Alabama @ Arkansas (discussion)

[SUPERCOACH]

I think we only have 3 seniors leaving.

[bamaphil]

I agree with Jamos that we've seen an abnormally high amount of turnover during Grant's time at UA.  There could be any number of reasons for that, but the lack of consistency is hurting and development is hurting us. 

We've also seen a number of high-profile recruits come in and fail to meet expectations.  Lacey was never the star that he was expected to be, Pollard failed to contribute much before getting himself into trouble. 

I hope Battle is making efforts to figure what's causing these problems and what can be done to address it. 

[Marshal Dillon]

I think we only have 3 seniors leaving.

We have 9 scholarship players now and lose at least 2 or 3 of them. That would give us 5 scholly's to offer. Surely Grant will fill all the slots and must have something in the works, I hope.



 

[ricky023]

This starting to remind me of Recruiting. Til we seen it on the floor, I can not say I really believe in it anymore! JHMO. RTR!

[Jamos]

If I had to put a finger on the one thing that I think has limited the success of the basketball team it would be recruiting. For whatever reason, there has been only one year so far that the majority of that class is still with the team. There have been many reasons for players leaving the team but I think the players that left, excluding Lacy, left because of a discipline issue or they weren't good enough to get playing time and transfered elsewhere.

This has hurt the team tremendously because they basically start with a new team each year. I have to put some of this blame on CAG and coaches if the players that left the team for playing time elsewhere were not good enough to crack the lineup. Even now after five years at Bama, there is not a quality post man on the team which in my opinion is killing the team.

Four of Grant's last seven recruiting classes at Florida were ranked in the top five nationally. At VCU, his 2007 recruiting class was ranked as the fifth-best in the mid-major ranks.

This is what puzzles me about our coach, I have not seen that kind of recruiting at Bama or it could be that the coaches are not coaching up the recruits to a top program level. There is only one player on this team that could start on a top 10 team and that is Releford. That should not be the case at this point in time. I like CAG but I don't like the results that we are seeing from him year to year. Starting over every year is not a winning program unless he can recruit like Calipari at Kentucky and I don't see that happening at Bama.

Next years recruits are supposed to be one of his better groups since coming to Bama so I'm anxious for this year to get over with and get those young men on campus. I will continue to support the team as I always do and I hope CAG can turn this thing around and give us fans something to cheer about. RTR

 



If the team self-destructs again next year, do you think Battle would fire Grant and take a $7 mil hit on the budget? Would you be supportive of such an expense? Just wondering.

I have to trust and support any decision that Judy Bonner and Bill Battle makes on this situation. Also don't forget that Dr. Witt is still involved as well and he is the person responsible for all of the good things that has happened to the athletic department.

[Jamos]

I think we only have 3 seniors leaving.

We have 9 scholarship players now and lose at least 2 or 3 of them. That would give us 5 scholly's to offer. Surely Grant will fill all the slots and must have something in the works, I hope.



 

Try this link, you can access it. Just click on the players names for information on that athlete

Click here for link

[Marshal Dillon]

I think we only have 3 seniors leaving.

We have 9 scholarship players now and lose at least 2 or 3 of them. That would give us 5 scholly's to offer. Surely Grant will fill all the slots and must have something in the works, I hope.



 

Here is a link that might answer some of your questions about Bama recruiting.

Click here for link

I can't access the site since I am not a subscriber. Can you tell if they have some inside power players they are trying to recruit for this year? Thanks.

[Marshal Dillon]

If I had to put a finger on the one thing that I think has limited the success of the basketball team it would be recruiting. For whatever reason, there has been only one year so far that the majority of that class is still with the team. There have been many reasons for players leaving the team but I think the players that left, excluding Lacy, left because of a discipline issue or they weren't good enough to get playing time and transfered elsewhere.

This has hurt the team tremendously because they basically start with a new team each year. I have to put some of this blame on CAG and coaches if the players that left the team for playing time elsewhere were not good enough to crack the lineup. Even now after five years at Bama, there is not a quality post man on the team which in my opinion is killing the team.

Four of Grant's last seven recruiting classes at Florida were ranked in the top five nationally. At VCU, his 2007 recruiting class was ranked as the fifth-best in the mid-major ranks.

This is what puzzles me about our coach, I have not seen that kind of recruiting at Bama or it could be that the coaches are not coaching up the recruits to a top program level. There is only one player on this team that could start on a top 10 team and that is Releford. That should not be the case at this point in time. I like CAG but I don't like the results that we are seeing from him year to year. Starting over every year is not a winning program unless he can recruit like Calipari at Kentucky and I don't see that happening at Bama.

Next years recruits are supposed to be one of his better groups since coming to Bama so I'm anxious for this year to get over with and get those young men on campus. I will continue to support the team as I always do and I hope CAG can turn this thing around and give us fans something to cheer about. RTR

 



If the team self-destructs again next year, do you think Battle would fire Grant and take a $7 mil hit on the budget? Would you be supportive of such an expense? Just wondering.

I have to trust and support any decision that Judy Bonner and Bill Battle makes on this situation. Also don't forget that Dr. Witt is still involved as well and he is the person responsible for all of the good things that has happened to the athletic department.

I was asking what YOU think. You are a fan & an alumnus and your personal opinion is important. Don't crawfish on us.


 

[Jamos]

From a business standpoint, that is a lot of money to pay someone to leave and there is no guarantee that his successor would do any better. I can still remember the past years of the football program and it's hiring problems.

From a fans standpoint, change is always the imminent solution. I have no problem with change but I would want to make sure it is the right decision. In Grant's case, I'm not so sure this is the right time for a change due to all of the unforeseen issues that he has experienced with player departures. In looking at the next two years with the recruits he has coming in, there could be some good there. Player development is the key but with the two year time frame should be sufficient time for a fair assessment of can he do the job or not.

This is just my opinion and by no means of what should be done.

[pmull]

I think we only have 3 seniors leaving.

We have 9 scholarship players now and lose at least 2 or 3 of them. That would give us 5 scholly's to offer. Surely Grant will fill all the slots and must have something in the works, I hope.



 

Not counting walk ons we have 9 eligible scholarship players this year:

Releford
Randolph
Cooper
Jacobs
Engstrom
Obasohan
Key
Hale
Taylor

Only Releford is a senior. There is rumors Engstrom will not come back for his senior season which would be his fifth.

Without Engstrom we have 7 coming back. We have 2 transfers that will be eligible next year and 3 new incoming freshmen.

Transfers:
Ricky Tarrant
Michael Kessens

Incoming Freshmen:
Justin Coleman
Devin Mitchell
Riley Norris

That gives us 12 without Engstrom and a full 13 with Engstrom. CAG is looking at JUCO inside players hoping to land one more for the late signing period. This is also the chance Engstrom will return. I think we will have 13 players next year.

Our team will look much different next year and I think we all agree that is a good thing. We will have a good balance of inside and outside players.

[2Stater]

Without a doubt, we need a big man with some skills to stop the hemorrhaging down low. As many shortcomings that this team has, that seems to be the recurring theme of us losing. To me, that would be top priority for next year.

[pmull]

Without a doubt, we need a big man with some skills to stop the hemorrhaging down low. As many shortcomings that this team has, that seems to be the recurring theme of us losing. To me, that would be top priority for next year.

We add Michael Kessens next year. He is a transfer from Longwood who will be a third year sophomore next year. He will have a year in the program even though he will not play an actual game. He is 6-9 and averaged 13.7 pts and 8.8 rebounds. Hale and Taylor should improve going into their second year and Jacobs will be a senior.

Look at the bio on Kessens:

Played his rookie season at Longwood University where he earned numerous accolades, including his selection to the CollegeInsider.com Mid-Major Freshmen All-America Team and Big South Freshman of the Year ... was voted as the Virginia Sports Information Directors Association (VaSID) Rookie of the Year, which encompasses all Division I schools in the state of Virginia, as well as being named to the Big South Conference All-Freshman Team ... picked up a league-leading four Big South Freshman of the Week awards during the season ... in the quarterfinals of the 2013 Big South Conference Tournament against VMI (3/7), he scored a career high and tournament record 36 points on 13-of-21 shooting from the floor, while also adding 16 rebounds in a season-ending loss ... averaged 13.7 points and 8.8 rebounds per game in 33 games ... had 11 double-double's last year including his first in his second career game ... started all 33 games averaging 32.7 minutes a contest.

Click here for link

[Crimson Legend]

I think we only have 3 seniors leaving.

We have 9 scholarship players now and lose at least 2 or 3 of them. That would give us 5 scholly's to offer. Surely Grant will fill all the slots and must have something in the works, I hope.



 

Not counting walk ons we have 9 eligible scholarship players this year:

Releford
Randolph
Cooper
Jacobs
Engstrom
Obasohan
Key
Hale
Taylor

Only Randolph is a senior. There is rumors Engstrom will not come back for his senior season which would be his fifth.

Without Engstrom we have 7 coming back. We have 2 transfers that will be eligible next year and 3 new incoming freshmen.

Transfers:
Ricky Tarrant
Michael Kessens

Incoming Freshmen:
Justin Coleman
Devin Mitchell
Riley Norris

That gives us 12 without Engstrom and a full 13 with Engstrom. CAG is looking at JUCO inside players hoping to land one more for the late signing period. This is also the chance Engstrom will return. I think we will have 13 players next year.

Our team will look much different next year and I think we all agree that is a good thing. We will have a good balance of inside and outside players.

Randolph is not a SR, Releford is.
Why would anybody think Grant will turn the corner now?  He hasn't been able to build his own team anywhere he has been.  Not sure why you guys think next year will be any different.  His offense is just junk.  It doesn't matter who you have playing, if you pass up good shots to take contested difficult shots late in the shot clock, you are never going to be successful on that end of the floor.
Get rid of him tomorrow.  Let him stay at Fla after the game with his friends.  Bite the bullet and bring in new blood!

[pmull]

Randolph is not a SR, Releford is.
Why would anybody think Grant will turn the corner now?  He hasn't been able to build his own team anywhere he has been.  Not sure why you guys think next year will be any different.  His offense is just junk.  It doesn't matter who you have playing, if you pass up good shots to take contested difficult shots late in the shot clock, you are never going to be successful on that end of the floor.
Get rid of him tomorrow.  Let him stay at Fla after the game with his friends.  Bite the bullet and bring in new blood!

You are correct about Releford being the lone senior.

I will support the administration if they keep him or let him go. I understand both sides. Personally I hope and think they will give him another year.

[Marshal Dillon]

Randolph is not a SR, Releford is.
Why would anybody think Grant will turn the corner now?  He hasn't been able to build his own team anywhere he has been.  Not sure why you guys think next year will be any different.  His offense is just junk.  It doesn't matter who you have playing, if you pass up good shots to take contested difficult shots late in the shot clock, you are never going to be successful on that end of the floor.
Get rid of him tomorrow.  Let him stay at Fla after the game with his friends.  Bite the bullet and bring in new blood!

You are correct about Releford being the lone senior.

I will support the administration if they keep him or let him go. I understand both sides. Personally I hope and think they will give him another year.

Crimson Legend made an excellent point that after 5 years, why should we think there will be different result? I have said several times the only reason to keep Grant another year is due to the huge buyout. My concern is we will be caught on a treadmill to nowhere. For instance, let's say Bama goes 18-13 next year in the regular season, & wins say 2 games in the SEC Tourney. There will be folks saying we have to keep Grant another year since he is showing improvement and turning the program around. Now we are caught on a never-ending merry-go-round with Grant doing just enough to keep his job. It will be Gottfried all over again. I think we have to have a line in the sand that Grant must reach to keep his job if he is the coach next year. First, we must win 19 games in the regular season, win 1 game in the SEC Tourney, AND make the NCAA Tourney and win 1 game. I don't think this would be unreasonable after being the coach for 6 years.


 

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