky...I have never seen UA BBall this bad....embarrassing. C.M. and Wimp are dying at this....

 

[DzynKingRTR]

Or the incoming talent either transfers or is rendered lifeless because of the ironfist approach that is currently rendered the current team lifeless!

I think he is done with penalty in the Fall. There are some names out there that are good. Steve Prohm (Long term Contract), Buzz Williams, David Arseneault (Personal Favorite and his offense (The System) would fill Coleman every night!), Rob Jeter, Scott Sutton, Tim Cluess, Mark Few (Like him also!) and a few others. IMO, we will not get a "Major".

To me it really doesn't matter. All coaches pretty much know the same X's and O's, when to call timeouts, etc.... It's more in teaching, developing, and the willingness to change your "philosophy" when your philosophy isn't working. (Flexibility).

I had to google David Arseneault. He is now my favorite too. Loved those offenses at Loyola Marymount.

 

[Ldlane]

Re: Who would we get if Anthony grant gets the Axe?

My thoughts on Bruce Pearl:

1. Nothing sets him apart from others as far as X's and O's.
2. His ability to recruit comes from being able to relate to players at their age level (See Number 3 and 4).
3. A tiresome yelling routine on the sideline (See Number 2)
4. He is good at promoting programs because he is a "used car salesman" (See Number 2 and 3).

At the risk of being run off the board permanently, Bruce Pearl. I know he's damaged goods...but time has passed and he can flat recruit and coach...kids love him. We aren't in the place of being picky...I have never seen UA BBall this bad....embarrassing. C.M. and Wimp are dying at this....

 

[Bama Reb]

Re: Who would we get if Anthony grant gets the Axe?

At the risk of being run off the board permanently, Bruce Pearl. I know he's damaged goods...but time has passed and he can flat recruit and coach...kids love him. We aren't in the place of being picky...I have never seen UA BBall this bad....embarrassing. C.M. and Wimp are dying at this....

Each to their own opinion, but I have to disagree, and for two reasons.
1. - Bruce Pearl is definitely on the NCAA's radar, and he undoubtedly will be for some time.
2. - The University of Alabama has had enough previous run-ins with the NCAA that we also remain on their radar. Regardless of what we do to clean up our image with them, we will remain there also.
Hence, we can ill afford to 'court' any coach, including Bruce Pearl, who may make them refocus that particular interest.

 

[Kenny205]

I agree. A mid major coach at best

 

[Ldlane]

Whatever happens our AD has new things to consider and will have to consider the "big picture" of athletics at UA. I'm not sure if something will happen to basketball with a new division of "Major programs" being considered, but it will have to be something to think about when looking for coaches for the future Not sure if the NCAA will tinker with it's "March Madness" cash cow, but who knows how Universities will feel once the Football programs undergo a new alignment. This discussion is certainly something for another thread, but I think it will have to be something that is considered with new hires.

 

[WylieTexasTider]

If we make a change Tad Boyle needs to be on speed dial. On his way to his 3rd consecutive NCAA bid. He makes $1.5MM with a $500k buyout and with the huge financial issues within the CU athletic department, they probably can't/won't match an offer in the $2MM range. Boyle has recruited well at CU, has marketed the program to the students having them energized and excited to be at the games. He played college ball at Kansas so he gets what it is like to play for a major program. He has coached in the SEC at UT, has ties to the state having coached at Jax St and has been successful everywhere he has been. He and his wife are Colorado natives so, they may want to stay home. (He turned down aTm, Nebraska and K-St past 2 years..)

 

[BamaMTA06]

I NEEEEEEED the next hire to be the right one. I don't want to be here four years from now. That more than anything is why I wanted Grant to work out.

 

[Vinny]

I see the frustration in CAG's eyes and I really don't know how he will get this team to play hard and win the rest of the way. I think he will be back next season. I don't know if firing him and trying to find a replacement will sound easier after the fact and if he is not to return, I see our BB program taking 2 steps backwards if the latter happens.

 

[Just Win]

This is so accurate. It's not an interesting product to watch, even when ignoring wins and losses.

So true. You can only watch us pass the ball around the perimeter for so long. Eventually I hope we adopt the concept of launching the ball towards the basket. After about 30 passes on each possession, I start to doze off. Is there a new rule coming that we haven't been told about yet? 30 passes = 1 made basket? Maybe we're trying to get ahead of everyone else on this......

 

[Just Win]

Re: Who would we get if Anthony grant gets the Axe?

At the risk of being run off the board permanently, Bruce Pearl. I know he's damaged goods...but time has passed and he can flat recruit and coach...kids love him. We aren't in the place of being picky...I have never seen UA BBall this bad....embarrassing. C.M. and Wimp are dying at this....

I agree 100%. Pearl is a great coach, and it wasn't like he was giving out money or anything. He was texting recruits, and then lied about it, which angered the NCAA so they made an example of him. The NCAA is like a bunch of 5 year old crybabies, except instead of taking their ball and running home to mommy they try to cripple your athletic program. I'd be willing to forgive and give him a chance. He would be a solid hire from a coaching and recruiting point of view. And he would put fannies in the seats!

 

[Just Win]

Re: Who would we get if Anthony grant gets the Axe?

Each to their own opinion, but I have to disagree, and for two reasons.
1. - Bruce Pearl is definitely on the NCAA's radar, and he undoubtedly will be for some time.
2. - The University of Alabama has had enough previous run-ins with the NCAA that we also remain on their radar. Regardless of what we do to clean up our image with them, we will remain there also.
Hence, we can ill afford to 'court' any coach, including Bruce Pearl, who may make them refocus that particular interest.

Good points.

 

[BigA]

Re: Who would we get if Anthony grant gets the Axe?

Ben Howland is available...

Season	Team	Overall	Conference	Standing	Postseason
Northern Arizona Lumberjacks (Big Sky Conference) (1994–1999)
1994–1995	Northern Arizona	9–17	4–10	7th
1995–1996	Northern Arizona	7–19	3–11	7th
1996–1997	Northern Arizona	21–7	13–1	1st	NIT 1st Round
1997–1998	Northern Arizona	21–8	12–2	1st	NCAA 1st Round
1998–1999	Northern Arizona	21–8	12–4	2nd
Northern Arizona:	79–59	44–28
Pittsburgh Panthers (Big East Conference) (1999–2003)
1999–2000	Pittsburgh	13–15	5–11	11th
2000–2001	Pittsburgh	19–14	7–9	5th (West)	NIT 2nd Round
2001–2002	Pittsburgh	29–6	13–3	1st (West)	NCAA Sweet Sixteen
2002–2003	Pittsburgh	28–5	13–3	T–1st (West)	NCAA Sweet Sixteen
Pittsburgh:	89–40	38–26
UCLA Bruins (Pacific-10/12 Conference) (2003–2013)
2003–2004	UCLA	11–17	7–11	T–7th
2004–2005	UCLA	18–11	11–7	T–3rd	NCAA 1st Round
2005–2006	UCLA	32–7	14–4	1st	NCAA Runner-up
2006–2007	UCLA	30–6	15–3	1st	NCAA Final Four
2007–2008	UCLA	35–4	16–2	1st	NCAA Final Four
2008–2009	UCLA	26–9	13–5	2nd	NCAA 2nd Round
2009–2010	UCLA	14–18	8–10	T–5th
2010–2011	UCLA	23–11	13–5	2nd	NCAA 2nd Round
2011–2012	UCLA	19–14	11–7	T–5th
2012–2013	UCLA	25–9	13–5	1st	NCAA 1st Round
UCLA:	230–105	118–58
Total:	398–205

 

[37bamagreats55]

Re: Who would we get if Anthony grant gets the Axe?

Ben Howland is available...

Season	Team	Overall	Conference	Standing	Postseason
Northern Arizona Lumberjacks (Big Sky Conference) (1994–1999)
1994–1995	Northern Arizona	9–17	4–10	7th
1995–1996	Northern Arizona	7–19	3–11	7th
1996–1997	Northern Arizona	21–7	13–1	1st	NIT 1st Round
1997–1998	Northern Arizona	21–8	12–2	1st	NCAA 1st Round
1998–1999	Northern Arizona	21–8	12–4	2nd
Northern Arizona:	79–59	44–28
Pittsburgh Panthers (Big East Conference) (1999–2003)
1999–2000	Pittsburgh	13–15	5–11	11th
2000–2001	Pittsburgh	19–14	7–9	5th (West)	NIT 2nd Round
2001–2002	Pittsburgh	29–6	13–3	1st (West)	NCAA Sweet Sixteen
2002–2003	Pittsburgh	28–5	13–3	T–1st (West)	NCAA Sweet Sixteen
Pittsburgh:	89–40	38–26
UCLA Bruins (Pacific-10/12 Conference) (2003–2013)
2003–2004	UCLA	11–17	7–11	T–7th
2004–2005	UCLA	18–11	11–7	T–3rd	NCAA 1st Round
2005–2006	UCLA	32–7	14–4	1st	NCAA Runner-up
2006–2007	UCLA	30–6	15–3	1st	NCAA Final Four
2007–2008	UCLA	35–4	16–2	1st	NCAA Final Four
2008–2009	UCLA	26–9	13–5	2nd	NCAA 2nd Round
2009–2010	UCLA	14–18	8–10	T–5th
2010–2011	UCLA	23–11	13–5	2nd	NCAA 2nd Round
2011–2012	UCLA	19–14	11–7	T–5th
2012–2013	UCLA	25–9	13–5	1st	NCAA 1st Round
UCLA:	230–105	118–58
Total:	398–205

If Bama's head coach had a resume like that, we should sign him to a lifetime contract.

 

[Drifter]

And Bill Walton hates Howland. So there's that.

 

[BamaMTA06]

If we got Howland I'd hoped he learned his lesson about lying to recruits and upsetting every major AAU program in the area as well as high school coaches. That played a HUGE role in his firing from UCLA. That's also what allowed Arizona to start to recruit the LA area.

 

[Drifter]

Which brings up the point that modern bb coaches (with rare exceptions) have to have good rapport with the AAU coaches, something Grant does not have.

 

[CajunCrimson]

If we got Howland I'd hoped he learned his lesson about lying to recruits and upsetting every major AAU program in the area as well as high school coaches. That played a HUGE role in his firing from UCLA. That's also what allowed Arizona to start to recruit the LA area.

And maybe run the UCLA High Post Offense

(ducks!)

 

[CoachJeff]

Howland let the players run wild. There's a fascinating expose that came out last year about it. He's a good coach, but after reading that I would pass on him.

 

[Hoot30]

I wonder if we would look at successful coaches in the lower divisions. I've read on 'the twitters' that some people have mentioned Lennie Acuff from UAH. Bruce Pearl cut his teeth as a head coach at Div. II Southern Indiana. He obviously didn't make the leap from D2 to the SEC, but it's just a thought.