Hoops Post-Mortem (Part 1 of 2): Season ending Grade

Again, probably not the best place for the discussion, but here's more on the Pelphrey reaction.

[ame="http://sports.espn.go.com/ncb/news/story?id=6217344"]John Pelphrey: Arkansas Razorbacks didn't give me enough time - ESPN@@AMEPARAM@@http://espn.go.com/video/clip?id=6213126@@AMEPARAM@@6213126[/ame]

In addition, Oklahoma cans Jeff Capel today after 5 years...

[ame="http://sports.espn.go.com/ncb/news/story?id=6216030"]Oklahoma Sooners fire Jeff Capel in 'change of directon' - ESPN@@AMEPARAM@@http://espn.go.com/video/clip?id=6216150@@AMEPARAM@@6216150[/ame]

How do Tiger fans feel about these guys, either as successors to Trent or potential assistant to (of course, not expecting either to be an assistant, but who knows)? Note of course the connection to LSU lies in McD AAs that were considering CJB and LSU, Tommy Mason Griffin and Keith "Tiny" Gallon, who went to Oklahoma instead, didn't pan out and have since left. The NCAA is now investigating alleged payments made to Gallon....

 

To support what you are saying, look at the thread where CTJ is denying reports of interest in the Utah job. Utah? Really? The fact that he had to issue a statement saying that he is not interested is ridiculous and probably has as much to do with what you are referring to. I am not suggesting any of us be happy with losing seasons like the last two, but if the team is not supported by attendance, and is constantly hounded and ridiculed, then it will run off a quality coach. And to boot, the coaching changes at ARK and Oklahoma that 'hornland refers to highlight the difficulties in finding the right coach, and the variables that coach has to balance to create a consistent winner. I think the motto "the grass isn't always greener on the other side of the hill" has a lot of substance and accuracy to it.

 

I think you both make a good point. Attendance and fan support DOES matter. The only problem with bringing this up (especially in losing seasons) is that some hater out there bitches about how can a losing coach/team deserve support. Blaming fans can be polarizing. But, make no bones about it, fan support at LSU IS different than say it is at Duke, Kansas, UCLA, Louisville, Georgetown, UConn, and the list goes on. As much as I hate to say it, it isn't what it used to be. That's not to say it can't be like it was when Daddy Dale had it going, but it is going to take consistent winning and perhaps, a little politicking. But, imagine if PMAC was rocking, with student bodies and community supporters, EVEN IF LSU was .500. That's the case in many places in the Midwest or ACC. Yes, it's tougher at "football schools", but that was one of my points in my Alabama vs LSU thread earlier this year (and you can point to schools like Florida, Texas, Ohio State, Notre Dame, where schools can have good fan support for all of its sports). LSU fan support I'd argue is disproportionately poor. Does that affect recruiting and the team? I'd argue yes. Can it be corrected over time with a good coach with a vision? Yes, but it takes time and it's a two way street.

Here's the other thing. Folks that want a new coach need to face reality. Because of the fan support, which in turn leads to dollars, which in turn pays for coaches salaries, LSU doesn't have a "franchise" brand strong enough to (a) pay a high dollar coach, and (b) recruit the kind of coach that can instantly turn a program around. LSU is still honestly trading on Dale Brown's legacy. John Brady certainly wasn't the kind of ambassador for LSU to build that franchise. We're still selling Brown, Shaq', Chris Jackson, Pistol Pete.

Here is some data that puts it in perspective... this data is old, but it was the quickest thing I could find to add to the discussion. Here are the coaches' salaries in the SEC from 2009, which then also breaks down the $$ per game.

Alabama | MrSEC.com

Trent, much like Brady, is right there in the middle to bottom half of the SEC (I believe that Stallings has surpassed Trent recently) in salary and even lower in $$ per win. This is probably evened out as a result of the last few years where Trent has won less. Nevertheless, Mark Fox (a Trent disciple), Anthony Grant, both make more than the more senior Trent Johnson. Bruce Pearl, Billy D and Calipari make double to four times what Trent makes. I've made this same argument when it was time to get rid of Brady as well, but when considering coaches to effect a turn-around, LSU could either pony up and get a "top-tier" coach (but then, would he come?), or LSU could spend the same money and get middle of the road, but proven coach, or save a little money, and land a young flier who's willing to take less. Trent was for the money, a proven coach.

So, we shouldn't be so fast to talk about making a change, when frankly, the franchise isn't that strong. Now, if Trent builds this thing, and we're back in the top 4 teams in the SEC in the next few years, the franchise will be built back up, just like Saban built Miles' house. But, I hope fans will put where LSU sits in perspective. You could argue that for the $ that LSU pays, it was a "bargain" to get a guy with as much head coaching experience as Trent. If we were to replace Trent now, we'd have to settle for a small school coach, or a younger coach, who was less proven--bottom line. Either of which would not guarantee success. I'd support Trent through the end of his contract for this reason.

Now, alot of this will be phooey next year if Trent continues to lose. And, he knows this. But I'll be hoping when his contract is up for renewal, he is in line for a raise, b/c that means LSU is heading back to where it needs to be.

And, the fans do need to get on board to make that happen.

 

I'm not going to quote it again but I agree 100%.

 

First round done in the NCAAs and wow, it was a fun time, eh?

Obviously like many of the past years, cinderellas excite and show why in College Basketball we always have to keep in mind the "parity" of ball. George Mason, Morehead St, VCU, Richmond all giant killers. And, again, frankly fans have to realize that more experienced teams that play together can beat more "talented" teams.

SEC? Not quite where they need to be just yet. Vandy gets ousted AGAIN in the first round, and frankly I'm not sure if the boo birds are coming out in Nashville. Kentucky barely survives against Princeton? Georgia (although the lower seed) loses to Washington. Tennessee who many had potentially upsetting Duke, get's handily tossed. And now it looks like again that FLorida is SEC's great hope for respect. Even look there and see how many years Billy D has been out of the NCAA spotlight.

Lastly, the Bruce Pearl Watch begins. Getting creamed by Michigan didn't help...

[ame=http://espn.go.com/video/clip?id=6234091&categoryid=2378529]Pearl Addresses Job Rumors - ESPN Video - ESPN[/ame]

 

Bruce is out, and like Billy Gillipsie before him, expect him to be off the market a year or two and resurface.

Mike Anderson at Arkansas.... Things just got a whole lot more interesting. First, Pelphrey was actually unfairly taken out after signing a top 5 class. Second, Mike goes back to the school that made him famous, after not getting the bid the first time around, with a stacked team. Arkansas must have known Mike was lined up before canning Pelphrey.

 

Congrats to Kentucky, as much as I hate to say it. The SEC is represented along with the Big East, the Horizon and the Colonial league.

I wonder how much the stock of Brad Stevens and Shaka Smart has soared, as of late, eh?

Speaking of coaching changes... Tennessee has just announced the tremendous hire of ... Cuonzo Martin. How many of you had heard of this Missouri State coach?

 

Think so, isn't he one of the muppets?

 

There were definitely better options out there, but I don't think any coach wants to go to Tennessee. Most of them have better situations where they are.

 

We often underestimate how difficult it is to land the right coach, EVEN IF the school is a basketball school. Afterall, Missouri is definitely a hoops loving school, and Mike Anderson recruited well enough to leave behind a nice set of players.

Matt Painter of Purdue, turns down the Mizzou Tigers to stay at Purdue...

[ame="http://sports.espn.go.com/ncb/news/story?id=6274057"]Purdue Boilermakers coach Matt Painter not leaving to lead Missouri Tigers - ESPN@@AMEPARAM@@http://espn.go.com/video/clip?id=6275497@@AMEPARAM@@6275497[/ame]

From what I can tell, Matt is one of those up and coming guys you'd love to have. Purdue signed him to a long term (6+ year) contract last year giving him 1.3M$ per year (slightly above Trent). Purdue's likely upped the ante and my guess is that he's making in the upper $1Ms now. Mike Anderson left to go to Arkansas, who is paying him over $2M. So, for folks wanting a replacement for Trent, expect $2M to be the price tag for someone impactful.