Good post.I was thinking of the 2017-18 season when we went 27-7, 16-2 SBC. I live in Houston, so I couldn't attend the games but it seemed like attendance was at an all time high as our winning streak lengthened. I thought it was at 8,000+, at least watching games on TV. We had the beard thing going on and the students were a big factor. Basketball was exciting again.
When we beat TCU in the N.M. Bowl, that will open some eyes about UL football, then other sports and our overall facilities. IMO, when entering the CajunDome, the basketball set-up is very impressive. May not have the suites someone mentioned at mid-level but it looks great especially on TV. The CajunDome is a Big 12 facility. UL needs to keep pushing for a future Big 12 invite, especially once the football stadium is finished. The basketball hire is a critical piece of this.
Basketball does not drive the bus, football does. Just ask UCONN who has won numerous National Championships and can't get a sniff at a major conference. But it is a key part of an overall big time program. We are already there in baseball and softball and have big time facilities in both sports. And football is coming. UL has got to restore basketball to national prominence. Combined with football and baseball / softball, it will help propel UL to a higher level. Who knows where realignment will go in the future? UL needs to position itself for whatever opportunities may come its way whether it is a P5 conference or a realigned G5 conference with the top G5 schools. Basketball is needed to help make UL the #1 overall G5 school in the country and this hire is critical to that. This is the missing piece. Why not think beyond the Sun Belt Conference? Think BIG?