Crimson Red Sports

Hmm.




http://videos.al.com/al/2013/04/alabama_coach_anthony_grant_di_1.html



 :popcorn2:

CAG talked for 5;30 but did not say much. Failed to answer the question regarding if he anticipated any more players leaving the program.

Not much to add on 9'GB, "Instead of just telling him to get lost we let him think we were holding back his NBA potential."  But a good point made on Ricky Tarrant and his competing with Releford on a daily basis. This will definitely help both players to grow. Too bad we are not deep enough that the same would hold true at all positions. Today would have been ideal for announcing the transfer of Engstrom, but perhaps they want to find a place for him to land before announcing.   

I wonder if anything going on with Lacey has anything to do with Tony Mitchell, or Lacey talking with Tony Mitchell. Mitchell still holding resentment, and being an influence on Lacey. Just wondering out loud.

Anything is possible, but I don't think Lacy is looking forward to sitting out a year in search of his improbable pro career. He's made a bad decision career wise but he could get a shot at some type of a pro career, but I don't think it's here in the USA. If Mitchell is the reason for this decision he's made, Lacey is dumber than I thought. Mitchell wouldn't be looking at how well Lacey might do elsewhere but at how much it would hurt the Bama program. Again, I think he's made a very bad decision as far as a college career is concerned.

The Bama Baketball Blog link below has the full 28:00 meeting CAG press conference.

http://bamahoops.blogspot.com/2013/04/anthony-grant-press-conference.html

One thing I found encouraging is CAG said the majority of the player will be on campus this summer working on their game and hitting the weights. all 4 new guys will be on campus.

BAMAWV needs to listen at around the 13:00 minute mark for CAG comments about Carl Engstrom. He points to the fact we were 6-0 when Engstrom got hurt. He said that Engstrom had separated himself from Gueye and Jacobs at that point. He is looking forward to him being back healthy next year.

Still a head scratcher to me.  But it does sound like Lacey wasn't doing what CAG thought he needed to do to improve, and, maybe, Lacey didn't agree with what CAG was asking him to do.  If so, then Lacey likely would not have developed much at Bama.

But something here doesn't seem right.  Time will tell, I guess.

Engstrom was getting about 14-15 minutes a game back then (the 6-0 start).  He was averaging 2-4 pts a game and maybe a few rebounds to go along with 3 PFs and a turnover each game. Seems he fouled out in one of those games in 13-14 minutes.  Things didn't drop off when Engstrom was injured-- at #17 Cincy was what happened. 

Things did not drop off? We went 1-5 in the next 6 games. Jacobs was out of shape and Gueye was in over his head. I do not understand how you can say we were not a better team went Engstrom was healthy.

I agree that Engstrom was an asset. He was very energetic under the basket and clogging the middle up under the basket. He was injured so soon into the season it was hard to get a full evaluation of him. We shall find out the next season, I hope.


 :dunno:

I am barely able to concede that having Engstrom was better than no big man at all. Things didn't drop off-- the level of competition got better...THEN the wheels fell off...by Mercer I thought the season was over but hung in with them. As I recall, you and I were among a small group that still thought the Tide could rebound and get it together for conference play.

The competition did not get better. We lost three home games in December to Mercer, Dayton and Tulane. None of those teams were top 100 RPI.

I am beginning to get tired of arguing this point. I think Engstrom will play a role next year that will help our team. We will be deeper in the post position next year and Engstrom will be one of CAG options.

Well I know some times you guys get kind of bored with reposting and such. Now alot of times my knowledge does not keep up with yours, but even when I don't post, I totally love reading the discussions, they are all great. Thanks everybody for keeping me informed. God I love these discussions. RTR!

Preacher, for the record BAMAWV and I actually love like tolerate each other.

You're right Ricky, everyone of us has an opinion of what is wrong and what it will take for the team get better and all of our opinions are no more than discussion and nothing factual.

I'm hoping all of this turmoil will cook up some positive things for next season's team. I mentioned earlier that Releford wasn't in playing shape when he showed up last year as well as Jacobs and Lacey and it showed as December was a total disaster for the team. The month of December cost the team a chance of making the Big Dance.

That being said, what will CAG and staff do to fix that early season problem from this past season. Right off the bat, two players quit the team and the fans are demanding answers for these two quitting. Rumors are dime a dozen as to what the problems are and already there is talk of firing the coach. CAG had a press conference yesterday concerning the issues and seemed content that the ship is well afloat and he is looking for good things from the team next season. Also, some of the new schedule for the team next season has been made public and it is a very interesting and encouraging start for the team to better themselves next year, but the challenge will be in beating these better respected and higher ranked teams.

Recruiting continues for the team and Bama has already added a couple of players, one a Juco and the other a transfer, to go along with the players that signed last fall. I think the Juco and the transfer player can add a lot to the team as they have playing experience above the high school level and that means a lot. If Pollard can grow some and develop a shot, he can add a lot to the team. He likes to run the baseline but he just isn't big enough to handle the big boys just yet. Jacobs just needs to get off his lazy rear end and put forth more effort. He has a good shot around the goal but struggles with the quick passes to him near the goal that would give him some easy buckets. I think him being in better shape would make his footwork a lot quicker. Cooper had some big moments this year and I think he, Randolph, and Obasohan will come back in great shape and show some improvements in their game. Releford will be playing his senior year and I'm hoping he comes back this fall ready to cap his career at Bama with a great season. He certaintly has the tools and skills to do this. Engstrom will be a question mark of sort coming off ogf his injury. I think he added something to the team at times as well as hurt the team at times but as it was stated earlier in another post, he was the best we had at that position at the time he got hurt. I would love to see him and Jacobs come back next fall and give us that duo of help in the middle, something that is needed more than anything else with the team.

These are just some of my thoughts and I think this team can be a very good team next year, but some of the things mentioned above will have to happen. I think it can, regardless of all that is happening with the team now. Roll Tide!!

 #+, Jamos I was really informed by knowing that we can fix our problems. I think CAG has the knowledge to a good if not great, coach. One thing I've noticed is our talent and how it would Fare at the next level. Does anybody see any NBA talent in our players? I know this is kind of jumping way out there but most times you see NBA talent on teams that win. I would to see us get better than the CM Newton, and Wimp Sanderson days.  8), RTR!

Good thing I am a patient fellow. It took until late March before you guys realized Moussa Gueye was not the answer to ANY question. I just pointed out that in 6 games of last season. Engstrom did nothing that any 7 footer off the street could not have done. His best effort for life was 22 minutes and 6 pts. that likely dropped right into his outstretched hands in the Charleston So. game. WOW.

His big game was 6 pts--this was off set by a couple with only 2 points scored.  Throw in the game he fouled out in 13 minutes and you get a more rounded picture. But if you'd like, picture the Windmill hole on Putt Putt golf to show his defensive posture.  But maybe the plan is to get the opponents laughing so hard...

I have a slightly different take on the departures. Last year coach was roundly criticized for keeping several toxic players around for too long. It was weird and uncomfortable for the current players, and had to be an enormous detriment to recruiting. It was like failing to amputate a gangrenous limb. Maybe he saw the writing on the wall with these guys and encouraged them to leave before the infection spread. Saban did the same thing in his first and second years. He successfully defined the kind of kids he wanted on the team and went out and got them.

I kinda hinted around at that by suggesting Lacey's parents came to Tuscaloosa with a "why isn't our kid the star" attitude. I also hoped that the story would come out someday soon.

I would think CAG would about have our team purged from those who are infectious. His players should come stepping on the court now to do their part. I am beginning to worry or how thoughts, that did he (CAG) have his own players at VMI or VCU, or was it somebody else's players? JMHO thought. RTR!