Can Alabama be competitive with Tennessee?
Rick Barnes and Avery Johnson both are in their fourth season as SEC head coaches. Each has been to one NCAA Tournament. Barnes was a highly respected coach in talent-laden Texas. Johnson coached in the NBA. Avery Johnson is now 68-51 at Alabama. Barnes is 72-45. Tennessee is now ranked 3rd in the Nation. Alabama isn't ranked. It seems to fair to say Tennessee has successfully rebuilt their program. The same cannot be said for Alabama. In all honesty, it would be unfair to think Alabama has shown anyone they can be successful again. I'll let you judge what success is. I don't think either Alabama or Tennessee will ever be a national power on a regular basis. I doubt that Alabama is likely to be an SEC Champion at anytime soon. It is more likely that Tennessee might be. In fact, the 'Vols might make it this year. Alabama is just hopeful of getting an NCAA bid. Is this acceptable to Alabama fans?
I love Alabama basketball. I'm sure many of you feel the same way. I've been a true believer for decades. Now, I am a realist. I still love Alabama basketball. I've written about my seven-decade history as a 'Bama fan and won't bother to tell you that story again. Today, I was thinking about our game with Tennessee. Normally, I think we would have some chance to win. Statistically, I am sure there is some tiny percentage of a chance. It would be more correct to call that a hope or a dream. I realized that what I was hoping for was one of two things: Don't embarrass yourself Alabama, and secondly, at least be competitive. It is difficult to tell our younger fans how far our program has fallen since CM Newton and Wimp Sanderson. Let me put it this way: There isn't one player on this year's team that could have started in 1976 or 1987. Leon Douglas or Reginald King aren't taking the floor this weekend. What I find ironic is that Coach Bryant, the Bear himself, made Alabama basketball successful when he made a personal decision that he wanted his legacy as an Athletic Director to be important. CM Newton got the ball rolling. Wimp Sanderson continued the progress. Alabama fired Wimp Sanderson. Alabama hasn't recovered. It wasn't just firing a great coach. It was an affirmation that Alabama no longer cared about basketball. Each season is a reaffirmation that Alabama football is all consuming. Football is all that most people who jokingly call themselves "Alabama fans" care about, and that appears to be true with powers to be as well.
People are getting disenchanted with Alabama basketball again and Coach Johnson. Johnson is not to blame for the inherent disinterest in basketball. The fact that Alabama won't actually commit to a date to build a modern facility. Or perhaps better stated is when it will be completed. This has been an ongoing problem with Tide hoops for a couple of decades. Even Auburn built a new facility. Ole Miss has a new building. Alabama's AD extended Coach Johnson's contract through 2023. That is good and bad. It's good if Johnson is winning, but bad if things are not going well.
Measuring the progress of a program in the SEC used to be how you compared to Kentucky. Now, you have to compare to rising programs like Auburn and Tennessee. How does the Tide compare to Mississippi State, a suddenly better Ole Miss program, and Florida? I sadly read the posts of younger fans expressing the same hope I had for years. It is a repeating program. For the older fans, we have seen the Rocket Eight, Newton and Sanderson teams. We have even seen Bama ranked #1 for a week. I have a historical perspective of our program that newer fans don't have. Coach Johnson is experiencing the same programs as all Alabama coaches after Wimp Sanderson.
Until Alabama makes a strong public commitment to make Alabama the bully boy in the SEC, Tide fans will experience the same frustrations I have suffered. It is time for Alabama to put up or shut up. Give the program some of football's money. Hire a great coach (and it could be Johnson and give him the money for the best staff money can attract (and we might have them now). Clearly, something needs to be done. We aren't making the mark right now. I'll support Alabama either way. I think Alabama fans need to let the AD know we all expect better and not just hope for better.
Today, Alabama goes to Knoxville to try to find a way to beat the #3 ranked team in America. How did Barnes elevate Tennessee to this level and Johnson hasn't? I don't know. On paper, the Tide has had better recruiting. Alabama basketball may be an enigma wrapped in a puzzle forever. Roll Tide forever
Tn by 15.
Rick Barnes and Avery Johnson both are in their fourth season as SEC head coaches. Each has been to one NCAA Tournament. Barnes was a highly respected coach in talent-laden Texas. Johnson coached in the NBA. Avery Johnson is now 68-51 at Alabama. Barnes is 72-45. Tennessee is now ranked 3rd in the Nation. Alabama isn't ranked. It seems to fair to say Tennessee has successfully rebuilt their program. The same cannot be said for Alabama. In all honesty, it would be unfair to think Alabama has shown anyone they can be successful again. I'll let you judge what success is. I don't think either Alabama or Tennessee will ever be a national power on a regular basis. I doubt that Alabama is likely to be an SEC Champion at anytime soon. It is more likely that Tennessee might be. In fact, the 'Vols might make it this year. Alabama is just hopeful of getting an NCAA bid. Is this acceptable to Alabama fans?
I love Alabama basketball. I'm sure many of you feel the same way. I've been a true believer for decades. Now, I am a realist. I still love Alabama basketball. I've written about my seven-decade history as a 'Bama fan and won't bother to tell you that story again. Today, I was thinking about our game with Tennessee. Normally, I think we would have some chance to win. Statistically, I am sure there is some tiny percentage of a chance. It would be more correct to call that a hope or a dream. I realized that what I was hoping for was one of two things: Don't embarrass yourself Alabama, and secondly, at least be competitive. It is difficult to tell our younger fans how far our program has fallen since CM Newton and Wimp Sanderson. Let me put it this way: There isn't one player on this year's team that could have started in 1976 or 1987. Leon Douglas or Reginald King aren't taking the floor this weekend. What I find ironic is that Coach Bryant, the Bear himself, made Alabama basketball successful when he made a personal decision that he wanted his legacy as an Athletic Director to be important. CM Newton got the ball rolling. Wimp Sanderson continued the progress. Alabama fired Wimp Sanderson. Alabama hasn't recovered. It wasn't just firing a great coach. It was an affirmation that Alabama no longer cared about basketball. Each season is a reaffirmation that Alabama football is all consuming. Football is all that most people who jokingly call themselves "Alabama fans" care about, and that appears to be true with powers to be as well.
People are getting disenchanted with Alabama basketball again and Coach Johnson. Johnson is not to blame for the inherent disinterest in basketball. The fact that Alabama won't actually commit to a date to build a modern facility. Or perhaps better stated is when it will be completed. This has been an ongoing problem with Tide hoops for a couple of decades. Even Auburn built a new facility. Ole Miss has a new building. Alabama's AD extended Coach Johnson's contract through 2023. That is good and bad. It's good if Johnson is winning, but bad if things are not going well.
Measuring the progress of a program in the SEC used to be how you compared to Kentucky. Now, you have to compare to rising programs like Auburn and Tennessee. How does the Tide compare to Mississippi State, a suddenly better Ole Miss program, and Florida? I sadly read the posts of younger fans expressing the same hope I had for years. It is a repeating program. For the older fans, we have seen the Rocket Eight, Newton and Sanderson teams. We have even seen Bama ranked #1 for a week. I have a historical perspective of our program that newer fans don't have. Coach Johnson is experiencing the same programs as all Alabama coaches after Wimp Sanderson.
Until Alabama makes a strong public commitment to make Alabama the bully boy in the SEC, Tide fans will experience the same frustrations I have suffered. It is time for Alabama to put up or shut up. Give the program some of football's money. Hire a great coach (and it could be Johnson and give him the money for the best staff money can attract (and we might have them now). Clearly, something needs to be done. We aren't making the mark right now. I'll support Alabama either way. I think Alabama fans need to let the AD know we all expect better and not just hope for better.
Today, Alabama goes to Knoxville to try to find a way to beat the #3 ranked team in America. How did Barnes elevate Tennessee to this level and Johnson hasn't? I don't know. On paper, the Tide has had better recruiting. Alabama basketball may be an enigma wrapped in a puzzle forever. Roll Tide forever
Tn by 15.
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