Ten thoughts on the current status of Alabama basketball – where it is going into the SEC Tournament and where the program is headed after this season.
A note to every Alabama basketball fan reading this. This is one fan’s opinion. It is honestly stated but in no way, is it presented as a consensus opinion of Alabama basketball fans.
Few of you have followed Alabama basketball longer than me. That does not make me smarter in assessing the program. It does mean I have seen lots of bad and good, sometimes very bad and sometimes very good Alabama basketball. Today, I see the program trending in the wrong direction.
Ten Thoughts on the Alabama Basketball Program
- I thought Anthony Grant and Avery Johnson were excellent hires. I was wrong both times. Avery is clearly a fine person who represents the University well. $3M annually is not the price tag for those commendable traits, regardless of Avery’s passion for the game and his players. That kind of money should mean at least enough wins to make the NCAA Tournament three times out of every four seasons. With 68 teams, that is not a very high bar.
- Heading into the SEC Tournament as not even a Bubble team is inexcusable. Beating Ole and Miss and Kentucky to gain a NCAA,12-seed would only sow false hope for the future.
- On Wednesday, Avery said, “we’ve been making the same mistakes all year.” I agree. Players making the same mistakes all year are the sign of either the wrong players being recruited or an inability to teach them – or both.
- In the same interview, Avery said the players might need the motivation of “having their backs against the wall.” I could not disagree more. Again, either the wrong players have been recruited or the coach does not know how to motivate them.
- Also in the interview, Avery discussed a recent change of not letting players “work through their mistakes” on the court. How this was ever considered an effective strategy escapes me.
- I am a fan of Donta Hall. But the voters who named him to the All-SEC defensive team must not have seen Donta play against Daniel Gafford in the Arkansas game. Hall has improved in his four seasons and added some strength with the bulk that comes with normal physical maturation. But he is still pushed around under the basket, proving the basketball strength coach has done a poor job.
- Claims Hall is not always engaged in the Tide’s offense are missing a major observation. Hall does not so much disappear offensively in games, as the offense goes elsewhere. Instead, Avery focuses on dribble drives by players who are not all good at dribbling or finishing at the rim. Avery’s schemes, other than a high ball-screen, pick and roll, are not designed to get Donta shots. Rather than green light Donta to shoot mid-range jumpers, why not screens for Donta to free him for an entry pass into the lane, allowing him to get to the rim without a dribble?
- Kira Lewis Jr. can be a special player. He is already a very good one. Roster limitations have forced him to take a role a 17-year old should not be expected to shoulder. He is not a Collin Sexton yet and relying on Kira to deliver a last-second game-winning basket is foolish.
- Trendon Watford, if he chooses Alabama basketball, will not solve all the Tide’s roster weaknesses. I agree with insiders who believe Watford, while very good, is not a one-and-done talent. He might be closer to a three or four year college player.
- The decision to retain or fire Avery cannot just be about the high buyout dollars. If he is retained, transfers out are likely. Worse, even if all eligible players return, the roster could be weaker next season. None of the guys on next year’s roster can replace Donta Hall. At best, Giddens and Smith are role players who probably could not start for any other SEC team. Redshirt freshman Javian Davis-Fleming will have to carry a heavy rebounding and defensive load. He is not considered much of an offensive threat.
Might I be wrong on any or all these observations? Yes, and I would love to be proven wrong on each of them. Having Avery and all his players succeed would bring me joy. I just do not see it happening.