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aztarheel · 01-17-2007, 09:27 AM

Steve Victory JOURNAL – Preparing for season #10

Has it really been almost a decade since Steve Victory jumped into college basketball coaching and boldly predicted that he could win an NCT title within 15 seasons?

Amazingly, that 30-year-old “kid” who blindly signed on with Central Florida against the advice of his closest comrades, is now almost 40. He’s on his third coaching job and frankly he’s really nowhere near his long-coveted goal of cutting down the nets and hoisting a national championship trophy. In fact, he's on the hot seat big-time at his current gig.

While Victory did well for himself at College of Charleston, the Alabama teams he has coached the past two seasons have been among the worst in Crimson Tide history. The fans have all but disappeared from Coleman Coliseum. The local media, while trying to maintain patience and perspective, have taken more and more pot-shots. The Auburn fans, as expected, have started calling the ‘Bama coach things like Steve Defeat and Steve Victoryless.

If there’s to be any hope at all to Victory’s quest at winning the NCT in 15 years, the turnaround has to begin now. The program has to make a major move forward in 2012-13, and then keep going forward. Victory, as determined as ever – if not a bit more humble these days – believes it can happen.

The coach will put a very young team on the floor for the 2012-13 campaign. John Jordan will be the only senior and will start in the front court along with the heralded freshman duo of Michael Bliss and Brett Fischer. Sophomore Erazem Lekivicius will run the show at point guard. Junior SG Waitari Condill, maybe the only bright spot these past few seasons, will try to pump in the points from the wing, though he’s being pushed for PT by fellow junior Jason Rude.

Like his best teams at Charleston, Victory will have four centers to choose from. If he needs strength off the bench, the coach will turn to Brody Adams, a 6-6 sophomore with a penchant for rebounding. If he needs size, he’ll turn to 7-0 sophomore Kevin Stevenson or 7-1 freshman Craig King. Brad Nooner, a 6-10 junior, should see decent minutes as well, though Victory has been rethinking his strategy of recruiting the biggest of the big men. He’s yet to have success at developing them into powerhouse players, though their size lends him to believe they should be able to score 25 ppg and grab 15-18 rpg.

Sophomore PF Josiah Parker, junior PF Fernando Williams and freshman SF Travis Williams make up the rest of the roster. Game number one comes Nov. 22 against visiting Columbia. Victory can’t wait — mostly for the chance to put the bad taste of 3-27 and 3-26 seasons behind him.

01-17-2007, 09:27 AM	#63
aztarheel High School JV Join Date: Sep 2006	Steve Victory JOURNAL – Preparing for season #10 Has it really been almost a decade since Steve Victory jumped into college basketball coaching and boldly predicted that he could win an NCT title within 15 seasons? Amazingly, that 30-year-old “kid” who blindly signed on with Central Florida against the advice of his closest comrades, is now almost 40. He’s on his third coaching job and frankly he’s really nowhere near his long-coveted goal of cutting down the nets and hoisting a national championship trophy. In fact, he's on the hot seat big-time at his current gig. While Victory did well for himself at College of Charleston, the Alabama teams he has coached the past two seasons have been among the worst in Crimson Tide history. The fans have all but disappeared from Coleman Coliseum. The local media, while trying to maintain patience and perspective, have taken more and more pot-shots. The Auburn fans, as expected, have started calling the ‘Bama coach things like Steve Defeat and Steve Victoryless. If there’s to be any hope at all to Victory’s quest at winning the NCT in 15 years, the turnaround has to begin now. The program has to make a major move forward in 2012-13, and then keep going forward. Victory, as determined as ever – if not a bit more humble these days – believes it can happen. The coach will put a very young team on the floor for the 2012-13 campaign. John Jordan will be the only senior and will start in the front court along with the heralded freshman duo of Michael Bliss and Brett Fischer. Sophomore Erazem Lekivicius will run the show at point guard. Junior SG Waitari Condill, maybe the only bright spot these past few seasons, will try to pump in the points from the wing, though he’s being pushed for PT by fellow junior Jason Rude. Like his best teams at Charleston, Victory will have four centers to choose from. If he needs strength off the bench, the coach will turn to Brody Adams, a 6-6 sophomore with a penchant for rebounding. If he needs size, he’ll turn to 7-0 sophomore Kevin Stevenson or 7-1 freshman Craig King. Brad Nooner, a 6-10 junior, should see decent minutes as well, though Victory has been rethinking his strategy of recruiting the biggest of the big men. He’s yet to have success at developing them into powerhouse players, though their size lends him to believe they should be able to score 25 ppg and grab 15-18 rpg. Sophomore PF Josiah Parker, junior PF Fernando Williams and freshman SF Travis Williams make up the rest of the roster. Game number one comes Nov. 22 against visiting Columbia. Victory can’t wait — mostly for the chance to put the bad taste of 3-27 and 3-26 seasons behind him.