Sure enough, many saw the writing on the wall... Spencer can't play this fall, although it sounds like he could be eligible for the Spring with some work in the class room. It's certainly a blow to the team, but in the end, it's probably a good lesson for Bo and the kids. As the NBA draft nears, it's just a constant reminder that 95% of the college ballers don't make the L and well, take advantage of your free college degree.... 2theadvocate.com | Sports | LSU's Spencer ruled ineligible — Baton Rouge, LA In other newsworthy hoops news, and better light, LSU's class now is officially ranked in the top 20 by ESPN(U). Trent's tigers' moved up from outside of the top 25, to 19, based largely in part to Spring's signing and transfer of KC Ross Miller and transfer Justin Hamilton. I don't think you can understimate Trent's ability to coach up solid point guard prospects like Miller and Stringer. You also can't underestimate a god given talent to shoot, and despite Bo's struggles, for example, he was a shooter at Glen Oaks and well, at times, he's been a shooter for LSU. Stringer, Derenbecker, Turner and Miller can all launch. You also can't underestimate the value of a true big man. Hamilton, even as a third teamer type of Big 12 talent, will bring a new dimension with a 6'11" 255 lb body. You look at White, Hamilton, Warren backed up with Harris, Green and that's a pretty talented frontline, if they stay in school... College Basketball Class Rankings 2010 - ESPN Basketball Recruiting Class Ranked Among Best - LSUsports.net - The Official Web Site of LSU Tigers Athletics Lastly, with very little fanfare, Trent has found his successor Asst coach to Richard, in Lynn Nance. Who is Nance? He's a veteran Div I and II head coach, who actually Trent coached under at UWashington. Interestingly he was a coach of the year in Div II when he coached Central Missouri, and he led St. Mary's to some of it's best success ever. He's been at a ton of different schools and frankly likely has a ton of experience. He also coached under, Joe B Hall at Kentucky. Actually served as recruiting coordinator at UK those years and brought in a few top prospects. So, on balance, the IQ on the staff goes up considerably. The interesting tidbit? He had to resign as the Head coach at UW amidst allegations of racism with black players--which he denied, and was supported by several African American players. The losing record at UW probably didn't help. In any case, I'm interested to see how he affects the coaching mix. Not sure that swapping out a similar more "gray-haired" guy in Richard with an even more gray-haired guy in Nance does a whole lot, but Richard obviously had LA ties for recruiting. Nance likely brings more big time coaching experience (btw, he's spent the past few years putting on clinics in AUSTRALIA... could we be seeing more international recruiting down the road?)... Jury's out still, but I'd like to see more from Nance. If he's a reasonably good, personable recruiter who can still relate to the kids, I think it's a solid hire. Nance Named Men's Basketball Assistant - LSUsports.net - The Official Web Site of LSU Tigers Athletics
Great info. It's a shame about Bo, but it looks like our needs are being filled out nicely. We should be a serious SEC contender in another year or two.
dammit bo! you know when athletes fail to make the grade they have got to be lazy. they get everything handed to them, all they have to do is go to class and at least make it look like they're paying attention. there really is no excuse for it. :cuss:
No reason to think that they can't do something sooner than 2-3 years. I know that they don't have the talent level to exceed yet but with TJ's coaching them up and playing TEAM ball I look for them to do well this season. Even with the down year last season you could see some flashes here and there. I think it get better this year.
I sure hope so, but imagine this past year's team without Tasmin and Bo. Yeah, that's next year's team. :wave: They still a few years away, imo.
Don't count out the freshman talent. While we may not have the leadership I look for the new guys to get in the mix pretty quickly.
