re: One thing that the McMen cannot deny is that excitement around the program is non existent

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He just wants to D ride Mizzou for some reason.

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The discussion about Missouri was the counterargument to the argument that "no coach in McMahon's shoes could win right away." Gates inherited a team with less returning players than LSU, brought 3 transfers from his former mid-major program (like McMahon), then supplemented the roster with several mid-major and JUCO transfers...and won...right away. So there was, in fact, evidence that a coach come in under such adverse circumstances and win right away. Does that mean Gates is a great coach? Maybe, maybe not. But that wasn't the discussion.

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MM has 2 top 80 players signed.

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He has two on his roster already.

That aside, the OPs post (as I read it) is that there is no enthusiasm around the program. He's right. I don't see how anyone can argue to the contrary. Go to a game. The stadium is half full, at best. Go to a bar/restaurant on a gameday. Unless the game is on ESPN, you likely won't find it on a TV...or customers in the building who care enough to ask them to put the game on. The news coverage of the program is minimal. There is an entire board on this site dedicated to recruiting. At any given point in the the year no one really knows to any large degree who LSU is recruiting. The apathy is real. So real, in fact, that part of the hype video played before LSU's starting lineup is announced is literally a plea for attendance.

Last week LSU played (and won) a very winnable game vs. Arkansas on a Saturday. The student second was empty. Tomorrow LSU is going to play a ranked opponent from one of the most despised schools for LSU fans. Look on this board. There's more talk about the LSU baseball team playing VMI next Friday. And given that the schedulers did LSU absolutely no favors by scheduling a home game at the exact same time as the only (somewhat) large Mardi Gras parade is rolling in BR, the sparse Arkansas crowd will probably look like the national championship game compared to tomorrow's crowd.

There's no energy in the program because no one really believes they can win with any frequency. Johnson had the personality of an owl. But he won right away and people showed up. Jones had a love and enthusiasm for LSU that was genuine. He gave fans at least a reason for hope. Wade came in like a ball of fire that had fans believing LSU was going to win right away. Unfortunately, McMahon has had the worst of both worlds. From his very first appearance as LSU's HC (press conference) he came across as completely overwhelmed. He's not a guy where outward enthusiasm comes naturally. You can be that way and have great support...if you win. But he isn't. So the fanbase has mostly hit a level of apathy. They want LSU and McMahon to succeed. They just don't see any reason to think he will.

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And maybe this coach could have had he cheated flamboyantly.

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Then perhaps now might be a good time to start because I promise you, his contemporaries aren't worried about making sure they "stay in the lines."

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competitive and competing for post season. It is comical these people demanding this and that after 1 or 2 years.

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6 new coaches were hired in the SEC last season. 1 new coach (Chris Beard) was hired ahead of this season. There is still a LOT of basketball to be played. But of those seven, two reached the NCAAT in their first seasons (Gates-Missouri, Jans - Mississippi St.) As it stands now, a third from that group (Paris - South Carolina) is poised to make the tournament in year 2. Two others (Golden - Florida and Beard - Ole Miss) are in the mix as well.

If that holds, 5 of 7 new coaches hired will have made the NCAAT in their 1st or 2nd year. McMahon won't be one of them. In fact, he's not even been in the conversation as it is entirely possible he will have the worst overall winning % of those 7 new hires during their short SEC tenures.

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These are some of the most miserable people around and act as if we are Kentucky or Duke because we have a few good years here and there.

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Literally no one here has compared LSU to Kentucky or Duke, or held LSU to that standard

I have excitement foe the program but as a realist, I also was planning for it to be a couple years before Men's basketball is back. I'm going to start really paying attention next year.

You Wade groupies are worse than the Pawl groupies. And that’s saying something

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How many of those coaches went to a program that was under investigation and had possible sanctions hanging over their head? And who would have come here to coach with hose sanctions hanging over their head. Like I said, miserable people.

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None of them. One of them had a 1st round pick waiting for him, had a pretty good season last year, and is now winless in the SEC in year 2. That guy was the Wade Brigade's golden child just a few months ago.

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and told that losing close games is incredible.


No one thinks this, let alone says this.

You're being hyperbolic.

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LINK

Here is a link of a thread celebrating how good of a coach McMahon is after losing a close game. No hyperbole needed.

Wade turned a horrible LSU and a horrible McNeese around in year 1. He had more NCAA issues at McNeese than McMahon has ever had at LSU.

McMahon will likely be gone long before he achieves half of what Wade did here.

Auburn just got caught paying players and had two assistant coaches go to prison. Did that stop them from being successful or cause an imaginary “cloud of negativity” you guys want to blame everything on?