I think we ought to utilize former coach Dale Brown, even if it's just in the role of motivational speaking to the team. It would be great just to have him around the team when they're in individual drill time. He wouldn't necessarily interfere with the coaches coaching the players. You listening Trent? I'm serious. He'd be a great role model mentor and personal adviser for the players. And being a coach, I'm sure he wouldn't interfere with them.You know, he grew up without a father, and had a Catholic priest as a role model/father figure. He's been there. I think he'd be an asset in player development. :thumb:.
When Shaq retires it would be nice to have him around more too. Dale Brown was involved with him since 7th grade. BTW...love the little crawfish!
Look, without making this another long post, I generally agree with you and we should certainly aspire to be like Texas. Football school primarily, in the south, state public school. BUT, what folks have to realize is that it does take time to build a hoops program at such a place. People forget that Barnes left Clemson years ago. He was a solid coach, who developed a good reputation at Providence and then Clemson, but then it took him time to develop Texas. Texas to its credit poured $$ into the program, completely upgrading player facilities, renovating Irwin Center (let's not just assume that PMAC with some renovation is where it needs to be!), and THEN Barnes signed TJ Ford, Texas' true impact PG to take them to the Final Four. Now, I'd say the real key to Barnes' success is RECRUITING to go along with his solid coaching. National recruiting as well, b/c as big as Texas' recruiting base is (and it's ALOT bigger than LSU's) the key for Barnes has been signing kids like Kevin Durant (East coast), DJ Augustin (LA), Avery Bradley (NV), to keep momentum going. Now, fast forward to LSU, and I think most astute fans realize Trent needs time and LSU quite frankly needs to give him time and the same opportunities that Texas gave Barnes. The other ignorant fans still wonder what happened this year. :hihi: Even then, like Texas, basketball will always be sandwiched between football and baseball, which seem to get most of the love. But, Texas has a roster very deep with very good recruits and that's in large part why they are #1. Go back and look at the history of how Barnes has built a program though, and have patience in what Trent is doing. I like his 2010 recruiting class. 2011 will largely be building on 2010 with just a few schollies to give, and then 2012 will be key (with at least 4-5 spots). Signing a few key LA players in that class will be key, but signing a few impact players beyond LA will tell us whether Trent has LSU headed where Barnes took Texas.
Dale Brown never developed a player in his life. He is just where he should be, far away from the LSU basketball program. If Trent needs any help it's with recruiting. If he gets the players he needs he will be fine. Right now he doesn't have the players.
I don't know about that as I seem to remember players like Geert Hammick and Jose Vargas looking lost as freshmen and progressing into pretty good players as seniors.
