I meant to include Southall, but I did forget about Gay and didn't remember Boudreaux being that tall. I would be very excited to get those types of players here at UL again, but signing a guy like K. Lafayette, or similar types, does not seem to be a good use of a scholarship to me.
Mike Southall was our last great big man. He had committed to Kentucky before his legal troubles.
The early 2000's was a different time for college basketball. Nowadays most 6'10" kids want to be a wing or a guard. Good luck finding a true back to basket post player outside of the blue blood programs.
Those were great days in the student section.
Give me Brian Hamilton and Bryce Washington
at 6’6 all day every day
I think we all trust Dr. Maggard.
I do not think using Hud as an example vis a vis what he'll do with Marlin is a fair comparison. I've gotten to know Dr. Maggard pretty well. He didn't fire Hud for going 5-7. He fired Hud for going 5-7 AND his handling of the locker room video AND the 13 arrests AND the overall cULture. (Although the locker room fiasco didn't happen while he was here, it was a factor based on fan reaction.)
Those non record things don't exist with Marlin. He runs a clean program, demands a lot from his players off the court, recruits good citizens and pushes them in the classroom. Things like that go a LONG way with this Athletic Director.
The championship last year PLUS how Marlin runs the program were big factors in the contract extension.
Bob has a much longer leash than Hud would ever have.
Centers
Juco Top 100:
10 Ivan Aurrecoechea 6'8 Indian Hills PF/C
16 Antun Maricevic 6'10 Casper College PF/C
21 Jethro Tshisumpa Mbiya 6'10 San Jacinto College C Mississippi State
22 Nick Marshall 6'11 Motlow State C
28 Kylor Kelley 7'0 Lane CC C Oregon State
30 Willesley Butler 6'8 Pensacola State F/C
42 Jaime Echenique 6'11 Trinity Valley CC C Wichita State
71 Matthew Horton 6'11 Shelton State C Western Kentucky
Reggie Poooooooole!!!
As it should be, no one has ever accused Coach Marlin and his staff of running a dirty program. He graduates his athletes and they stay out of the news paper. That has never been a concern for me when it comes to Coach Marlin.
My point was and is that Dr. Maggard will do the right thing for the program period. He did it in Coach Hudspeth's case and will do so in regards to the other coaches here in the program including Bob Marlin. I've stated the contract extension was the right thing to do concerning both parties and I believe it will work itself out one way or the other.
Dr. Maggard knows a little something about expectations coming from Missouri and dealing with the Tiger's MBB program. Extending Coach Marlin's contract raises expectations and rightfully so tempered or not. I haven't spoken to Dr. Maggard much only several occasions and it was enough to understand the man get's it! My last conversation with him, I stated when you raise premium seating ticket prices and fees, expectations will raise as well. He stated clearly he understood and I have no doubt he does period.
I've expressed my problem with Bob Marlin on this board a few times, especially when it comes scheduling and fundraising and until recently recruiting, fallen short on both. If he is going to complain about scheduling and he knows it cost us $90K to get a SWAC program to the dome, then get your butt out a raise money for your program. Now before you answer that he does, I actually talk to people that raise funds in this program and I know exactly what is being raised by each head coach of the programs I support. Every time I get a call and asked for money, I ask questions.
Secondly, of the money that has been raised he is buying perks for his close supporters instead of spending money on other needs. Now if he wants more funding for his program, perhaps he should be more involved in the process and use the funds that he has raised in his Rebounder's Club more wisely.
So the quest for better scheduling starts with relationships and more money. I've have raised these questions wth Dr. Maggard as well. And there is no easy fix, but it starts with money and then relationships. He can help his program right now, by helping raise funds.
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