First or all get your facts straight. Dale Brown wasn't even the coach when LSU went to the Sweet 16 with Swift. That was Brady, and Stro was Brady's recruit too. I live in Houston, and between ESPN and the Tigers website, I get most of the highlights. Not to mention there is usually something in the newspaper. Not only that, but I used to live in Oklahoma, and I know that where I lived, I got 870 on the radio, so I could listen to the games if my internet connection went bad.
hm... I personally like Brady. We have a stellar recruiting class coming in to compliment some great young talent already on the squad. Losing all those seniors will certainly hurt, and I hope to just be competitive next year. I think 04-05 will be the year we make some waves. I think sometimes people expect too much from a program fresh off probation and restrictions. Good times are ahead.
IMHO Brady CAN coach and he CAN recruit. There are several Forum members who disagree and it makes for some spirited debate during the season. Hell, last year, after a lackluster performance against an exhibition squad a regular who shall remain nameless (a Tulane fan..Who?...I said a TUlane fan) was calling for Brady's head. Another guy (initials only -T-) accused Brady of attending high school games so he could copy their offensive schemes. Claimed he saw it with his own eyes. Yeah, we have some fun around here.
Brady is a good coach. Enough said. It pissed me off to no end to hear all the lunatics calling for Brady's head on post-game shows and WWL. Brady will be great for LSU, especially now that he gets to recruit good classes. His first recruiting class off probation ended up getting a commitment who declared for the draft and was drafted 10th overall. Not to mention that Brandon Bass was considered to be a 50-50 shot of declraing for the draft. He decided to go to LSU. He'll probably start from day one. Brady will get it done. I guarantee!
Basically, the people who like Brady have little knowledge of how he is or the things he does. Just having the title Head Basketball Coach at LSU makes him a great guy and a great coach in some people's minds.
Wow, I take my son swimming and come back and the spot is blowed up. Some of the stuff Nolan said was crazy, but some of the stuff was right on the mark. If he had done at LSU what he did at Arkansas he would be revered as a god. I would kill to have the kind of defense he had in his prime. I never said Brown was coach when stro was around. I compared Brown and Brady's great recruiting skills. Then stated the last game that left a memorable impression in my mind. Then followed the statement with a question. Did Brady's coaching skills improve any after the tournament debacle? Get your facts straight. You need to follow your own advice. Get your facts straight . Don't read between the lines. Thanks for the opinions guys. You asked what rock I was under and I told you Paul, where you live has every thing to do with coverage you get. And I guarantee a man as successful as Nolan who went off like that probably was provoked or treated pretty sh*tty to elicit such a response.
I should learn to put a smiley face in front of obvious jokes. I am so fustrated with LSU basketball I'd be willing to give Nolan a shot. Insert smiley face here, wink! After the dogpile on Nolan I felt the need to defend him. Maybe because I saw so many of his teams dismantle ours. That earned him a little respect. And Eric d. I shouldn't have just assumed the EVERYbody knows who was coach when Stro was here. It just seemed obvious.
Since, you posted twice in a row I assume you want a response. No, I wasn't joking. I didn't say I was fustrated at the recruiting. We actually do well in recruiting. I have followed LSU basketball since about 1989(good year to start watching, huh?) We always seem to have "talented" players who are under achievers or can't make defensive stops. Then alternate that with NCAA violations. I'll give you 'Zona we have their number. But, we have these great players and start to get the ball rolling then poof! We seem to have these great moments interspersed with mediocre play. From the shaq d' shaq to stro poster shot over mihm(great moments to be sure) to what exactly. You might be satisfied with status quo( and maybe your not). It IS frustrating to see the light at the end of the tunnel then limp to the finish line. Everytime we have a team that will make a major impact in college basketball our star turns pro or something else(injury,etc.) We get no respect; from Kentucky's 30 pt. comeback to Bama's players jumping on the scoring table to Dupree basically leading the SEC in scoring and rebounding and not being voted to first team SEC. Let us not forget mr. Lester Earl( thanks for the violations). That's the joke. Let us hope Brandon Bass doesn't turn pro after next year. I am frustrated because I believe the tigers could be more than they are. How many games have you witnessed slipped thru the cracks during the final minute? Don't get me wrong I love the tigers just as much as anyone else. Just because I question them doesn't mean I don't support them. Before you try to tell me that Brady wasn't reposible for the kentucky comeback or anything that is all a synopsis of the all the years I have followed the tigers. If you are offended that I am frustrated; try and remember it's just an opinion. And there is nothing wrong with that. The two best teams I remember us having was Shaq and LSU getting beat by Indiana and Stro and co. getting waxed by Wis. I am proud those teams made the tourny but those are the few exceptions to the rule. You can pump it up all you want but IMHO tiger basketball has been mediocre for the most part(NOT TOTALLY!)in the last decade or so. If you can argue to the contrary I will gladly CONCEDE the point. Contrast and compare if you will. I guess if nothing else LSU basketball is like LA. politics, they are both interesting to watch and yes FRUSTRATING. P.S. In the last 15 years how many SEC championships have we won and how many tourney appearances do we have?