I heard a well known basketball analyst (I can't recall who now) who stated that to have a championship basketball team you must have a
"Star". Obviously you need some good role players and secondary players. We never have that type of player. Or if we do, he isn't allowed to shine very bright. I'm talking about the guy who you expect to get 20 or more points every time out. Not that he will every time, but your offense is designed for him to accomplish that.

We had players like that with previous coaches. Mike Newell and Wimp both had players that could put up 25 points on a given night.
But they allowed them to do that. James Scott, Alan Barksdale, Nick Zachary, Malik Dixon and others. But I guarantee you they wouldn't have done that under Steve. And I think that's why we haven't been able to move forward as a top notch Sun Belt program. Until he finds players who can score and gives them the opportunities, we won't have the type program we want. We'll be decent. We'll occasionally win games we shouldn't with our defense. But we won't make that quantum leap we're looking for. It's just not going to happen with the current mindset. I don't think this is criticism. It's just facing facts.

The program isn't growing. And that's a fact. At least as far as attendance. And that's people actually showing up at the games.
Like it or not, people buy tickets to see stars. No stars. No great ticket sales. Who is on our roster who is a potential star? I'm not sure anyone is, it has to be someone who can handle the ball well enough to create their own shot and shoot reasonably well.

Only one I can possibly think of is Kemy Osse. Maybe Josh Hagins.
Don't know about new guys. Neighbour and Isler are very solid players, but they're not "Stars". Long timers like Trojan, MJS, PTJR, LRTrojan and others can remember the James Scotts, the Alan Barksdales, the Derek Fishers, the Malik Dixons. We're ready for those type players to emerge again. And when they are allowed to do so, that's when we'll be the program we aspire to be.

James White. Big time star if he lives up to his potential.

(08-16-2013 08:48 PM)MICHAELSPAPPY Wrote:  James White. Big time star if he lives up to his potential.

Lord how many times have we heard that here? If is a big word.