re: Could LSU ever be a basketball school?

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Six national championships beg to differ

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All of which came during a time of recent memory for most of us. I (like you and many more) vividly remember each great baseball season that started in 1986. Baseball was a championship sport at many other programs long before LSU. As good as our program as been and with 6 national titles, we haven't lit the world on fire but for one decade. The 1980's gave us 3 CWS trips. The 1990's gave us 7, including 4 titles. 2000-2010 has offered 5 trips with 2 titles. Hey, I love baseball as much as anyone and can really go back with this program, but when hoops is good, baseball is 3rd and that's just the way it is. Meanwhile, aside from the one title in '09, what has baseball done over the last 10 years to separate itself from all other programs? The six titles and many, many SEC titles are second to few, but for baseball to stay 2, it MUST go to Omaha year after year.

If we reflect two schools, then they are Alabama and Texas - southern institutes (no, Texas is not deep south, but they're not MW before you bug out). All 3 of us have the potential to compete at a high level in any of the three big sports and all 3 can recruit its territory and then some. All three have had the same types of success. Texas has a richer tradition in football and basseball than they do basketball (sort of the opposite of Bama and even us if you count 50 years back). They are, however, an undisputed power in hoops. Basketball is SECOND in Texas and their fans can deny that all they want. Bottom line is what's the bigger money maker? What's on tv more often? What does your conference consider 2nd? Bama had had some GREAT basketball teams over the last 30 years. Their 1987 team had a shot to win the national title if they would have played up to their potential. They were long and athletic into the 90's. They didn't become a "baseball school" until about 1994. Now that they are one, their fans may say the same thing..."Screw basketball...WE love baseball after football." If that were the case, Bama would nothave hired Anthony Grant.

There's room for all three, but when all three are good, they fall into the order of how they're played. Either can be #1 or #2 for a particular year, but if LSU basketball started to become what it is always capbale of becoming and has been in the past...it'd be a helluva spectator sport. Anyone who sat in the PMAC from the late 70's through the early 90's knows what I'm saying. What was more fun? 2006 Final 4 or being back at Omaha in 2008 and going 1-2?

Pete Maravich (RIP) does not agree with this message. If you build it (entertaining bb) they will come......but for now, not so much..........

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Could LSU ever be a basketball school?

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Depends on what one's definition of "a basketball school" is.

In my definition, no it cannot.

But LSU can theoretically achieve respectibility in fan support for basketball. I don't know if we can under Trent but it would be my hope that we could.

We can be good at basketball.

Never a basketball school though.