re: Do we have any basketball insiders on this board?

Bring back LSU wrestling!

I’m surprised we have so many commies on this board.


All for redistribution of the wealth from teams that make money to teams that don’t

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Hire whoever can make the program self sustaining and won't whine about facility upgrades.

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I’d like WW back. But he “whined” a lot about facility upgrades.

Will Wade: LSU men's basketball practice facility in 'desperate need of upgrades'

Maybe it’s because the PMAC is one of the worst basketball facilities in the SEC.

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I keep hearing about how the basketball program makes so much money. If this is true it must be mainly because of the SEC television contract. When I look at the paying customers in the stands, baseball and women’s basketball has them beat by a mile. Not to mention gymnastics although there are fewer home gymnasts events.

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It is absolutely true that MBB makes money and in large part for the reason you point out.

According to the financials from last year (24-25), MBB generated $13.6m in operating revenue, spent $11.1m in expenses, leaving a profit of $2.5m.

Of MBB’s $13.6m in operating revenue, well over half came from media rights and distributions from NCAA and SEC:
- Media Rights = $6.8m
- NCAA Distributions = $2.1m
- SEC Distributions = $977k.

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With all do respect, we best hire a big time name and be willing to duck off some money if we want to be relevant in basketball. We don’t need an up and coming comer we need somebody who is already there.

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That would be the preferred move. But this is not the most attractive job and I don't see any big names wanting to come here. Go all in on Wade, and Beard if need be. After that, Schertz would be a realistic candidate.

It’s the SEC and Will Wade showed you can get good players here and football is a prime example of the money that will be spent here. You can get a good coach to come here. There is only 30 or so schools that have at least 4 final fours in their programs history and LSU is one of them. Kentucky,Arkansas, and Florida are the only teams with more in the SEC. LSU has big potential with the right coach in the NIL era. I mean Will Wade had the potentially number one recruiting class about to come before he was fired and it was paid for out of his own checking account. LSU will spend money if the right coach is hired.

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Promising a new HC 12.5/yr for a roster (which is what every candidate is going to demand) is entirely different than actually having or raising 12.5/yr to spend on a roster. Where do you think the extra 10m (above the 2.7m revenue share) is going to come from??

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You would be surprised at what a motivated coach who actually is committed to promoting his program and cultivating a fan base can do. Sometimes it's not there until you ask. And ask the right folks the right way.

It doesn't always have to come from the same folks who fund other sports. There are still basketball only folks out there believe it or not and they can network if our next coach creates a good relationship with them.

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He would want some NIL and facility guarantees but apparently that won’t be an issue.

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frick that, we need to focus on football.

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With all do respect, we best hire a big time name and be willing to duck off some money if we want to be relevant in basketball. We don’t need an up and comer we need somebody who is already there.

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Go look in the current top 25. There are two HCs, TWO, who were poached from another major conference program. Bill Self and Brad Underwood. The other guys when they were hired were either on-staff promotions, assistant coaches at other major programs, mid-major hires, or successful name who were available because of "scandal" (Kelvin Sampson, Rick Pitino) or their former school wanted to make a change (John Calipari).

This thought that Kiffin or Kelly like hires should happen in EVERY sport is foolish. Basketball generally doesn't work that way. Hell, just look at the SEC standings right now. A&M (hired from Samford); Arkansas, Florida (hired from San Francisco), Vanderbilt (hired from JMU), Auburn (internal promotion).

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Gotta be patient, Wade's buyout drops to 3 million on April 1st so no move will be made before then most likely.

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The key in making a big hire is enthusiasm from the donors. They ultimately have the final say. Working in our favor is Wade would be one to excite them enough to spend the money needed to bring him back. I don’t think the appetite is there to spend millions on just anybody.