re: Ok, Don’t blast me but why is men’s bball struggling so much?

Can’t put ball in basket, can’t stop opponent from putting ball in basket

This is all on Woodward. He wanted some mild mannered yes man who wasn't going to rile up any feathers with the NCAA or the media, and boy we got him.

ETA: I wish I could have a conversation with someone in the know about the reasonings for firing WW instead of just seeing it through. I know there's been all sorts of rumors about it affecting football etc. but it really bothers me that we go from being a scrappy team (year in year out) with a lot of passion to this piss poor team with no energy at all in just two years.

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This is all on Woodward. He wanted some mild mannered yes man who wasn't going to rile up any feathers with the NCAA or the media, and boy we got him

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Mid-major hires are always a crapshoot. For every Nate Oats that "hits", you probably have 3 Kermit Davis's or John Pelphrey that doesn't. You have to be able to find the right guy for the right situation at the right moment.

In many respects, the Wade and McMahon hires were very similar. Both were HCs of mid-major programs who had a long history of success that predated their tenures. Wade didn't "build" VCU. He inherited it. Likewise, McMahon didn't "build" Murray St. He inherited it. Wade was working out. McMahon hasn't. But on paper they were pretty similar hires.

Of course, life doesn't exist "on paper". The guys who have come into the SEC and had success often share the quality of being relentlessly driven. Pearl, Oats, Musselman, Wade. They weren't just happy for the opportunity to coach at a power conf. program. They felt it was the status of where they belonged and were driven to do whatever is necessary to have success...even if that meant ruffling some feathers along the way. Often times the best coaches aren't the nicest guys. If you are in their way to get what they want they will kick you out of the way and feel no remorse in doing so. They aren't necessarily looking to be everyone's best buddy. They are just looking to win.

Then you have guys like McMahon, Jones, etc. Guys who feel very fortunate to have the opportunity to coach at a school like LSU. However, a lot of of those guys are hesitant to ruffle feathers out of fear of losing that opportunity. They want to win. They are driven as coaches. But they don't have that killer instinct to get into the knife fights it often takes to win big at the highest level. To some degree that is admirable. NO ONE has ever said McMahon is a bad guy. But that mindset is probably better suited for the lower levels where the money and expectations are significantly less

That's a fricking lie and you know it! Wade got his stupid arse fired because he lied to the Athletic Director(his boss) and the University President!! Fired for no reason, my arse. QUIT SUCKING THAT PEAR DICK!!

1. SW should NOT have fired WW. LSUMBB could have handled a 10-game suspension (of WW) this year.

2. CMM seemed like a decent hire when it was made. He has recruited some talent but cannot seem to get them to perform in any significant way. The lack of rebounding worries me the most. Too often it is a lack of effort.

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I wish I could have a conversation with someone in the know about the reasonings for firing WW instead of just seeing it through.

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I don't think it is particularly difficult to understand the reasoning. Woodward is not a complete idiot. He's been around college sports long enough to know how the sausage is made. Thus, he knew there was very likely some truth to the allegations. The only question was to what degree the IARP could prove the allegations. That was the unknown at the time.

For his part, Wade essentially went silent and retained legal counsel when the allegations came out. I promise you that is because he knew there was some truth the allegations. He heard the wiretap recording. But much like in a criminal case, it was the NCAA's burden to prove it's case, not Wade's. So he went silent (to as much of a degree possible) with the NCAA and LSU.

Without knowing what the potential ruling/sanctions would be, Woodward chose a path of risk-aversion and fired Wade. I'm sure with the mindset of hoping to limit potential sanctions against LSU. He is the AD. It's his job to do what is best for the department as a whole.

I've LONG said I understand why Woodward chose to fire Wade. Even if I disagreed with the decision. My main point of disagreement was I didn't think the potential risk outweighed the potential reward.

Worst case scenario, the IARP crushes Wade, gives him and LSU sanctions, and LSU is essentially forced to fire Wade. That, of course, would have set the basketball program back. But given the fact the basketball program had little consistent success in the decade prior to Wade's hiring was that really a devastating penalty? Basically, it would have just resulted in LSU going back to the "status quo".

Best case scenario, the findings/penalties are light and Wade continues to coach. The media and opposing fans clutch pearls at Wade continuing to coach. But really, who gives a shite? I don't particularly like Nick Saban. But do you think Alabama fans give a damn? I'd rather be a winner than liked. Wade continues on with a program who has had success over the previous 5/6 years with hopes that it could become even greater.

By firing Wade LSU chose to remove the coach responsible for the most consistent run of success in 30 years. They had valid reasons for doing so. But it also put them in a spot where they would be having to beat the odds so to speak with the hiring of a new coach. Those "odds" being that in the 25 years or so since Brown "retired" LSU had hired 4 coaches...only one of whom was able to put together a program capable of reaching the NCAAT year after year.

Or to put it another way, LSU fired Wade to avoid the risk of a "death penalty" (or something close to it) and, in turn, with what looks to be a poor hire, ushered in a de facto "death penalty". Whether a result of NCAA sanctions or just a poor HC, the ultimate results are the same. Losing and apathy.

Knowing the likely outcome of Wade's dismissal (a return to losing basketball) I would have just rolled the dice.

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I know Wade was fired & their top transfer was ruled ineligible for the year. Other than that, why?

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So you missed the part where they had zero scholarship players and zero recruits 18 months ago?

He's a hybrid Johnny Jones and Trent Johnson so far in his tenure.

He almost broke Johnny Jones record losing streak last year.