Alabama basketball coach Anthony Grant took a few minutes this afternoon to update the state of the program heading into the Thursday game with Jacksonville. Here’s the whole thing.
Follow @DailyBamaBlog
Also find and follow The Daily Bama Blog on:
Facebook: Facebook.com/dailybamablog
YouTube: /michaelcasagrande
NEW: Google+: Alabama football circle
Also see: River City Rumblings prep blog
The Compensation Committee of the Alabama Board of Trustees just met and approved a long list of contract extensions for Alabama athletics coaches. A few even got raises. Here’s the rundown:
It’s worth noting that Sarah Patterson doesn’t get a raise after winning the national gymnastics title.
Follow @DailyBamaBlog
Also find and follow The Daily Bama Blog on:
Facebook: Facebook.com/dailybamablog
YouTube: /michaelcasagrande
NEW: Google+: Alabama football circle
Also see: River City Rumblings prep blog
Alabama hasn’t released its final basketball schedule, but a few bits and pieces are coming to light.
Kansas State’s release today included a Dec. 17 visit from the Crimson Tide to the other Manhattan. The Wildcats beat the Tide 87-74 in 2009 in Mobile. Remember Tide coach Anthony Grant goes way back with Kansas State coach Frank Martin.
The list of non-conference opponents for Alabama now includes Georgetown, Dayton, and the field of the Puerto Rico Tip-Off featuring Purdue, Temple, Maryland and Colorado, Iona, Western Michigan and Wichita State who beat Alabama in the NIT title game.
Follow @DailyBamaBlog
Also find and follow The Daily Bama Blog on:
Facebook: Facebook.com/dailybamablog
YouTube: /michaelcasagrande
Another piece of Alabama’s non-conference basketball schedule became clear after the Tide’s Dec. 1 home date with Georgetown became clear last week.
Alabama signed on for a home-and-home series with Anthony Grant’s alma mater, Dayton. The Dayton Daily News is reporting the Tide will play in Ohio on Dec. 7. It would be the first game with a BCS school in UD Arena since 2007.
Dayton coach Archie Miller had nice things to say about Anthony Grant when speaking to the Dayton newspaper.
“Anthony Grant is one of college basketball’s best coaches — it just so happens that he played here,” Miller said. “To have an opportunity to be part of that series is great because I think they’re going to contend in the SEC this year. Obviously, to bring them into UD Arena is fabulous for our fans.”
The UD Arena is recognizable since it is a regular site for NCAA tournament games. It annually plays host to the opening round that Alabama fell just short of reaching last season.
From looking at last season’s schedule, there will be some holes to fill after home-and-home series ended with opponents like Purdue, Providence, and Toledo.
Alabama basketball coach Anthony Grant just released a statement through the school regarding the announcement made by Trevor Lacey just a little bit ago. He’ll play in Tuscaloosa and Grant’s certainly glad to have him.
“We are excited to announce the signing of Trevor Lacey to our 2011 recruiting class and welcome him to the Crimson Tide basketball family,” Grant said. “Trevor has defined himself as an ultimate winner throughout his high school career by leading his teams to three state championships at Butler High School under legendary coach Jack Doss. He possesses tremendous individual skills and talents, but what is most impressive is his basketball character and IQ. He is about winning and possesses the ability to affect winning in a variety of ways.”
Check back later for video from the signing and tidbits from the wild announcement.
Alabama announced a special state-wide radio show will air Monday evening (May 16) to benefit victims of the historic April 27 tornado outbreak.
The special will air from 6-8 p.m. on all members of the Crimson Tide Sports Network. It will originate from “The Zone” at Bryant-Denny Stadium, according to a news release, where attendees will be asked to donate to the “UA acts of kindness fund.”
Nick Saban, Anthony Grant and gymnastics coach Sarah Patterson are among those scheduled to appear.
Click here to find the radio affiliate in your area.
Posted in Uncategorized
Tagged Anthony Grant, basketball, football, Nick Saban, Tuscaloosa tornado
Here’s a small look at today’s clean up effort made by Alabama athletes and coaches in the neighborhood of Holt. Read more about this story in Sunday’s print editions and by clicking here or here.
And now a few photos.
 |
| Bama athletes help tornado cleanup |
Here are three quick images from the damage that defies the English language. These were taken in the Holt community of Tuscaloosa where Wednesday’s tornado did some of the worst damage. Read Sunday’s newspaper for a complete account of Alabama student-athletes and coaches including Anthony Grant who spent the day helping those who lost it all. Click to enlarge the photos.
Here is the lead to one of the stories I’m working on for tomorrow.
NEW YORK — Alabama had just beaten Miami in the NIT quarterfinals when star forward JaMychal Green dropped the news to coach Anthony Grant.
Grant then had another reason to smile.
The forward and leading scorer from Montgomery said this week’s trip to New York would not be his last in a Crimson Tide jersey.
Green will return to Tuscaloosa in the fall for his senior season. The potential riches of the NBA can wait one more year for the St. Jude High School product.
Green promises the decision was based on deep thought, not an emotional response to a big win.
“Nothing is going to convince me to leave,” Green said Monday. “I talked to my mom and my dad and we made up our mind that we were coming back and play another year. I have more things to work on and get my education.”
The past four days saw Alabama basketball coach Anthony Grant narrowly miss a few incentive-based bonuses totaling $50,000.
Grant’s contract calls for separate bonuses of $25,000 each for winning the SEC regular season title and being named conference coach of the year.
The Tide’s loss at Florida and the Gators’ win at Vanderbilt on Saturday gave them the outright regular-season crown.
On Tuesday, Florida’s Billy Donovan was named league coach of the year in a race Grant was certainly among the favorites considering the Tide’s mid-season turnaround.
It wasn’t a total bust for Grant. The SEC West Division title meant a $15,000 windfall and an invitation to the NCAA tournament will mean another $25,000 added to the $1.8 million he’s set to make in base salary and talent fees.
Find and follow The Daily Bama Blog on:
Twitter: @dailybamablog
Facebook: Facebook.com/dailybamablog
The SEC released its postseason awards a little bit ago and there were a few relatively surprising non-selections.
First, no Alabama player made the all-defensive team although the Tide has one of the best defenses nationally.
Then there is the coach of the year. Surprise 1: Billy Donovan, not Anthony Grant won the award. Surprise 2: Donovan had never won the award previously. Here’s the complete listing.
First team All-SEC
JaMychal Green, Alabama – F, 6-8, 228, Jr., Montgomery, Ala.
Chandler Parsons, Florida – F, 6-1-, 218, Sr., Casselberry, Fla.
Trey Thompkins, Georgia – F, 6-10, 245, Jr., Lithonia, Ga.
Terrence Jones, Kentucky – F, 6-8, 244, Fr., Portland, Ore.
Brandon Knight, Kentucky – G, 6-3, 185, Fr., Ft. Lauderdale, Fla.
Chris Warren, Ole Miss – G, 5-10, 168, Sr., Orlando, Fla.
Scotty Hopson, Tennessee – G, 6-7, 200, Jr., Hopkinsville, Ky.
John Jenkins, Vanderbilt – G, 6-4, 215, So., Hendersonville, Tenn.
Second team All-SEC
^Tony Mitchell, Alabama – F, 6-6, 210, So., Swainsboro, Ga.
^Rotnei Clarke, Arkansas – G, 6-0, 184, Jr., Verdigris, Okla.
^Kenny Boynton, Florida – G, 6-2, 183, So., Pompano Beach, Fla.
Erving Walker, Florida – G, 5-8, 171, Jr., Brooklyn, N.Y.
Travis Leslie, Georgia – G, 6-4, 205, Jr., Decatur, Ga.
Dee Bost, Mississippi State – G, 6-2, 176, Jr., Concord, N.C.
Tobias Harris, Tennessee – F, 6-8, 226, Fr., Dix Hills, N.Y.
Festus Ezeli, Vanderbilt – C, 6-11, 255, R-Jr., Benin City, Nigeria
Jeffery Taylor, Vanderbilt – F, 6-7, 225, Jr., Norrkoping, Sweden
SEC All-Freshman team
Trevor Releford, Alabama – G, 6-1, 180, Fr., Shawnee Mission, Kan.
Patric Young, Florida – F/C, 6-9, 245, Fr., Jacksonville, Fla.
Terrence Jones, Kentucky – F, 6-8, 244, Fr., Portland, Ore.
Brandon Knight, Kentucky – G, 6-3, 185, Fr., Ft. Lauderdale, Fla.
Doron Lamb, Kentucky – G, 6-4, 195, Fr., Queens, N.Y.
Ralston Turner, LSU – G, 6-6, 193, Fr., Muscle Shoals, Ala.
Bruce Ellington, South Carolina – G, 5-9, 194, Fr. Moncks Corner, S.C.
Tobias Harris, Tennessee – F, 6-8, 226, Fr., Dix Hills, N.Y.
SEC All-Defensive team
Delvon Johnson, Arkansas – F, 6-9, 220, Sr., Chicago, Ill.
DeAndre Liggins, Kentucky – G, 6-6, 210, Jr., Chicago, Ill.
Reginald Buckner, Ole Miss – F, 6-8, 233, So., Memphis, Tenn.
Sam Muldrow, South Carolina – F/C, 6-9, 222, Sr., Florence, S.C.
Jeffery Taylor, Vanderbilt – F, 6-7, 225, Jr., Norrkoping, Sweden
SEC Coach of the Year: Billy Donovan, Florida
SEC Player of the Year: Chandler Parsons, Florida
SEC Scholar-Athlete of the Year: Riley Benock, Mississippi State
SEC Freshman of the Year: Terrence Jones, Kentucky
SEC Sixth-Man of the Year: Brian Williams, Tennessee
SEC Defensive Player of the Year: Sam Muldrow, South Carolina
Like a skilled politician, Anthony Grant answered questions about Alabama’s shot at an at-large NCAA bid on this morning’s SEC teleconference.
“Well yeah, I have a lot of respect for the SEC and what we were able to accomplish with the caliber of teams and coaches. … Our league was very, very competitive this year — East and West. I think for us, we just try to control the things we can control. So I think going 12-4 in the league certainly deserves some attention.
“But at the same time, I do realize there are a lot of very good teams across the country — a lot of very competitive play. So I think this next week may answer some questions for everyone as we head into Selection Sunday and see where it falls.
“But we can’t really focus on the past. We just have to make sure we take care of today. Hopefully, at the end of the day, the selection committee will feel that with us having gone 12-4 in the SEC, winning 16 of the last 20, our team has made progress over the year.”
Alabama (20-10) has a first-round bye and will play the winner of the Auburn/Georgia game at noon Friday in the Georgia Dome.
Find and follow The Daily Bama Blog on:
Twitter: @dailybamablog
Facebook: Facebook.com/dailybamablog
Posted in Uncategorized
Tagged Anthony Grant, basketball, NCAA tournament, SEC tournament
AP photo by Rogelio V. Solis
Alabama coach Anthony Grant was called for a technical foul with 2:42 left trailing 59-58 after he felt Trevor Releford was fouled driving to the rim.
After the 68-63 loss to Ole Miss, Grant addressed the issue.
“I disagreed with the call and I let them know my opinion. They didn’t agree with my opinion. That’s their right. … I thought my guy got fouled. I’ll go back and look at it and maybe I’ll see from their perspective. At the moment, it looked like there was contact going to the rim.”
But did he deserve the technical?
“I can’t say. They have to answer that. Hey, they do what they do.”
Read more tomorrow.
The voters in the Associated Press poll threw a few votes Alabama’s way, but were a few short of cracking the top 25.
The Crimson Tide got 15 points to come in 29th. Here’s what the bottom portion of the poll looks like:
24. Temple 21-5 199 23
25. Xavier 20-6 103 24
Others receiving votes: Utah St. 97, George Mason 51, West Virginia 42, Alabama 15, Florida St. 4, UNLV 2, Washington 2, Belmont 1, Harvard 1, UCLA 1.
If you want to pour over the ballots of all the voters, click here.
And what does this mean to Tide coach Anthony Grant? Not much.
“I really haven’t paid much attention to it,” he said. “For us, we’re excited about the opportunity that we have in front of us and proud of what our team has accomplished to this point.”
Find and follow The Daily Bama Blog on:
Twitter: @dailybamablog
Facebook: Facebook.com/dailybamablog
Michael Casagrande covers University of Alabama athletics for The Decatur Daily, The TimesDaily, The Montgomery Advertiser and The Anniston Star.
Blog RSS
The Daily Bama Blog 