Team preview: Louisiana Tech

Blue Ribbon Yearbook previews the 2005-06 college basketball season, exclusively on Insider.

Updated: October 25, 2005, 12:24 PM ET
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(Information in this team report is as of October 1.)

COACH AND PROGRAM

You can't help but wonder when Louisiana Tech will have that breakout season. Over the last two years, the Bulldogs produced the nation's top rebounder in 6-8 junior power forward Paul Millsap (20.4 ppg, 12.4 rpg).

On everyone's watch list in the NBA, this 243-pound muscle man powers to the rim like Larry Johnson once did for UNLV. He can drive, he can shoot, he managed 238 free throws and he rebounded the ball 360 times in 29 games.

But instead of leading LaTech to the postseason promised land, Millsap's Bulldogs are a dead-average 29-30 since he signed on the dotted line two years back. Why? Well, eighth-year head coach Keith Richard has his theories. His latest is lack of a consistent supporting cast. After finishing his recruiting campaign last spring, Richard said it was up to him and his coaching staff to provide Millsap with the best foursome he could find. A few of those players were on last year's team, a few more will join him this fall.


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