Grant takes stage at SEC Media Days

BIRMINGHAM | New University of Alabama men's basketball coach Anthony Grant has been on the practice floor with his Crimson Tide team since Friday, but isn't handing out any rave reviews just yet.

"It's been mixed," Grant told a group of reporters at SEC Basketball Media Day at the Birmingham Marriott on Thursday morning. "I've been impressed with the work ethic of this group and their willingness to be coached. But they are getting used to a system they are unfamiliar with. I don't know how quickly we can learn and make the transition to what our staff wants to do. I guess any coach would tell you that they want it to happen quicker. But we've got our first game in two weeks, so there is a sense of urgency to what we want to get accomplished."

Asked about a potential lineup, particularly with four starters back from last year's team, Grant replied "I don't have any returning starters. I left all those guys at VCU."

"I look at it as if we have 11 freshmen. It's a new experience for all of them, so every day is a brand new day. I think as they learn more about us, (the players) will get a little more comfortable but right now, they look at me sometimes as if I had two heads."

Grant was also asked if Alabama had enough talent in place to make it to the NCAA Tournament for the first time in four years.

"I can't answer that until we play," he said. "My focus right now is on installing a system."

Grant did mention a couple of individual players when asked directly about their progress.

"I'm excited to be coaching (sophomore forward) JaMychal Green," he said. "I had him for 20 days with the United States under-18 team two years ago, so I know he is a great kid.

"I've really been pleased with (junior guard) Senario Hillman and his effort. He's a guy who, in this style of play, could really blossom because of his athleticism. He's a 6-1 guard who can be a rebounder for us and be an offensive weapon in (our) up-tempo style because of his ability to get to the rim. I think it's a process now of (Senario) understanding what his role is, what we want him to do and what we don't.

"Mikhail Torrance (a senior guard) has been terrific. He really wants to win and has worked hard to prepare, watching film and getting ready. I think the experience that he got at the end of last year has helped him."

Torrance was also at Media Day and said he had a clear goal for his senior season.

"Obviously, I haven't played in the NCAA (Tournament) since I've been in college, so that's it," he said. "That's the No. 1 thing, to get Alabama some national attention. Now, we've got the coach to do it."

Alabama women's coach Wendell Hudson dealt with the first-year transition in the 2008-09 season. Now in his second year, he says the focus has changed.

"Last year, we had to teach them to play hard," he said. "This year, we are teaching them how to play smart. We are adding some X-and-O things that we could not add last year. We are so much further along. Understanding how to win is what we've got to do now."

Alabama returns all five starters from last year's team but Hudson said that "it's pretty wide open. There might be one or two players who I can see in our starting lineup right now, but there is a lot of competition."

One player who has attracted early attention is point guard LaToya King, a transfer from Seminole (Fla.) Community College.

"Toya is a really good point guard," said Ericka Russell, Alabama's sophomore guard. "She really pushes the ball up the floor. I am looking forward to playing with her."