Already, dozens of names haven been frenetically tossed around regarding the Alabama basketball head coaching vacancy.
Anthony Grant (Virginia Commonwealth), Tim Floyd (Southern California), Oliver Purnell (Clemson), Frank Haith (Miami), Tubby Smith (Minnesota), Sean Miller (Xavier), John Calipari (Memphis), Tom Izzo (Michigan State), Mike Davis (Alabama-Birmingham) and Mike Anderson (Missouri) are just some of the names that have been mentioned the most.
The realistic choice is the latter of the list. It just makes sense. And here ensues the process of elimination.
Grant, one of the fastest-rising coaches in America, I think will end up at Georgia, if he chooses to leave VCU, though Alabama has been granted permission to contact him about its opening. His possible leaving also depends on Virginia’s search and the rumblings about Kentucky making a change.
Floyd will not leave beautiful Southern Cal, especially with the bulk of talent coming in next year.
Purnell turned down LSU a year ago, and has since signed a contract extension to remain at Clemson through the 2013-14 season.
Haith should have no shot, in my opinion. Alabama athletics director Mal Moore said he’s seeking a proven, championship-level head coach. Haith has led Miami to just one NCAA tournament appearance in five years, which is not exactly championship-level material.
Smith, I believe, is happy where he is at Minnesota. It’s true, most coaches will say something like that and then take another job (Nick Saban, anyone?), but I am confident he will stay. As will Xavier’s Miller, whose contract buyout is rather hefty. I don’t think he’ll be switching jobs any time soon.
The next two coaches mentioned, Calipari and Izzo, would be crazy to leave. Calipari is luring top prospects from all over the nation to a Conference USA school. Plus, he’s going to make the NCAA tournament every season as a high seed. The rumors about Izzo just humor me. I’ve heard the story of how Izzo and Saban are great friends and how they’d love to coach at the same school again. But would Izzo, who has been at MSU since 1983, basically take a pay cut to come to UA? I say, vehemently, no.
Davis, like Haith, should not have much of a chance either. In his tenure at UAB, Davis has yet to make an NCAA tournament. He’s also lost commitments from Casey Mitchell and DeMarcus Cousins, who are now committed to West Virginia and Memphis, respectively.
That leaves Anderson and his “40 minutes of hell” mentality. And that is just what the Alabama program needs.
Too long under former head coach Mark Gottfried were wing players standing outside the three-point line, watching the power forward solitarily work in the paint.
The movement just was not there. Gottfried said he would implement a more uptempo system before each of the last two seasons, only to be followed by stagnation and no postseason play. Alabama showed some uptempo promise this season, but only after Gottfried cleared out his office and assistant Philip Pearson took over.
With Anderson, defensive pressure and movement are absolute musts. And Alabama must hire a coach that has a philosophy like this. Fans are tired of the offensive stagnation and untimely defensive lapses late in games.
Plus, Alabama is probably willing to pay around - if not more than - a $2 million salary to its next hoops coach. Anderson is making $900,000 right now and has two years left on his contract. After leading Missouri to a Big 12 Tournament championship and a No. 3 NCAA tournament seed, the school will likely offer a raise to keep him. But money is no object for Alabama.
It may very well be that Grant is named the next Tide hoops coach. And soon. But I just think all options will be explored, meaning contact with Anderson after Missouri’s season ends, whenever that may be.
The only way Crimson Tide fans will show up to Coleman Coliseum in droves is by being won over by a new style of play, and Anderson’s system is the formula for wins and attendance.
