Grant and Green Meet With the Media
10/21/2010 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Oct. 21, 2010
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - University of Alabama head men's basketball coach Anthony Grant and junior forward JaMychal Green met with members of the assembled media Thursday afternoon at the Southeastern Conference's annual media day.
The Crimson Tide representatives spent more than two hours discussing the upcoming season with various local, regional and national outlets. The Tide had one of the largest followings of the afternoon session as reporters were eager to hear Grant's assessment of his program heading into his second season.
"It's a big difference from year one to year two in terms of the guys understanding of the expectations we have and I think, for the most part, we're trying to do the things that myself and my staff is asking of our players," Grant said. "So I've been pleased and I'm looking forward to getting some practice time in and get ready as the season approaches."
Green, a preseason All-SEC second-team selection also fielded dozens of questions probing for his thoughts on what to expect in 2010-11 and feels that the familiarity between the staff and players will pay dividends in Grant's second season.
"He (Grant) has a better feel for us and we've all gotten to know each other so we're closer as a team and the coaching staff is closer to us," Green said.
That familiarity taken the edge off the learning curve that existed last season but Grant was quick to point out that the learning and development for what he is trying to build at Alabama is by no means complete.
"As a team, the challenge is for us to become the best that we can become, so that for me is my responsibility as a coach, to try to get as much as I can out of each individual and have them understand the accountability and responsibility they each have towards our team," Grant said. "So there are challenges all across: on the floor, off the floor, in the locker room. For me, I'm just excited to be back on the floor, to be back with our team, and to have an opportunity to try to shape and put it together as we prepare for the year."
Grant and his squad have less than two weeks of practice to prepare for their first test with a Nov. 2 exhibition date against Talladega College. The regular season begins in earnest on Nov. 12 when Florida A&M visits Coleman Coliseum.
