Bama Basketball has a new coach
- Thread starter mikeirbyusa
- Start date
I think it's a great hire. He was a solid pro coach and with his NBA ties he should be able to entice some high profile players with statements that he knows what it takes to play in the league. he also seems fairly personable. I don't see much downside with this hire other than he hasn't spent much time in the college game in a very long time. And realistically, who else would be attracted to Bama's job? Marshall turned it down for less money in a less high profile conference/school.
A shrug of the shoulders hire. Marshall only flirted with Alabama to get Wichita to ante up some bucks. He is in a better spot there. Alabama can get better, and can win. But only to a certain point. Basketball at Alabama is much like football at UNC. They would enjoy seeing it be good, but the other sport is always the Mai focus.
Johnson is full of personality, and as a player he was great. But college coaching is a very different kind of animal than NBA coaching. And Johnson has 0 college coaching experience. Plus, while he seemed a top future NBA HC when he started,, things began to unravel. His last 3 years as an NBA HC were poor. And even his last year at Dallas was a drop off.
Auburn hiring Bruce Pearl last year was an A+ hire. Miss St landing Ben Howland this year is an A+ hire. Tennessee getting Rick Barnes this year is at least a B+ hire. Bama hiring Johnson is at best a C hire, because he is a risk. and it could turn into an F.
You can bet that the growing number of Bama boosters who want Bill Battle canned as AD willl get louder. They will not fall for journalists who wish to either promote Johnson or save face for Battle. The second Johnson seems over his head in college coaching, they will demand Battle's head.
Anthony Grant, who left VCU after winning 3 consecutive conference titles, flundered at Bama and was fired. He only had 1 losing season at Bama, 2013-14, but he also only had 1 NCAA team - 6 seasons total. That said, his firing was primarily becaue Bruce Pearl is at Auburn.
It's boom or bust IMO. No middle ground. It brings some new excitement into the program, based on some name value. I believe he will get the attention of the type of kids, eventually, that haven't given Alabama a look lately. Good pub for the program for a bit. But it's going to come down to how he does in hiring assistants, and how well he can develop the talent he has and will have. Alabama is willing to pump money into basketball.
I want to yell at you and scream about how this isn't true. But for so many in this fanbase, it is true
It will remain true until football finally gets its act together and wins Big over a solid half decade, with the next half decade looking at least as bright. Football is so much bigger nationally that any school that finally hits it big in football gets the bug bad.Originally posted by TarHeelNation11:
I want to yell at you and scream about how this isn't true. But for so many in this fanbase, it is true
Oregon is a nice example. In 1972, Oregon was a basketball school and was second a track andf field school. As soon as Ducks football became consistently good, Oregon became a Football School.
The same will be true of UNC. And it is that which terrifies the basketball-only and basketball-first UNC fans, like that POS Art Chansky.
This post was edited on 4/6 10:07 AM by WoadBlue
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