Johnson needs a win tonight ...
Someone sent me an email and asked what I thought would happen to Avery Johnson if Alabama lost tonight? I don't know. The Alabama social media would completely melt down. Besides that would one more win or another "bad" loss make any difference in his future at Alabama? I'm not sure that Tide fans can get any more upset or disillusioned with buckle up. On the other hand, winning the NIT might quieten a lot of angry fans.
The top 68 teams in the NCAA are not all in the Big Dance. There are so many automatic bids going to smaller conferences a lot of good power five teams get left out. But, basketball is different than football. Lesser teams in football can be powerful teams in basketball. Villanova, VCU, and Gonzaga quickly come to mind. You can't compare basketball with football. History matters a lot in basketball. But, above everything else, basketball is a coach driven sport. A great basketball coach can take five players and win conference championships. A football coach can't take eleven players and do the same.
Money is so important in football. It isn't nearly as important in basketball. In basketball, you can even play in a pretty bad arena and get away with it. If you have tradition and some historical importance. Duke and UCLA have proven that fact, but if you are like Alabama you need better facilities. And you need a great coach. You cannot be a great basketball team without a great coach in my opinion. That includes recruiting. Here's one of the ironies in the world of hoops. A great coach can win average players.
Alabama isn't a great team or program for that matter. So what is it that Alabama lacks? Is it coaching or is it recruiting? Does Alabama have great players? Certainly not in the category that they once had. You don't get a lot of Collin Sexton players. If Alabama isn't going to spend money on a state of the art facility, that hurts anyone who comes to Alabama to coach. It would take a famous and proven coach to come to Alabama. I doubt Alabama will spend the money needed to do that.
In a post-Johnson era, what should Alabama do? The only remaining choice is to take a gamble on an up and coming young coach. That is tricky, and most frequently doesn't work. It does on occasion. Billy Donovan worked out. Alabama would greatly benefit from the elimination of the one and done rule as well. The NCAA needs to include more teams to make sure the top 68 teams get an invitation. Play one more game and that solves a whole lot of problems for teams without the big names. Basketball is a tournament sport.
If Alabama loses tonight will Johnson be booed? Johnson doesn't deserve that. But the AD needs to understand that the fans deserve more. For the record, Alabama by 10. The best indicator of future success is a past success. If Alabama can land Watford and perhaps another inside player we will be better next season regardless who is the coach. Our signed recruits have been assured Johnson is returning. What does that tell you?
Don'ta Hall dropped some hints about team problems in his interview. That is never good. Perhaps that would be a good place for Johnson to start next year.
Someone sent me an email and asked what I thought would happen to Avery Johnson if Alabama lost tonight? I don't know. The Alabama social media would completely melt down. Besides that would one more win or another "bad" loss make any difference in his future at Alabama? I'm not sure that Tide fans can get any more upset or disillusioned with buckle up. On the other hand, winning the NIT might quieten a lot of angry fans.
The top 68 teams in the NCAA are not all in the Big Dance. There are so many automatic bids going to smaller conferences a lot of good power five teams get left out. But, basketball is different than football. Lesser teams in football can be powerful teams in basketball. Villanova, VCU, and Gonzaga quickly come to mind. You can't compare basketball with football. History matters a lot in basketball. But, above everything else, basketball is a coach driven sport. A great basketball coach can take five players and win conference championships. A football coach can't take eleven players and do the same.
Money is so important in football. It isn't nearly as important in basketball. In basketball, you can even play in a pretty bad arena and get away with it. If you have tradition and some historical importance. Duke and UCLA have proven that fact, but if you are like Alabama you need better facilities. And you need a great coach. You cannot be a great basketball team without a great coach in my opinion. That includes recruiting. Here's one of the ironies in the world of hoops. A great coach can win average players.
Alabama isn't a great team or program for that matter. So what is it that Alabama lacks? Is it coaching or is it recruiting? Does Alabama have great players? Certainly not in the category that they once had. You don't get a lot of Collin Sexton players. If Alabama isn't going to spend money on a state of the art facility, that hurts anyone who comes to Alabama to coach. It would take a famous and proven coach to come to Alabama. I doubt Alabama will spend the money needed to do that.
In a post-Johnson era, what should Alabama do? The only remaining choice is to take a gamble on an up and coming young coach. That is tricky, and most frequently doesn't work. It does on occasion. Billy Donovan worked out. Alabama would greatly benefit from the elimination of the one and done rule as well. The NCAA needs to include more teams to make sure the top 68 teams get an invitation. Play one more game and that solves a whole lot of problems for teams without the big names. Basketball is a tournament sport.
If Alabama loses tonight will Johnson be booed? Johnson doesn't deserve that. But the AD needs to understand that the fans deserve more. For the record, Alabama by 10. The best indicator of future success is a past success. If Alabama can land Watford and perhaps another inside player we will be better next season regardless who is the coach. Our signed recruits have been assured Johnson is returning. What does that tell you?
Don'ta Hall dropped some hints about team problems in his interview. That is never good. Perhaps that would be a good place for Johnson to start next year.
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