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Steve Victory JOURNAL – Preseason 2013-14
When folks in Tuscaloosa weren’t talking about Alabama football during the summer of 2013, many were debating the merits of keeping Steve Victory on as head men’s basketball coach.
The cynics railed against Tide officials for not looking elsewhere after four-straight losing seasons, including two years with just three wins each. Victory’s supporters, however, pointed to the fact that those crappy seasons came with players from the former regime, and that the Tide made some major strides the previous winter with players that Victory brought in.
“He’s still our man,” Alabama administrators kept telling the press, though that was about as big an endorsement as Victory got publicly.
There was consensus on one point – year number five in the Victory era had better be a good one. Another 10- or 12-win season (or worse) just wouldn’t cut it. Alabama needed to capture at least 20 victories and make the NCT to quell the rising tide (no pun intended) against the coach.
Of course, Victory has his own pressure to deal with on top of the growing impatience from school supporters. He is only five years away from his self-imposed goal of winning an NCT title by the time he turns 45. Things are moving in the right direction for sure but can he take Alabama (or another program for that matter) all the way in just five more seasons?
Fortunately, the team that Victory will trot out for the 2013-14 has the potential to be pretty good. Four regular starters return, including a pair of rising sophomores who made the all-SEC freshman team the season before – PF Michael Bliss and PF Brett Fischer
Junior PG Erazem Lekivicius is back for a second full year to run the show. He’ll be joined in the backcourt by senior SG Waitari Condill. Senior PG/SG Jason Rude will push both players for starting minutes and make for a nice three-man rotation.
Junior Brody Adams, who reminds ‘Bama fans of Charles Barkley, wins the starting role at center. Back-ups in the post include a solid though not spectacular cast – (listed from highest-rated to lowest) sophomore C Craig King, senior PF Fernando Williams, junior PF Josiah Parker, senior C Brad Nooner and junior C Kevin Stevenson. Sophomore SF Travis Williams and frosh SG Cliff McWilliams could be vital if the guard rotation is thinned by injuries. Academics shouldn’t be a problem as everyone’s GPA is better than 3.15…
The scouting report from .400 Software experts:
Expectations: win a few games
Prestige: 43
Freshman class (only one player): Awful
Overall talent: Good
Difficulty: Moderate
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