Brannen makes Alabama head-coaching debut by taking Tide into NIT

John Brannen will make his head-coaching debut tonight when Alabama hosts Illinois in the first round of college basketball's National Invitation Tournament.

It's not by choice.

Brannen is serving in an interim role following Sunday night's announcement that Anthony Grant would not be retained following six seasons with the Crimson Tide. For the past eight years, including two at VCU, Brannen has been an assistant under Grant.

"Our loyalties as a coaching staff are to Coach Grant," Brannen said. "When I was asked about taking over the program going forward, I personally met with Coach Grant to make sure he was comfortable with me in this position. He said he was and that he wanted that for our young men.

"We asked our young men if they wanted to play in the NIT if we got a bid, and they definitely did. We have a very quick turnaround here, and as emotional as it's been for all of us, we're trying to put that all to the side and allow our young men to focus and be prepared."

photo Alabama head coach Anthony Grant speaks to players during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game in the second round of the Southeastern Conference tournament against Florida on Thursday, March 12, 2015, in Nashville.

Brannen was among the three finalists for the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga vacancy in May of 2013, when VCU assistant Will Wade was tabbed over the Alabama assistant and former Georgia head coach Dennis Felton. Brannen is a Marshall graduate and led the Southern Conference in scoring in 1997 and was the league tournament MVP that year despite the Thundering Herd losing the championship by a point to Mack McCarthy's Mocs, who wound up advancing to the NCAA tournament's Sweet 16.

Grant guided Alabama to a 117-85 overall record and a 54-48 mark in Southeastern Conference play, but the Tide are just 31-33 overall the past two seasons. They made their lone NCAA tournament trek under Grant in 2012, when they were bounced by Creighton.

On Monday's SEC teleconference, there was disappointment and shock regarding Grant's removal.

"At first I didn't believe it, and then to see that they were going to the NIT," Arkansas coach Mike Anderson said. "Anthony is a tremendous coach and a tremendous friend. I just feel bad for him, because he had a young, talented team that went through a bunch of injuries."

Said Vanderbilt's Kevin Stallings: "This league, in the time that I've been in it, has not known a finer gentleman."

Alabama went 12-4 within the SEC in 2011 but was left out of the NCAA tournament due to a weak nonconference schedule. The Crimson Tide went to the NIT championship game, losing to Wichita State, and their season helped fuel league commissioner Mike Slive's push to enhance strength of schedule throughout the conference.

Contact David Paschall at dpaschall@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6524.

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