BOL Round Table

The only reasonable answer I can think of is the lack of depth. It's hard to keep up that kind of pace with the number of players we have. And yes, critics, Grant is ultimately to blame for this. I think this offseason is pivotal for the direction of the program. If he manages to bring in a good recruiting class and fill out the roster, we could be a very dangerous team next year. On the other hand, if all this happens and we still look anemic most of the time, we might have to make some changes.

Understood, and I agree with you, but I think Grant does believe that his only chance is to shorten the game.
I think it's a strategic decision that ultimately could backfire on him as it turns off fans and recruits alike.

So in the short term, it *might* have won him a few more games this season (maybe not) but in the long term, I'm becoming concerned that it's putting him in a position that is increasinly difficult to revitalize the program as fans and the additional talent he desperately needs, are less inclined to walk thru the doors @ Coleman

It is just a BS idea, I remember watching UCLA win a national title in the 90s with only a 7 players and they didn't shorten the game like we do. The still scored 60 to 70 points every game. Heck they beat Arkansas in the National Title game that year, when Arkansas was 10 deep and the returning national champs.

well that is true, man I still remember at the time thinking there was no way they could beat Arky in the national title game. Couldn't have been more wrong.

Seriously, I don't expect us to run and gun to try and score in the 80s, but with a 8 man rotation, we should't have to slow it down to score in the 50s 75% of the time. Most teams only play with a 8 man rotation and don't slow it down like we do.

Have a great night Dave, I really got to go to bed now.

We have a lot of depth at guard.

This is offense we're talking about, not pressure defense.

We could play a frantic pace on offense since we have 6 guards(if you include Devonta) who can shoot the rock. But Grant's not going to budge on that because he's set on winning his way.

Well obviously it doesn't give us the best chance to win. We are 19-11 and most of those wins are by the skin of our teeth.

You are all idiots. Why is everyone so hung up on the scoring streak in the last few minutes of the game? We made 5 straight 3's, of course it's going to make the offense look great for the time being. We were just uncharacteristically making long range shots. I want Grant fired just like the rest of you but it's the same as a 2 minute offense in football. Always looks better when you're coming from behind. The basketball IQ of Bama fans sickens me. Go back to football instead of making ignorant basketball posts.

They played that way in the last few minutes because they had nothing to lose. They were not thinking about people not showing up to games. They were not thinking about people questioning their shooting ability, basketball IQ or how they didnt deserve their highscool ranking. For a couple of minutes they were where they were in highschool, they were in enemy territory and believed they could win! Lack of confidence creates hesitance, poor decision making and affects motor skills. When you are put in situations were the penalties for failure are lessened you revert to what you know. We can all agree that Coach Saban is the BESTin the land! The only he thing he asked for from the fans was POSITIVE ENERGY! Enviroment has the greatest effect on the development of any living thing both good and bad and is impossible for a coach to totally control.

Tight coach = tight players. He has to find a way to loosen the reigns and get these guys excited about playing basketball. For whatever reason he decided that the best way to win was to shorten the game. This puts a lot of stress on guys at the end of a shot clock and creates a lot of close games. Earlier in the year we were playing a looser, faster brand of basketball. We need to press 75-85% of the time. It energizes this team. To do that, we will need to press off of misses as well as makes.

If you have been watching the last few games than everyone should know that Obasahan MUST play more. This kid is getting better and better and he provides an energy that we don't get with other guys. Even if he makes a mistake it seems to be full speed.

its just like the 2 minute offense in foozeball

For me, it's this...

1 - More Obasohan please. The kid has energy and makes things happen
2 - I don't understand our full court pressure. Most man press / run and jump style pressure teams do not always trap up from the ball side - they lock down the ball side and bring traps from the back/weak side where you cannot always see the trap coming, rotating up with the back weak side defenders. We have very little element of surprise with the way we run our pressure - which is why we don't get much out of it.
3. We look bad on offense the majority of the time because against man to man, all we run are set plays for the most part. In college basketball, with the type of scouting that goes on, it's hard to do this night in and night out. There is a place for sets, sure, but there has to be some motion principles as well that are somewhat unscoutable.