Yep. Local radio reports this afternoon that it's a done deal. Of course, they said that about Ryan P too. :yelwink2:
So, don't want to rub salt in the wound, but I want to report the full story on this issue, as we look hopefully to a great season for our bball Tigers...:geauxtige Today's papers definitely report that DJ Augustin will be signing with the Texas Longhorns. See Advocate: http://www.2theadvocate.com/stories/110905/lsu_augustin001.shtml. Clearly, a motivating factor appears to be the Hurricane, as most if not all of the Augustin family has moved to Houston and decided to stay. UT all of the sudden became the "home" team. Second of all, you add the fact that Rick Barnes has racked up at this point in time the 6th best class in the country with five other top rated players joining DJ, including 6'9" forward Kevin Durant (#2 senior in the country... who knows if he'll stay), and you see that DJ's looking at joining the team with a class he can be a part of (much like, LSU's last year class, to our credit)--in addition to joining the country's #3 hoops team. What I find somewhat interesting for debate though are quotes found in today's Austin American Statesman... On Katrina, DJ says "I know something like that can happen again..." This seems a little tough to swallow, but it's understandable. You are now beginning to see the after affects of the Hurricane on LSU's sports programs... On other reasons, DJ speaks to the "lineage of top lead guards at Texas that started with TJ Ford and continues with Daniel Gibson. "Those point guards at Texas do well, and Coach Barnes trusts them with the ball, allows them to make decisions," Augustin said. This point, I think we ultimately lose out b/c at the end of the day, DJ felt UT was the better place for him ultimately to get to the next level, and Brady runs "Forward" U, as opposed to a "Guard" U program. I think overall--I'm still optimistic about the program, I'm hopeful for this season, and I think there are gradual improvements being made in the bball program. We lose out on a key player that would have made that transition back to a national power faster (seems to be a recurring pattern... two steps forward, one step back). I think Brady and Butch need to take this into consideration in how this season plays out, how to better market the team, and show flexibility. The PG position is such an important facet of today's college game, we can't be an elite team if we can't attract good PGs. Hopefully, Tack and Ben will mature in our system and Brady and Butch will find ways to showcase and nuture them more. P.S. Randy Livingston.... when can he be added to the LSU staff?
