Some of you guys kill me.....

[rollem]

Some of the negativity after losing to UCLA drives me nuts. I can definitely understand getting bent after a disappointing loss. However, CNO took our team to heights we've not experienced since 2004--that's 17 years of inconsistency and disappointment. Congratulations to Coach Oats and our basketball team for the outstanding, hopefully turnaround year our program has needed for a long overdue time.

Look at it as a major step forward, and I hope its a similar step forward as CNS accomplished in his second year. What did CNS do in his second year? He completely changed the mindset and culture of our football program. That's what our bball program needs and its not sunshine pumping, And while CNO is no CNS, I believe CNO can make us a basketball power.

 

[52 Yards]

Well said

 

[tydzbk]

Losing as a two with a very good team with great depth to an 11 is just disappointing. That's for sure. Would be nice though if it's a parallel to losing to Florida in 2008 and then breaking through to higher ground. We'll see who steps up as leaders. I'm hopeful because herb petty and Reese brought leadership, but I felt lacked enough in offensive consistency to be an obvious chink for us.

 

[Namron711]

The trick for teams that rely on three point shooting is to figure out how to win on days when your threes aren't falling. Our defense allowed us to win many and keep things close in most cases. Missing was big men who can shoot threes but also can play an old school post game when needed. Injuries took that from us this year.

 

[BeastofBourbon]

The trick for teams that rely on three point shooting is to figure out how to win on days when your threes aren't falling. Our defense allowed us to win many and keep things close in most cases. Missing was big men who can shoot threes but also can play an old school post game when needed. Injuries took that from us this year.

One thing you can't do when your 3's aren't falling is go 44% from the free throw line. In Oat's offense, if you're not hitting the 3's you HAVE to make your layups and free throws.

 

[BAMAPG]

I choose to look at the negativity shared by some fans as a positive. More fans are showing PASSION in the program, who can forget the threats when a kicker missed a FG ... read one of the football threads when we fell behind. I have said for MANY years if Bryant Denny is always FULL OF PASSIONATE fans we will have a chance to make it back to the top when we fall down. The time between Coach and Coach Stalling and the time between Coach Stalling and CNS ... we NEVER had a problem filling the stadium. We need the SAME passion for Basketball to turn it into a perianal top 20 program.

PASSION does not share a persons intelligence ....

If people want a BIG TIME program next year every seat will be filled for EVERY game and people will demand the arena changes come to life not just pretty pictures.

 

[Sweetlou10]

Well said, OP. Always gonna be some disappointment but this was an amazing season we’ll never forget. Two sec championships and the Sweet 16 appearance is something hardly anyone would’ve expected at the beginning of the season.

 

[Namron711]

One thing you can't do when your 3's aren't falling is go 44% from the free throw line. In Oat's offense, if you're not hitting the 3's you HAVE to make your layups and free throws.

You're right. As bad as they played if they had been making free throws they would still be playing. I love the way they played defense. They were a good team.

 

[musso72]

Is 17th place in recruiting good enough to sustain the success in beating teams like Kentucky?

 

[cola68]

“If passion drives you, let reason hold the reins.”

Ben Franklin

 

[cola68]

Is 17th place in recruiting good enough to sustain the success in beating teams like Kentucky?

Are we that low ? Fahr oats!😃

@musso72 I expect the ranking to improve

 

[anon_z8qxv7qt5719f]

I agree, and there was a influx of what seems like "fans" that waited until post season to post on the board and actually "care" at all.

 

[BeastofBourbon]

Is 17th place in recruiting good enough to sustain the success in beating teams like Kentucky?

Beat them every year probably not, but with the one and done philosophy of Calipari you'll have years like this one where they miss on a recruiting class. Plus, I don't think the goal of the program is to beat UK every year. The goal should be to field a team annually that gets a high seed in the tournament with an opportunity to make the Final Four. If you're able to do that regularly then you will beat Kentucky and win some SEC Championships along the way.

 

[BaselineLeaner4]

Loved out season - it was great. But that doesn't change the fact we went out in this fashion. Tough to swallow.

Hope Oats is with us for a long time!

 

[rollem]

Is 17th place in recruiting good enough to sustain the success in beating teams like Kentucky?

No, you're right. However, recruiting ain't over with yet. Gives us bball fans another way to focus.

Harper, if you're listening (or reading) reckon we could get a recruiting update?

BTW: I really like this basketball forum. Thanks to the Insider staff.

 

[anon_z8qxv7qt5719f]

To me, there are a lot of good basketball players out there as far as recruiting that can sustain what is being built. JUCO is a huge option in CBB and it's a lot different than recruiting for football. I think we saw a huge development in players like Reese over last off-season to say that player development looks promising under Oats.

 

[BamaNavyCPO]

Some of the negativity after losing to UCLA drives me nuts. I can definitely understand getting bent after a disappointing loss. However, CNO took our team to heights we've not experienced since 2004--that's 17 years of inconsistency and disappointment. Congratulations to Coach Oats and our basketball team for the outstanding, hopefully turnaround year our program has needed for a long overdue time.

Look at it as a major step forward, and I hope its a similar step forward as CNS accomplished in his second year. What did CNS do in his second year? He completely changed the mindset and culture of our football program. That's what our bball program needs and its not sunshine pumping, And while CNO is no CNS, I believe CNO can make us a basketball power.

Even though it is useless to complain about fans complaining, I am going to have to call you on the bold highlighted section of your post. CNS did not change the mindset or culture at Bama. That mindset and culture was established long before CNS ever picked up a whistle. What he did do is reinvigorate a fanbase that had somewhat gone dormant. The Alabama tradition is older than Saban.

 

[winin11]

Is 17th place in recruiting good enough to sustain the success in beating teams like Kentucky?

Nope but I'll bet you we finish better than 17th if you want some of that Musso. 247 has us 17th, and Rivals has us 14th. If we end up with Bediako and N Burnette we will be top ten, which is likely.

 

[rollem]

Even though it is useless to complain about fans complaining, I am going to have to call you on the bold highlighted section of your post. CNS did not change the mindset or culture at Bama. That mindset and culture was established long before CNS ever picked up a whistle. What he did do is reinvigorate a fanbase that had somewhat gone dormant. The Alabama tradition is older than Saban.

Touche', excellent points, and I agree with most of your post.

The years of Dubose, Shula, Price, etc. occurred over a period of years and during a time where the "money" guys controlled our program, and if I remember correctly, it was a mess. Thank God for Coach Mal Moore having the guts and foresight in bringing CNS into the fold.

And CNS accepted the job and has stayed on the job because he got to do things "the Saban way". And the fan base has bought into the Saban way.

 

[BAMAPG]

I have only been a BAMA fan for 66 years. I was 4 when Coach coached his first game at BAMA. As long as I can remember it was hard to get tickets. back in the day was MUCH harder .. fewer seats and not all games on TV. Our fanbase was as passionate as any in America for all 66 years. jmo but Miami and FSU are having a much harder time coming back because tickets are a dime a dozen and games are not even 70% full.
FANS are the backbone of every college team. As my Gator fan told me damn it must be tough you had to go from 92 to 09 between championships ...

 

[anon_z8qxv7qt5719f]

it's funny that we can't talk about basketball without football creeping into the conversation.

 

[Sweetlou10]

it's funny that we can't talk about basketball without football creeping into the conversation.

Sad funny.

 

[BAMAPG]

I have said for many years if we want a perennial top 20 BB team we need similar support from the fans and the administration as we give football. When a BB recruit comes on campus he should not leave thinking he and his sport are 2nd class citizens ..... As big as the school is plus the growth in Tuscaloosa and Bham ... and NO PRO SPORTS .... Basketball should become a STRONG # 2 option for the sports dollars and passion in the region. jmo.

it's funny that we can't talk about basketball without football creeping into the conversation.

 

[jts1255]

Even though it is useless to complain about fans complaining, I am going to have to call you on the bold highlighted section of your post. CNS did not change the mindset or culture at Bama. That mindset and culture was established long before CNS ever picked up a whistle. What he did do is reinvigorate a fanbase that had somewhat gone dormant. The Alabama tradition is older than Saban.

I disagree. The culture within the program was transformed by Saban. And, what’s remarkable he has maintained it and adapted over the last 13 years. The fan base has always been loyal. I’ve been a Tide Pride member since it’s inception and attend almost every home game. Hell, I’ve been going to games since I was 7 and blessed to have gone to undergrad and law school at UA. Even when times were bad the fans came, because of the tradition. Now, what Saban has accomplished has dwarfed what any program has ever accomplished in the history of college football. And, he’s not finished. The fanbase should NEVER complain about a damned thing. They should just be grateful for what they’re getting to experience and appreciate it because no fanbase in America has ever (and probably won‘t in the future) experienced it before. Some of us old farts have now had the honor of experiencing it twice!
Oates has something special about him. He‘s changing the culture of Bama basketball. The administration and the fans need to get behind him 100% and great things will happen!

 

[BamaNavyCPO]

I disagree. The culture within the program was transformed by Saban. And, what’s remarkable he has maintained it and adapted over the last 13 years. The fan base has always been loyal. I’ve been a Tide Pride member since it’s inception and attend almost every home game. Hell, I’ve been going to games since I was 7 and blessed to have gone to undergrad and law school at UA. Even when times were bad the fans came, because of the tradition. Now, what Saban has accomplished has dwarfed what any program has ever accomplished in the history of college football. And, he’s not finished. The fanbase should NEVER complain about a damned thing. They should just be grateful for what they’re getting to experience and appreciate it because no fanbase in America has ever (and probably won‘t in the future) experienced it before. Some of us old farts have now had the honor of experiencing it twice!
Oates has something special about him. He‘s changing the culture of Bama basketball. The administration and the fans need to get behind him 100% and great things will happen!

I'll see your disagree and raise you ten. Has Saban created an era of dominance...YUP! But there is a difference between resurrection and establishment. Bama's culture was established long before Saban. He just resurrected the culture, or brought it out of hiding, and took it to another level. I had the privilege of enjoying the Bear's dominance and the culture/tradition that existed then. Believe me when I tell you, it's the same pride and exuberance that was felt 60-years ago. I'm not discounting Saban's accomplishments, but the CRIMSON TIDE TRADITION is bigger than Saban.