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Message: [QUOTE="ConwayGmck, post: 3833167, member: 10442"] Maravich was a legitimate basketball talent, no doubt. He proved it in the NBA, leading the league in scoring one season. But he was a product of definite hype and opportunity that NO OTHER player will ever experience at that degree in college BB, ever again. For one, he had his father as his head coach. Press Maravich was so enamored of his own product - his son - that he left what was a success head coaching job at NC State because he wanted his son to be THE core of the program, and the administration, boosters, and major influences in Raleigh would not allow him to. By "core of the program" I mean Press wanted his team to evolve around Pete - the other players were to defend, rebound the ball, give it to Pete, and then get the hell out of his way. Time and time and time again. Be prepared to mop up when Pete spills anything on the aisle, then give the ball back and then get the hell out of his way again. NC State wouldn't allow that - wouldn't let the other players and the program devolve into that. It was bigger than any one player. So Press shopped around the southeast for ANY BB program that was willing to do this, because if they weren't then they weren't getting Pete. LSU was a moribund program with NO success, and they accepted the proposition as much for the press (media, not Pops) and attention it would bring to the program, and the slight notion that it might actually make the program more successful. Today, EVERYONE talks about the career points Pistol put up in just 3 seasons at LSU, and how NO ONE will ever top that in the same time frame. They are correct. But NO ONE ever mentions the even MORE untouchable record of CAREER FG ATTEMPTS Pete put up in 3 years. He averaged 45 ppg in Baton Rouge, and averaged 35 FG attempts per game as well. He only had a career 44-45% FG % as a Battling Bengal. Now, there are players EVERYWHERE in MBB every season who average 44-45% shooting. Many who do far better than that. But they will NEVER equal Pistol's offensive outpouring because they will NEVER have a head coach that will tell their teammates, "give the ball to him and get the hell out of his way!!!". Over and over and over, season after season. The fact that despite Pete's offense at LSU, they NEVER won the SECT, never went to the NCAAT (they did play in the NIT his final season) makes his time at LSU little more than a carnival exhibit. His own team - minus Pistol Pete - shot over 51% from the field the entire 3 seasons he was in college, but he took all the shots. I watched his final season in the NBA with the Boston Celtics in 79-80. He was teammates with a fuzzy blonde rookie by the name of Bird. He had knee/leg issues in his final years in the pros and it hampered his abilities to being a part-time reserve for the Celtics, but he had a number of games at the end of the season where he led the team in points, had a few 20+ pt games in as many minutes. No razzle-dazzle showmanship, no slick tricks or sleight of hand. Just fundamental basketball execution. Both he and Dave Cowans were with the team to start the 80-81 season that the Celtics won the Championship against the Rockets, but both were in street clothes dealing with injuries that would ultimately conclude their professional careers..... [/QUOTE]

Verification: First name of men's bb coach

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