Future of LMU Basketball

[wheels]

No one disagrees that last season was a disappointment but it is easy to look at Tention as the culprit. In reality many Lion seasons have passed with great disappointment. Two of the past three seasons did give me hope, but what is the root of our struggles? Trying to reclaim the past glory that is no longer a reality? Bad or inexperienced administrators leading the program? Worst facilities in the WCC? How many coaches have we had in the past 20 years? They all could not be the problem. We chat and throw out fire, resign, revoke scholoarships as if there are no consequences to those actions. If we revoke a scholarship what does that say to a persepctive players? If we have more coaches in the past 15 years than any other WCC program what does that say to the next candidate? If we fire a good coach (yes, if you know basketball you would agree that Tention is a good coach) after 3 years (1 good, 1 difficult and 1 bad season) what message are we sending to the basketball community about LMU basketball? We are not experts (including myself) and we chat as if we have all the answers. Why was QT offerred a scholarhsip? Well, considering when a successful former Lion point guard from Australia decided to prematurely turn pro it created a gap and at mid-majors it is difficult to find a quality point guard in the 11th hour. Was it the right move? No because we needed someone who could start right away. I could go on but in the spirit of trying to keep it short (my bad), Lion basketball will struggle as long as we blow with the win, only see the obvious and create consistency.

[longtimelionfan]

Wheels,

As my username indicates, I have been a Lions fan for a very long time so I understand the underpinnings of your thesis. However, I respectfully disagree. Coach Tention is a good and nice person but I don't disagree with the decision to make a change. To quote you, Coach Tention had three seasons and in order - 1 good, 1 difficult and 1 bad. That is clearly trending in the wrong direction. Further, that trend was accomplished more and more with his own (as opposed to Aggers') recruits. Another trend going the wrong way. Finally, I don't think anyone can argue that last year's team did not improve as the season progressed. Indeed, just the opposite, the team was demonstrably worse in February and March than it was in November and December. Yet, another trend in the wrong direction. In short, there were no trends or indicators pointing upward and the team was full of young players who, in the main, failed to demostrate that they would be materially better next year. In sum, no demonstrable reason to believe material improvement was forthcoming.

Bayno is not guaranteed to be better but the indicators - numerous high profile recomemdations at the professional and collegiate level; initial recruiting success that "on paper" is delivering ostensibly more talented recruits than ever - clearly point upward. Now two of the highest profile recruits are transfers who did not have immediate success at their prior Division 1 schools but that is the nature of the transfer student. And, transfers Gathers, Kimble and Gaines did pretty well. In short, this is the biggest hope we've had in a long time. And, the fact that Bayno was interested and took the job and has had the initial success he has had recruiting strongly suggests that what the transition from Tentiion to Bayno said to the basketaball world was very positive not negative.

[wheels]

longtimelionfan,

No arguments. Not sure if building a mid-major with transfers is long lasting but we can rehash in 5 years. Hopefully we will have some success but getting the right balance of upper and under classmen consistently is key for longevity. All mid-majors that have success today have Juniors/Seniors who have been in the program since Freshmen and mix in some lower classmen with potiential. With a young team Tention relied too much on player development over time and not paying immediate dividends. That is how he (and possible others) agreed to build the program. It is just unfortunate that we keep going back to the old days. Clearly, we have not been able to reproduce the Gathers, Kimble, Gaines scenario for many years prior to Tentions watch.

The problem at LMU is bigger than Tention. He has been a successful coach and will be one in the future. Not sure if Bayno's rep is better than Tentions but hopefully the wins will come at the right cost. 5 years with peaks and valleys is an acceptable period to evaluate a program.

We can end the discussion about Tention. I just want us to think more about how we react to Bayno's peeks and valleys. 5 years and we all can make a complete evaluation (probably the same eval). Bayno's 1st crop of young players will not arrrive until year 2 begins. Let's see how they develop into Juniors and Seniors before we pass judgement. Furthermore, my expectations based on the past is just to have consitency in the top half of conference. Only then can we talk about more.

Thanks longtimelionfan for a quick chat that I had been waiting to get off my chest.

Wheels

[smc4]

I have been following college ball for sometime and just want to comment that LMU is not the only school that struggles to 'break through'. It is not the same game it used to be but we've had a clean program here for many years.