shocker coaches - took a look into the past

[molly jabali]

Made me laugh!

[ShockTalk]

What’s the explanation for Gene’s last season?

Much the same as Marshall's, IMO. Inexperienced with no seniors. While he did have JRs Santos and Henry Carr, it was JR Lew Hill's 1st season coming out of the JUCO ranks. The other main players were SO Normore, FR Radunovich, Grayer, Dwight Praylow (twin Dwayne later became a starter for Fogler).

Gene had just graduated McDaniel, Sherrod, and Papke. Yes, Gene had his demons, but he had just put together a heck of a recruiting class with his four freshmen and 1st year JUCO. Those Smithson freshmen became 4 of the top 6 players for Folger in his 3rd and last season and those 4 with Hill were very key in Folger's success. Don't know if Gene would have done as well or better than Folger, but those players were Gene's nonetheless.