I'm fairly certain this thread is going to have three types of posters:
1. alford haters - That's me
2. alford apologists - how in the world they still exist is beyond me
3. alford hate baiters - aka the trolls of yester-year
If you look at the alford coaching regime as a whole, he had success at two schools (both mid majors). Even though he made the sweet 16 with a mid-major out of Missouri, his best success came at New Mexico. New Mexico was a gift as he was likely going to be fired at the end of the season by Iowa (see Tyler Smith).
New Mexico had a McDonalds AA on their roster that eventually was a 1st round NBA selection. The kid was kicked off Kansas hoops team because he stabbed someone (or something like that). NM also had a player that was returning from injury and alford walked in to a dominant mid-major roster. Combine that with a few Iowa recruits (Dairese Gary) that shouldn't be on a power 5 D1 roster but fit well on a mid major roster and you have the formula for immediate success at a lower tier midmajor program.
Noodles can recruit. Landing the kids from TX, especially Phillip McDonald, really helped solidify the NM squad for the short period of time alford was there.
Now that Noodles is coaching and not recruiting the Lobos are pretty bad. alfords assistants are 'connection' guys and likely will never sniff a head coaching opportunity. I've watched UCLA play several games this year and they a chaulked full of talent with absolutely no clue on how to play basketball. Listening to Bill Walton rail on this squad is worth the frustration of trying to comprehend what that stoner is really trying to say.
alfords bank account is fat but its important to know that his termination clause drops from $10m down to $5m after April 30th this year. UCLA has some seriously top rated talent signed for the next two years so it might be hard to imagine alford getting canned after this season but not out of the question. If Ben Howland turns Mississippi St around after just two years (and it looks like he has a chance) then UCLA fans will be calling for UCLA to return to the next level real soon.
Where will alford land? Please, please, please, please, please let it be Indiana.