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The interesting/fun thing is that we have a different kind of Coach than the last 17 years. What Monson did well was run the program. He was extremely well connected in the biz, and that helped him get access to some really terrific players. So he recruited well. But, I think he relied on his assistants to run much of the basketball side of the game. When he had really good assistants, the teams were pretty good. Of all he had here in his 17 years, I don't think any were better than Vic Couch. Frankly, we were never quite as good after he got ill.

Acker, on the other hand, is a completely different kind of Coach. His MO seems to be player development, with an emphasis on defense. Where Monson's approach might have been to look for an assistant that was really good at developing players, Acker was that guy. Now, in his first head Coaching gig, he seems to be hanging the identity of the program on player development and I think he is very personally in the middle of it. You are seeing the results.

A couple quick notes, I think Monson could be pretty darned good at running a program, so I am not knocking him. I had such a tremendously good time watching the players he found and brought here. I understand that some here feel differently. But, this new approach is also pretty exciting, and I think it is a better fit with the evolving NCAA in the NIL era.

If Acker can keep this up, we could become a developmental program for high major quality prospects. His pitch could start with come play for LBSU and in 2 years I will have you ready to cash in big time at a P5 school. Go there immediately and they might not give you the time on the court you need to develop. Hopefully some value the Coaching so much they stay.