Big Win for Butch Pierre

Congratulations to the Tiger basketball team and to Butch Pierre for the biggest win of the season last night. Granted, Florida is not a national power this year, but they're still a good team, likely headed to the NCAA tournament, and we beat them in their own house by a convincing 85-73 score. Only 6 players scored points, but 5 were in double figures, with 3 getting 19 points or more.

This is a team that isn't going anywhere unless it wins the NCAA tournament, but a lot of people think we're set up to make a run next year with a good recruiting class and the return of Tasmin Mitchell from injury. We'll see. If it's true, whoever comes in to coach this group is inheriting a pretty solid roster.

And yes, we should give Brady credit for that. I called for Brady's firing, but I don't think he's a terrible coach. He had some measure of success, and he leaves the program much stronger than he found it. He just did not have the consistent success we're looking for a college basketball program. For every year he made the NCAA tournament, there was a year he didn't make any post-season tournament. For every great player, there was a recruiting mistake (Voogd) or a disgruntled player leaving the team early. Alright, there was more than one disgruntled player leaving the team early for every great player, but it's just an expression.

I wish Brady luck in life. I hope he finds another job. He was pretty good in Samford, and maybe he can go back to that level. I don't think he's going to get a major college program again, though.

In the meantime, Butch Pierre has gotten the team to play inspired basketball, losing to Tennessee by only two and beating Florida on the road. I don't know if he will get a chance to coach LSU next year, but he still has a future as a major college assistant coach if he wants one. Next we see if he can do it again against Kentucky.