I agree with a lot of which Yankelevitz writes. I think that Seth had us on the right track. Program was arguably a top 5 to 8 program in California every year under Seth. Many poor coaching hires have damaged Long Beach almost beyond repair. I am not saying it can't be done but let us look at the facts.

1994/1995 - Long Beach ended with an RPI of 55. While SDSU was 218.

1998/1999 - SDSU finished the season RPI ranked 284 out of 310 and won only 3 games.

Enter Steve Fisher after the 1999 season. SDSU did not win a tournament game under Fisher until 2011. However winning seasons they have had plenty since 2005, SDSU is ranked 5th in wins only behind Gonzaga, Kansas, Duke, and Villanova. However in 24 years they have only advanced to the Sweet 16 once. But it starts with dominating your conference.

Enter CDM in 2008. Long Beach rpi finish at 323 out of 340. CDM quickly got us on track with RPIs of 111 in 2010, 90 in 2011, 34 in 2012. All things pointed the right way. We even brought in top transfers Lamb, King, Jennings, Freeland. We had a player drafted in the NBA and another played in the NBA in the early years. Then that 2012-2013 season happened and we never recovered. Monson should have been removed minimum of 5 years ago.

Facts are if we want a program like UMass, Gonzaga, SDSU, Wichita, Murray State, St Mary's, James Madison, VCU, or any of the other mid majors that have had success, it will take time. We need not just a new coach but you will either need one like Steve Fisher who will never leave and nor will his top assistance. Or we will need to have a run of good young coaches until we can get to a place were are making the tournament more times than not and one stays.

Now with the transfer portal I think this is all within a possibility. But I would say we are 10 years away from being consider a top mid major every year.