Good and not-so-good from Ron Hunter’s Tulane introduction

Well, he won the press conference. Feel free to watch it for yourself. New Tulane coach Ron Hunter came as advertised.

However, here’s some much needed olive and blue perspective: Mike Dunleavy won the press conference three years ago.

Hunter was personable, told a few jokes, promised to win big and recruit the state of Louisiana. if he does his homework on Tulane basketball, he will understand the most successful coach in the history of the school, Perry Clark, won with mostly home grown guys.

Director of athletics Troy Dannen said this of Hunter.

“We needed someone who’s passion and enthusiasm is electric and will ignite all of us.”

Let’s hope he’s correct.

There are some things I could have done without.

The second line into Devlin Fieldhouse certainly makes for a good visual but I would just rather have a coach with a detailed plan just lay out that plan and go from there.

.@coachrhunter arrived to his new home in style! #RollWave #NOLABuilt pic.twitter.com/0O2042kmD9

— Tulane Basketball (@GreenWaveMBB) March 27, 2019

Twenty years ago, I attended Nick Saban’s introductory press conference at LSU. He quickly laid out what he wanted to do and how he was going to get there. He was methodical, precise and clear about exactly what he wanted.

When Saban walked out of the room, even the most circumspect of reporters had to say this guy gets it.

Of course, that’s who Saban is.

Ron Hunter is a very different personality.

He was right to say what happened this season to Tulane was old news.

“I don’t want these guys to think about anything that happened before today,” said Hunter.

Yet, he went way out on a huge limb when he predicted that Tulane would be in the NCAA tournament next season. He will be all the all-time ace in player development and coaching to get this roster, winless in the American Athletic Conference, to somehow even finish in the top half of the league, much less go to the Big Dance.

I also think Hunter made a big error when he said he would get revenge against the University of Houston for knocking his Georgia State team out of the NCAA tournament.

“I didn’t like some of the things the players had to say to me. I don’t know if they are a rival of yours, but they are a rival of mine,” said Hunter. “Houston, you got me the first time, you won’t get me again.”

I attended the Houston/Tulane game in mid-February.

Final: Houston 85, Tulane 50.

That is a lot of ground to make up in one season.

So be it.

I did like the fact that Hunter said some of his players needed haircuts. Bravo for accentuating grooming. He also said negativity around the program would not be tolerated.

Hunter said he came to Tulane in part because the Sun Belt is a one-bid NCAA league.

“I was always concerned that one bad half in a (conference) tournament, then you are playing in the NIT,” said Hunter.

Hunter was funny and engaging, showing his talent as a salesman. But, eventually the top salesman must put skins on the wall. If he can do that, he came make Tulane basketball interesting again.

Winning basketball, with great post game quips, make for fun times.

He won the press conference but now let’s see if he can win enough games.

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