Lamar vs McNeese St. // LAMAR REACHES 20 WINS!

[ForeverADog]

Lamar beat McNeese tonight to clinch the East division and there first 20 win season since 88! Thanks to all the fans that showed up to pull them through. Best crowd in my opinion in years. Announced as 5138.

Cards are the 3 seed and play NW State at 2:30 Wednesday in Katy in the conference tournament.

[Guest beechnut]

Amazing what coaching can do.

[lefty3162]

Go Cards.They have the ability to win this thing.I hope they do.

[Javelina]

When was the last time the Southland had three 20 win teams? UTA and Lamar are there and SFA has 19

[Dick Vitale]

They won 20 games in 1988, and Tony Branch gets fired....They win 20 games in 2012, and Pat Knight is a genius... :o :o...Am I the only one that finds that a bit odd?

[WOSgrad]

[quote name="Dick Vitale" post="1192032" timestamp="1330871777"]
They won 20 games in 1988, and Tony Branch gets fired....They win 20 games in 2012, and Pat Knight is a genius... :o :o...Am I the only one that finds that a bit odd?
[/quote]

That's because in 1988 the elevator was on the way down, in 2012 it is on the way up.  As you know, the record of your predecessor many times dictates how dumb or smart you are.

[Dick Vitale]

Well, I can go with that...Were they winning big in the seasons prior to 1988, though? Maybe I am too young, but I don't remember Lamar exactly dominating the league prior to 88'. I just thought Tony Branch was not really given a chance. I think Pat Knight is a doing a fantastic job thus far, but I guess it just shows where the program at Lamar is and was..

[dav-joel]

[quote name="Dick Vitale" post="1192032" timestamp="1330871777"]
They won 20 games in 1988, and Tony Branch gets fired....They win 20 games in 2012, and Pat Knight is a genius... :o :o...Am I the only one that finds that a bit odd?
[/quote]

Wasn't Tom Abatemarco the last coach with 20 wins. If my memory is correct Tony Branch didnt win 20 career at Lamar let alone one season.

[Dick Vitale]

[quote name="Dav-J" post="1192050" timestamp="1330875405"]
[quote author=Dick Vitale link=topic=97068.msg1192032#msg1192032 date=1330871777]
They won 20 games in 1988, and Tony Branch gets fired....They win 20 games in 2012, and Pat Knight is a genius... :o :o...Am I the only one that finds that a bit odd?
[/quote]

Wasn't Tom Abatemarco the last coach with 20 wins. If my memory is correct Tony Branch didnt win 20 career at Lamar let alone one season.

[/quote]
Tom Abetemarco left after the 1987 season...Your memory is not correct.. ;)

[AggiesAreWe]

[quote name="Dav-J" post="1192050" timestamp="1330875405"]
[quote author=Dick Vitale link=topic=97068.msg1192032#msg1192032 date=1330871777]
They won 20 games in 1988, and Tony Branch gets fired....They win 20 games in 2012, and Pat Knight is a genius... :o :o...Am I the only one that finds that a bit odd?
[/quote]

Wasn't Tom Abatemarco the last coach with 20 wins. If my memory is correct Tony Branch didnt win 20 career at Lamar let alone one season.
[/quote]

Correct. Abatemarco was the last to win 20. Branch never won 20 at Lamar.

[AggiesAreWe]

[quote name="Dick Vitale" post="1192053" timestamp="1330875607"]
[quote author=Dav-J link=topic=97068.msg1192050#msg1192050 date=1330875405]
[quote author=Dick Vitale link=topic=97068.msg1192032#msg1192032 date=1330871777]
They won 20 games in 1988, and Tony Branch gets fired....They win 20 games in 2012, and Pat Knight is a genius... :o :o...Am I the only one that finds that a bit odd?
[/quote]

Wasn't Tom Abatemarco the last coach with 20 wins. If my memory is correct Tony Branch didnt win 20 career at Lamar let alone one season.

[/quote]
Tom Abetemarco left after the 1987 season...Your memory is not correct.. ;)
[/quote]


Wong. Tom coached the '87-'88 season. Went 20-11. That was his last year at Lamar(and last 20 win season). Branch coached two seasons at Lamar, '88-'89 and '89-'90. Tony went 12-16 and 7-21 in those two seasons.

http://viewer.zmags.com/publication/06bdbb68#/06bdbb68/138

[dav-joel]

Ok . Thanks AAW. That's even better than my memory. smh

[Dick Vitale]

I stand corrected, Tony was there as an assistant when they won 20 games in 87-88...I remember Coach Branch recruiting my brother that year, and forgot he was an assistant...I still don't think he was given a fair shot as head coach...2 seasons?

[ForeverADog]

Back then we had been an NCAA and NIT team for around 8 straight years. Then we have fallen off for 25 years. Been trying to bring it back and this is probably the first sign of life in awhile. Reason enough to be excited.

[coachacola]

[quote name="Javelina" post="1191992" timestamp="1330838412"]
When was the last time the Southland had three 20 win teams? UTA and Lamar are there and SFA has 19
[/quote]
Three SLC teams won 20 games in 2007-2008 when Lamar went 13-3 in conference and won 19 games.  That was an odd year because Lamar started 3-6 and those 3 wins were against non-D1 teams.  Also that season all those teams played 4 non-D1 schools, this year UTA only played one and LU just 2.  Hopefully we'll see a 25-7 UTA team against a 22-11 LU team in the SLC tourney final on ESPN2!