Expectations for ‘Bama Basketball…

     We’ve all been down this road before. New Coach. High Expectations. Every Alabama basketball fan wants Nat Oats to be the man who fulfills our dreams of making the Tide a power in college basketball. It is hard to blame anyone for dreaming big. That’s what I do.  In reading the posting  board it is apparent that ‘Bama fans have high hopes. Is this going to different with this coach or just another verse of ‘been there and got the tee shirt’?

     I think this might be different. Coach Oats is an intriguing hire. He was the most successful mid-major coach in the NCAA. His conference record was 31-5 at Buffalo. Had he stayed up North he would have added to his rocket-like start in college basketball. Yep, I think this might indeed be different, but…  The SEC has the most impressive list of basketball coaches than any league in the NCAA. Kentucky is still the King of the SEC but things are changing. Auburn making its way to the Final Four is the perfect example of that change. Your team might be significantly better but that doesn’t mean your record will be significantly better. Alabama might be a better team this season than last and that may not lead to more wins.

     I know some faulted me for my guarded opinion of Coach Oats when he was hired.  My opinion is my opinion. Think what you like but never doubt my love of Alabama basketball. I hope Oats is all we hope for, but in all honesty we won’t  know for at least a couple of years whether or not the hire was a good one or not.  I believe it was an excellent hire given all the attendant circumstances that finding a coach at a football school entails. So, first I give our new Coach a red badge of courage for taking the job. When you come to Alabama as any coach other that football you are at best the second fiddle. There might be some benefit to a new basketball coach in name recognition. Alabama certainly has that. Secondly, Oats must be a very self-assured person to take the job at Alabama. I’ll give him that as well.

     He also has re-ignited a fire I haven’t sensed since Wimp Sanderson was our coach. So, that would be the third positive I recognize in Oats. His new offense is fun to watch and  some will call it radical. Nonetheless,  it gives the Tide an advantage on teams with more talented players.  I’ve found several Buffalo games on the net and they are fun to watch. The offense was very effective. The approach is unique to say the least. It takes a desperate or self- assured person to run the offense. Coach Oats doesn't seem to have one iota of desperation in his idea. 

    He can recruit. He got Rojas to forgo UCLA, Arkansas, and others to follow Oats to ‘Bama. The young man had announced he wanted to go to Buffalo. He wanted to play for Coach Oats. That says a lot about him. Same for Q. He could have gone anywhere to play ball but he wanted to play for Oats. So did Lewis and Petty. Those guys are a pretty great recruiting class. Add the three who announced for Bama and Johnson, and who stuck with Oats after Johnson left. . That is one heck of a recruiting class. So let’s add good recruiter to his positive list.

      I’ll be honest in saying not having an inside enforcer in the paint worries me. But one thing is clear – backing up the three-point line opens up the floor and creates more space for smaller and quicker players. Bottom line for me is I want to see some wins. I’ll also say I think we will see them. Losing Rojas, and the promising Gary to injuries will hurt.  Jahvon Quinerly, a five-star high school player, is still hoping the NCAA gives him the go ahead to play this season. Shackelford is going to be a key player and is ready for Division-One ball. Forbes can fill it up. I believe that Tide may have found their coach. Let’s see what happens. The new coach talks the talk. He is level headed. My bet is he walks the walk as well. We will see. Penn is picked as the number 2 team in the Ivy League. This will be a stern test for the Tide. I like Bama by 6. 

     Year three will give us an answer. Year one might give our hope so legitimacy.