Ok, I've been away and the powers that be have either bailed LSU's bball program out, or doomed it, depending on your perspective. What I'll say briefly is looking at some of the reaction on this site and to a far greater degree on the Rantard site is that, well, no wonder sometimes it's hard to build a program at LSU. Look I'll be the first to admit that at times Trent and staff had difficulties connecting... but is that the fault of him or the "basketball community" at LSU? Or, lack thereof? Remember everyone from Dale Brown to Collis Temple hailed this hire as a great thing when it happened 4 years ago. Trent won a SEC Championship with Brady's team, minus a first round draft pick, and everyone was singing the praises of the hire. Then (and I'll be the first to admit) Trent had some missteps in recruiting and the team struggled to get going for some time. There, I think, is where he started to lose some grip. We can second guess some of his recruits (i.e., Ludwig-Derenbecker, White, Bass, Dotson), but at the time, folks thought it ok that he went into N.O. (when Brady hadn't signed anyone from there in ages), WA, and "stole" a player from Ole Miss. Of course, looking back in hindsight we see 20/20. Since then, frankly, Trent has signed kids IN SPITE of what I'll call the LSU "fan base". Whatever the reason, I just didn't understand the negativity. Rather than support the program, despite Trent doing the things he was tasked to do... fix the APR problems, graduate players, and build respectability, he's confronted negativity despite signing the first McDAA since Tasmin Mitchell, and getting the team back to the post-season. Yes, Hamilton announced his going pro... yet we have kids like Shavon Coleman hanging on the brink. We have a team coming back that returns most of the starters. Let's not forget that we have Anthony Hickey making comments about the fan turnout for the UK game in the Superdome. I mean, it's easy to blame Trent. But, as we can see, another school is willing to pay more $ to "steal" our coach. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, I suppose. The rantards will say good riddance, but perhaps the real bball fans will weep a little. I frankly am just sad for LSU basketball. Because I believe continuity and support builds programs, not constant change. I frankly am losing some patience with some of the negativity and the seeming "experts" out there calling for Trent's head. When Trent talks about how he's trying to recruit kids, and the kids mention what's going on with the fans turning on the starting QB--why would a kid want to go there? Baylor fans probably won't ostracize Gathers when he goes there... LSU fans would. Look, I'm not making sour grapes here. If Trent leaves and takes a better situation, good for him. I wish him the best--I do appreciate that he gave it his best. Helped LSU win a SEC Championship and graduate some nice solid players. But, as others have noted, there's probably an underlying sense of it was time for both parties to go their separate ways. Now we turn though, to the next chapter. And, my word of caution based upon the above sentiment. What incoming coach will embrace this LSU bball community? I hear the same re-tread names... Jones, Floyd... I hear names thrown out like Drew, Bennett. Then I hear names like the up-coming mid-majors hot coaches like Smart, Stevens, Marshall... Do any of the real basketball pundits want to offer some real guesses? Yes, I know everyone wants a coach with some LA connections.... well, that would rule out kids like Smart, Stevens, right? But, then folks don't want Jones (too much Brown flavor) or Floyd (tell me really, what has this guy recently?) because he isn't "high profile" enough. Bennett is happy at UVA in the ACC, and he runs an even more defensive, not so hot recruiting style, than Trent did!! Look, I'll tell you now, it will be more difficult than folks realize to recruit for this job. Sure, Alleva will call all the typical names, no reason not too. But, here's the rub. LSU is either going to have to overpay to get one of the real hot names to come into this hornet's nest. Or, they're going to have to get a coach that is somewhat unproven, or somewhat desparate, to take a chance. Taking a chance is probably not going to make too many fans excited. Are the same rantards going to line up and buy season tickets as soon as some less known mid-major coach gets the nod? I will say no. So, strap on your seat belts folks, this is going to be a bumpy ride. I personnally say this... If LSU is going to rebuilt this program, Alleva is going to have immediately go to the $2M+ salary range. That coach has to be a smart hoops guy, but with some ties to the south, and with some charisma (or inclinations) for playing politician with the locals. Or, that person has to be ready to hire some assistants who can. When Trent lost Richard to ULM, frankly, there again, he had a misstep. So, not just hiring the coach, but building his staff, will be key. Sadly, I thought Trent had made a great step in the right direction by moving to get Quannas White on as an assistant. Where does this leave us? To me the questions are, how high is LSU willing to pay? And, where do you balance the home town ties? I personally think that going after Marquette's Buzz Williams would be one of my best hires... he's only getting $1M per at Marquette and he has TX ties. Scott Drew, as much as I hate the idea of a Calipari-like guy at the helm, has connections and would be your sure-fire recruiter (we might have to pay him $2.5M+ to get him). A guy like Marshall from Wichita St? Great on paper, but he'd have to have some good local assistants to help. And, does he leave a region that follows basketball above all else to come here where he has to beg and plead folks to come into the stands? You know, I worry a little bit that at the end of they day, we'll see either an unproven guy with LA connections, or someone who is desparate for a change--not always good things. Johnny Jones feels like a fallback here, but perhaps more realistic than folks will realize. All I'm saying is that this a far more difficult task than the rantards realize. And, they're not helping the situation. I will certainly follow LSU basketball and hope for the best. And, whomever comes, I will support him, as a LSU hoops fan should. I just hope that the new guy can come in, create a little excitement, keep Hickey, JOB, Morgan and land Coleman and a few others. Then, I hope the LSU fans will not be so fickle and just support him.
I just have problems blaming Trents lack of success & leaving on the lack of fan support. His main problem was lack of recruiting above average players & selling the program to the fans. Its hard to sell what you dont have. there was very little excitement & intensity on the sidelines & my personal feeling was if the university is satisified with that then so be it. My suprise is that TCU wants TJ. With Hamilton leaving & nothing but Morgan committed for the future I dont blame him for leaving. I hope he does well there, its closer to the west coast & his recruiting strengths. His lack of support from the Local insiders (Temple-Brown etc) hurt him bad in recruiting but that was his choice. Look I'm a LSU fan but I'm not driving to New Orleans to watch my team Play Kentucky when we lost by 30+ at home. We played great but I had already been to one Tiger killing down there if you get my drift. I do agree its a embarrassment to be last in the conference in basketball budget & LSU needs to spend more money on the program if they expect to be competitive. I dont care who we get I just want someone young & entergetic with intensity on the bench & a passion for winning. Get some Louisiana players in here that people will connect to & want to come see & above all win a few games.
i think tim floyd is a great coach, but he has some baggage. plus, i'm not sure his style of play really meet what is needed to revitalize the fan base. in my mind, the tigers need a more exciting brand of basketball, and scoring 40 pts per game aint gonna do that.
I agree with you in some respects here. Like Brady after the final four, you can see what an off year recruiting after a serious run can kill consistency. But, do you ever think that maybe some of what is the LSU program, and fan base around it, also could affect recruiting? I've made this point before, but it all goes together. There's a reason why Dale Brown didn't see the post season for six years after getting here. It was easier to recruit to LSU after LSU had developed a reputation and a fan base in the 80s. Before then, it was just as spotty. Now, folks expect coaches to turn it on and off.... it just doesn't work that way. You wonder why TCU wanted Trent? Because folks in Tigertown refused to see that actually Trent was rebuilding the program, whereas other objective experts were. Taking a team and getting 7 more wins and the post-season wasn't an improvement in the eyes of fans, and well, most basketball objective experts probably were scratching their heads. That's why it's going to take a certain kind of coach here. Yes, I don't blame the fans for Trent's demise, but I am saying the LSU fanbase made it harder to build the program. What do I think is needed? Certainly a guy with energy, a passion to fight against the odds, and a constant recruiting mentality. I would love for the new coach to be a proven coach, but honestly in this case, I don't know if Alleva is going to hit this one out of the park. Is he going to land maybe more of a Torina (young, up and comer) kind of hire in softball? Or, he's paying above market and trying to land a Nicki Caldwell (proven young coach with pedigree). This is for sure--we need someone who can recruit, both players and fans, and is a showman--who would be the antithesis to Trent. Sometimes, there's just a need for a different kind of person in a different time and place. I feel for Trent, but I am hopeful for LSU basketball.
Again, Tiger fans being delusional.... Here's Tigerrag's and Trent's take: http://www.tigerrag.com/?p=188202 Here are your names. Johnny Jones (link to the past & LSU connections), Reggie Theus (out of work, favorite of Chancellor), or Jamie Dixon (underachieving the past couple of years at Pitt, but name surfacing for various jobs). What do you think now? Johnny would potentially bring in Bob Starkey and Randy Livingston in as assistants. Bringing the entire crew back... !
