A little perspective on the Alabama basketball return to the Big Dance
By Ronald Evans
Understanding what an NCAA Tournament bid means for the Alabama basketball program requires looking back before looking forward.
Alabama basketball will return to the NCAA Tournament this week for the first time since 2012. To understand what that means going forward, first go back in Crimson Tide NCAA-Tourney time.
A wise man once said you can never understand where you are headed unless you know where you have been. In a society with diminishing appreciation for history, looking back can appear fruitless. Take my word for it. It is not.
Alabama football has a deep and long championship history. Alabama basketball does not. Before Nick Saban became the greatest championship coach in college football history, what he could and must achieve in Tuscaloosa was clear. It could be measured by a standard that goes back even before Bear Bryant, all the way back to Wallace Wade.
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There is no such barometer for Alabama basketball. Johnny Dee, C.M. Newton, Wimp Sanderson and Mark Gottfried had achievements. Johnny Dee had arguably the most dominant Tide team in 1956, winning each of its last 15 games. C.M Newton had the Tide’s best NCAA team in 1976, almost good enough to knock off national champion, Indiana. Wimp had the strongest program for the longest time from 1982-1992. Gottfried took the 2004 team to the Elite Eight.
SEC championships were won. The Tide was ranked No. 1 for a bit in the 2002-03 season. There have been no Final Fours, without which there can be no national championships.
When Avery Johnson’s tenure is measured, it should be measured by where the Tide is and from where it has come. Should Alabama basketball beat Virginia Tech, even with a loss to Villanova, Avery will be right on track. On track for what? To perform as well in the NCAA Tournament as any Alabama basketball coach has done before him.
Alabama Basketball NCAA History
C.M Newton’s NCAA record at Alabama was 1-2. Wimp was 12-10. David Hobbs was 2-2 and Mark Gottfried was 5-5. Throw in Anthony Grant’s one loss to Creighton and the Alabama basketball NCAA record is 20-20. Beat the Hokies and lose to Nova and Avery has already achieved the standard set by his predecessors.
Admittedly, this little traipse down memory lane might be viewed as dispiriting. It should not be. Alabama basketball should dream championship dreams. And fans should demand those dreams be achieved. But unlike Alabama football, Alabama basketball needs more measurements for success than a national championship.
As some fans did prior to this season, we can talk about making a Final Four. Perhaps in a not distant season, it will happen. An Alabama basketball national championship is not an impossible goal.
For now, making the NCAA Tournament field is a big step in the right direction. Avery Johnson called this milestone ‘special’ on Selection Sunday. A victory over Virginia Tech would be great but a loss will not mar the importance of the Tide’s return to relevance under Avery Johnson.
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Alabama basketball is scheduled to tipoff at 8:20 PM CST on Thursday in Pittsburgh. The game can be seen on TNT. Former NBA great Reggie Miller is working the game and it will be interesting to hear his opinion of John Petty’s shooting.