Worst Facilities ????? Come on 16 --What recruit who takes the long view would pick PEORIA. Normal Valpo et al over our LAKEFRONT !!!! I will admit tho that Peoria
does have a nice tractor factory, Normal has neat corn fields and Valpo ?? NOTHING-- The rest ?? At least there is TRADITION in Evansville Sp ILL and Terre Haute

Granted .recruits like fancy digs--BUT there are other inducements--

New Gentile is pretty nice !!

This season is NO time for negativity pf any kind---Now with respect I do disagree with your post

1.) I think it’s tough to schedule home and homes, and NC State is a great example. That said, rather than throw our hands up and say oh well, I think we should just play at least 2 guarantee games against some high major teams rather than 2 non D-1 games like we have in the past couple of years. This year is a step in the right direction with one guarantee game (Florida) and only one non D-1 game (Eureka).
1a.) His predecessors absolutely did it too (although I only go as far back as Whitesell), but I don't think that’s a valid excuse for him to do the same. Mind you, they were fired too.
2.) The fan support has been abysmal, and I agree that it hurts recruiting tremendously to have an empty building for most games or a 3/4ths filled building for Wichita but with half the building in black and yellow.
3.) The facilities are by no means the worst in the Valley. They are not even close to being the worst in the Valley. They were literally brand new when Porter was hired.
3a.) Facilities could be an excuse for recruiting at some schools, but I think our recruiting has been probably PM’s biggest positive. So when it doesn’t translate to meeting our potential on the court, that wouldn’t be because the facilities couldn’t develop them.
And 4.) Porter’s conference winning percentage is .312. That’s abysmal for any program anywhere in the country. If you’re that below 500, either your program is over-matched in the conference and should move down a step or the coach is probably in way over his head. Now, this team looks really talented and very much like a legitimate NCAA tournament contender, and I think this team can put us over the hump. However, if he can’t win with this team, will we ever win a Valley title under him?

The facilities comment is Basketball only. We are the only MVC team without a dedicated men's practice facility. That is huge for player development and recruiting. His ability to overcome that has to be recognized.

As for the conference record: we took a Horizon league team that was average and put into a better conference.
Year 1) 4-14 --- that is the skew in his win %. Since then 8, 7, 8 in the win column. NOT great, but not in the zone to be fired.

I am the first to say last year's skid was a huge disappointment. I thought the team was on its way to 11 wins in the valley, only to struggle down the stretch. Coaching? Sure - you can always blame coaching. And PM has had teams that have started well only to fade down the stretch. My hope is this year the depth will be the key to not having that happen.

I would continue to be tempered in the hype this year --- next year's team (assuming everyone stays) will be extremely dangerous.

All interesting comments
1. We have the ability to recruit with our facilities....some in the Valley are better. (Bradley has a great place to play with more season tickets sold than we have capacity) some are worse. But our last class plus next year proves they are sufficient to recruit.
2. Supposedly we have a practice facility on the agenda...but really wonder where that should be on the priority list....also if it takes away the open field with the track ...seems to me that there might be better uses for that kind of money. If anything is effecting recruiting it might be crime in RP and Chicago.2nd would be game day atmosphere which looks like it may improve this year at least for significant games.
3. Seriously are people questioning PM? He has gotten us through a very rough patch financially and athletically, has shown the ability to coach and recruit( and good students to boot, as well as inroads into the CPS) and probably makes way less then he could somewhere else....and is firmly committed to LU.
4. All this might change if LU had tons of cash laying around but they dont.
5. I am pleased with the direction LU is headed.....just want more people in the stands.