I think for us to have success long term Monson had to go. He should not of been renewed the last time. We have to put butts in seats. Attendance has been dropping every year. Comunter school or not historically we have had the best attendance in the Big West except for Hawaii.
If Monson stayed maybe we would have won next season, maybe not. But 2 NCAA Tournaments in 17 years doesn’t cut it. Monson lost both games. He went to 3 NIT games and lost all 3.
We need to get the fans excited about LBSU Basketball again. We need a coach who will go out into the community and build enthusiasm. Dan Monson is not that guy.
I think I recall most here talking about winning the BW tourney as the standard for a Coach. Let's face it, the BW is firmly entrenched as a 1 bid league, so it seems to be a legit standard to me. By that one, screw where you finished the BW reg season, win the tourney.
FWIW, in my opinion, the #1 reason it was time to replace Monson when Smitheran did was that 1 NCAA in his first 16 years is completely unacceptable. But, if you are fair, it does matter that Monson took us to the tourney. Too bad it was too late. I also think if he stayed AND kept the core four, we would have had an outstanding chance at next year.
So yes, I am really unhappy these core guys left. I think the odds of being in the top half of the league next year are essentially zero. I am hopeful that the new guy can build a program that can dominate the BW. But, I expect we don't have the financial resources or the donor network to make that happen in the current environment.
Despite all of the above, the firing of Monson may have been the catalyst that got us to the NCAAs (it sure sounded like that from the players), and the core certainly may have moved on anyway had Monson stayed. At this point, as my Grandmother used to say, there is no use in crying over spilt milk. What is done is done. Next man up and all that. As my old friend, "OldTimer" used to say, I have high hopes and low expectations.
LOL Dave you are a freaking genius!!!!! 5th place = winning LOL.
Time will tell. We've had CDM lose a whole team before and win the next year ( 5th place). We will see . It is a done deal.
The other timeline has Monson being retained and we get flamed by UCR in the first round of the BWT and everyone leaves anyway and we're left with Maddox to run the team.
I'll take this timeline with a side of gravy (good new players) please and thank you!
Be careful what you ask for boys…. We will follow them to see if they made a good decision.
There is NO QUESTION that the players that we lost will be VERY HARD to replace! I think that EVERYONE knew that this was a possibility. I hope that the new coach can hit the ground running and put together a team before the start of next season that will be a building block of what is going to come in the future!!!
And once again, I wish all of the players that are leaving us the best of luck wherever they may land. They have been a fun group to follow, and I wish that they had given the new coach a chance.
They no doubt will be very hard to replace. New coach will have to hit the transfer portal hard.
You think everyone is replaceable from this years team??? LAUGHING OUT LOUD. Please update me when the new staff brings players in as good as A. Traore and L Traore.
Good luck you old timers. You think the grass is so much greener on the other side!