Originally Posted by
champion110
I just re-read your post. I mistakingly took it for bashing before I had read it before. It isn't and I apologize.
I do not think we are an elite program right now, so I hope that no one has misunderstood my stance on that. I think we lost that a couple of years ago, possibly even the last year of Barmore to be honest.
Also, I don't want to lay all the problems at the feet of Budke. He did ok in his first year here. He did, however, take some shortcuts and recruit lots of JUCO's. While JUCO's are great and needed, you can't build a whole program on them. You have to have a core of 4 year players to build from. Then, you add the JUCO's as needed to get the talent level right. That is what Long has started to do.
Now, that brings us to Long. Long was sought after as a HC for several programs. Dirty is right. I was not "for" hiring him. However, I was quickly converted after hearing him and talking to him. He definitely knows what he is doing. It will take a little time for him to do it, though.
As for our talent, we have some real talent on this team. I don't know why our offense doesn't work well to tell you the truth. I do think it is a mental issue - just like Dirty stated. On defense, I think we are doing fine. We held an lsu team that scores in the 80's in most games. We did well in that area. If I were working with the team, I would concentrate on Shan and Eboni. They both have the shooting skills to get this team to come alive, but it has been missing.
I, too, grew up on Techster bball. I know what they used to be. My opinion is that this is being built again. Until then, we will have some losses like today. That is going to be tough on all us fans and our team. I demand that we get back to the top - just like all of you. I am NOT SATISFIED! I will repeat that if you wish. I DO see something special being built, though. It will be up and down until it happens. I will hang with them. Most coaches are given 3 years to show what they can do. I have no doubt that Long will accomplish amazing things, if we give him a chance and understand what he is doing.
Whew...... Enough for me tonight. Blast me for being too positive or being complacent, but if you do that, you truly don't understand what I am saying.
Good night all!:icon_wink: