re: Just a friendly reminder for Scott Woodward

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but let's be real, There ain't crap to do in Lake Charles so going to a basketball game is probably high up there.

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That's always been the case. But fans weren't going to McNeese games before this season. I do quite a bit of work in LC and I can tell you even before the season you were seeing more promotion for the basketball program than I can ever remember. The fact that they are winning is obviously building off of that promotion.

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If Mcmahon can start winning some games he's not supposed to then that will have a positive affect

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Absolutely. However, we've honestly reached the point of where any win over a major conference opponent feel like a win over someone he's not "supposed" to beat. To counter the OP's post a bit, the PMAC looked a lot like that during Nov./Dec of the Wade era as well. Even when LSU had good teams. I know. I was there. Fans weren't showing up to watch even a good LSU team play Wofford, Kennesaw St., etc. But SEC play in January is when the attendance would take off. Football was completely over and casual basketball fans now wanted to pay attention when LSU was playing opponents (i.e. SEC teams) they knew.

That was even the case last season in the SEC opener vs. Arkansas. (IIRC) that game was in late December when school was out for the semester break. Those games rarely had great student attendance. However, I walked into the PMAC and was surprised to see a really great crowd...and that was the pinnacle of the McMahon era.

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it would be a lot more probable if LSU fans were there to support them.

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Chicken or the egg. Casual basketball fans are not going to make it a point to attend games (often on weekday nights) to watch a team who is more probable than not going to lose in an uncompetitive game. That's not just at LSU, but everywhere. So you can't just say "you know, if you fans would show up they may start winning more!" That's not going to work. McMahon lost the benefit of the doubt with last year's dismal performance. Going into this season he had to earn it back. Thus far, he's done nothing to do so. In fact, just the opposite. Apathy has set in for even a lot of "diehard" fans. If he wants to start getting asses in the seats he's going to have to start, NOW, winning several games when no asses are present. That may not be great to hear as a coach/player, but that is the reality.

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I think if Cook is playing that game goes differently as would some of the other losses. You cannot win without a PG. Lets see what he does with Cook running the show for a change.

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It's great to have a guy like Cook back. But I posted on here before the Texas game to temper expectations because the problems ran deeper than just not having Cook. He played 32 minutes vs. Texas. So it's not like they were easing him back in. And he had a decent offensive game (2nd leading scorer). But Cook didn't and doesn't fix the defensive issues. He doesn't fixt the rebounding issues. He doesn't completely fix the turnover issues. So I can't sit here and say now that he's back this team will really take off. Do I hope so? Yes! But again, McMahon gets no benefit of the doubt because he hasn't proven anything at LSU to date other than he might be the worst HC in the SEC. At least his 1.5 record reflects that.

The best thing about Cook's return is the excuses should be over now. LSU has two "warmup" games left before SEC play. They then open @ A&M, Vandy, @ Auburn, Ole Miss before the schedule gets even tougher. If McMahon doesn't go at least 2-2 in that stretch (which won't be easy) you can probably close the book on much SEC success.