Now the big question in Beaumont is can new Coach, Pat Foster, carry the torch (and the brand) back to the promised land.  After all Foster still had at his disposal all of the talented kids Tubbs recruited coming back. He also has the JC pipeline that was developed here through Martin and Tubbs when this was a junior college.  His first year taking over went well but there is unfinished business as the Lamar did not win a post season game for the first time in a few years.  These Beaumont Boys are prohibitive favorites to win the Southland Conference once again and get their ticket punched to the Big Dance and as their recent history can attest they can beat anyone on a given night.  But will Foster be able to pull off the same magic as Tubbs did?

Lamar had a solid season under new Coach Foster that however did not end in a trip to the NCAA tournament.  The boys from Beaumont invigorated it’s fans with consistently high scoring games (not quite as high scoring as Tubbs teams) and exciting games at the newly built Montagne Center.  This ten thousand seat arena affectionately dubbed as the House that Billy built was filled for most of it’s games as the Flock came out in droves.  The ‘Flock’ is not as it may sound some sort of Jim Jones type cult but rather the nickname these rabid red wearing fans call themselves who come to Montagne and root on their beloved team.  It must have worked as their boys did not lose one home game all year. A first place finish in the Southland conference in the regular season put Lamar in good shape to qualify for the big tournament once again.  A showdown in the finals with rival Louisiana-Monroe came to fruition and Lamar could not put away the boys from just across the border in this one.  Some said Lamar deserved an at-large berth to the Big Dance but this did not happen but thank goodness the NIT chose them to compete.  Lamar unfortunately lost their first-round game versus SMU in that fine tournament but hopefully that will not dampen what was a terrific season in Beaumont.

The hype for this season feels like a Sub-Pop album manufactured for the flannel wearing Seattleites of the 90’s.  There was nothing organic here but this machine that Tubbs had built had to be ran and Foster was the logical choice to keep this train rolling.  This season promises to be more of the same but with an upgrade in the strength of schedule to assure these boys have a chance of being an at-large team if for some reason they do not win the Southland Conference tourney again.  Speaking of upgrade in schedule, their former coach threw an old bone to the program he built.  When the Beaumontians heard that Billy Tubbs was indeed coming back for the first game of the year as Sooner Coach it quickly became the hottest ticket around here since Elvis fell off that toilet in Graceland.  There will be many more than the 10,000 capacity at the Montagne Center. Foster’s team will also have games with the usual regional suspects from the Southwest Conference including powerhouse Houston plus Texas A&M and Rice.  Lamar will rely on the reliability of three players to get back to the promised-land.  Sophomore guard Mike Olliver will once again combine with postmen B. B Davis and Clarence Kea to lead Lamar.  The trio are the face of Lamar basketball and take the responsibility that goes with being team leaders seriously.  Olliver, in particular, was as impressive a leader as anyone in the country in their first year.  After all he was walking in to a program that had been successful before he got there and to literally make this team his own takes quite a bit of chutzpah.  Olliver has that and then some. 

Oliver is a great, great player.  A tweener as he is not quite big enough for shooting guard (at least not in the SWC is what he was told by recruiters last season) and not quite quick enough for a point, Olliver does it all well.  The leading scorer for the team from East Texas, Olliver also is a primary ballhandler. A silky smooth shooter and penetrator, Olliver’s best skill is that he is not afraid of anything and relishes being the man to take all of the big shots.  Silk, as his teammates call him, loves the three point line as he has range to Port Arthur.  He probably could have scored more if this was not such a well-rounded team.  Olliver, who was born in Texas but went to high school in North Carolina, will take a back seat early on and set up his teammates and get the ball inside to his two buddies. That seems to run in the blood in NC ala a couple of other two guards.  The thing is though when the game is on the line or especially if Olliver is playing tougher competition than he wants every shot.  Olliver was arguably the biggest recruit ever for this program as when Tubbs brought him in last year he immediately became the man here willing to do whatever it takes to put this program on the national basketball map.  He was not happy when Tubbs left before he got to play for him and even considered transferring to the Sooners who do have a need at the two guard.  But Tubbs actually convinced him to stay and Foster, who was Billy’s sidekick and assistant, couldn’t be happier.  He is looked up to by everyone on the team and when he speaks, people do listen.  At only six foot one he is not our prototypical two guard and Foster has tried to make him into a point as he has those kind of skills.  Ultimately though as unselfish as he is Olliver is the guy you want taking the big shot not the guy passing it off so for the most part he plays off the ball.  Good choice as there might not be a better clutch player in the Southwest than this kid who nobody has heard of outside of the Southland and his opponents. He definitely is the man is Beaumont and if you have any doubts about that just ask him.

Kea and Davis are almost carbon copies post players and work together about as well as the Glimmer Twins.  Synonymous as Lennon and McCartney in Beaumont, these two are the bookend big men every program needs to be able to compete at an elite level.  Kea, a junior, and Davis, a sophomore, bring it every night.  Both are solid rebounders who dominate a league like this because you do not have to be six foot nine 235 pounds to play post.  They are sold low post options who know each other well and play off each other like the aforementioned rock stars.  They are so closely identified by the fans of Lamar one might think that they are indeed related.  The Flock has given them the nickname of BB Kea as a reference to the great blues guitarist.  The Blues are big in these parts of the bayou.  The thrill is never gone with these two however as they energize the fans every night with either a throw down dunk or tomahawk block.  Olliver loves playing off this duo’s backbreaking screens especially Kea who has the nickname ‘Pick’ for a reason.  He loves the high post where he can use his strength to his advantage and gladly acquiesced the low blocks to his new partner in crime who is a couple of inches bigger (6’6 to 6’8) though both of these heavyweights weigh in at exactly 218.  For two undersized post players there ability to dominate the paint (and the glass) is remarkable.  That is mainly because they seem to know not only where the other one is at all times for help but exactly what he is doing.  There is not a more cohesive pair of front court players in the conference and their ability to play together made this team difficult to beat. 

Kea was Tubbs first recruit after he became head coach and does not get enough credit for setting the tone of the hard work it takes to win for this program.  Tubbs went all the way to Wilmington North Carolina to get this undersized (six foot six 218) power forward.  Not only did he get the cornerstone of his program in Kea but he must have liked what he saw as he soon recruited many other Carolinians (Olliver) to come and play in East Texas.  This kid brings it every night and though his first season in Beaumont the team did not reach 500 Kea set the tone with the way he came to battle every night.  Tubbs loved his desire and his work ethic and his teammates could not keep up with his drive to succeed.  Tubbs would bring in some kids who could keep and particular the home town boy who would become the Tyler to his Perry.  Kea is a terrific board man (he led the team barely over Davis) and can post up with the best of them.  He has solid moves but relies on brute strength to get the job done in the key.  On this team you need to be able to run and defend.  Kea usually takes the top big man on the other team which allows Davis to roam a little freer so he can guard the rim.  Don’t get me wrong when he gets the chance Kea (what a great name) will put one into the front row.  And when he gets a chance to finish he loves a hammer dunk to announce his presence with authority. Kea has two years left in Beaumont but this Tar Heel has made this East Texas border town his own little playground.  He had a historic game in his first year here in the BD scoring 33 and grabbing 19 boards in their huge upset of Oregon State.  Now he just wants one more shot at the Big Prize!  But this time he wants to bring along his sidekick in crime, Mr, Davis, who has not got the opportunity to play in the Big Dance.  Yet.

Davis is a Beaumont native and watched Lamar basketball his whole life. He might have went somewhere else but after watching what Tubbs was doing to his hometown team and especially what Kea was doing he knew he wanted to stay home and play with them.  Good Choice!  Davis is a little bigger than his sidekick at six eight and 218 (symmetry is everything) and thus played the role of center most of the time.  He is better suited as a natural power forward but there is nobody on this roster even close to him on being able to play goalie.  Davis is also a terrific low post option who uses his size and strength to dominate the paint at times.  He averaged over 12 points a game and almost 9 boards (second barely to Kea) with almost 2 blocks a game.  He might not be Hakeem the Dream in the key but in the Southland he is pretty dang close.  Davis and Kea do not get near the recognition they deserve and with their size might not be the best pro prospects but there combined presence and their ability to play together down low have made Lamar the dominant program they are.  At least in the Southland!  How important are these two?  They missed a total of three games between them.  That’s right.  Lamar lost all three!  Sure, there are many other combos who deservedly get their due but think of them kind of like Phil Cullen and Steve Clark.  Joe Elliott (Olliver) might get all the publicity but the band has no power without these two out front!  

Contrary to popular belief Lamar was not all about these three.  Other players stepped to the forefront from time to time.  As a matter of fact going into this season one of Foster’s biggest goals has to be who from the carryover group of seniors were still going to have a role on this team.  A whole slew of guys who had been a huge part of the lower division successes were now way relegated to bench roles.  Foster did not feel comfortable cutting these guys so Lamar had a long bench especially at home (they only can 13 suit for road trips).  Greats like Forwards Jim Nicholson and Phil Endicott plus posts Jim Johnston, Odis Booker and Big Wayne Moore and guards Richard Smith, Don Heller, James Barrum and Kenny Haynes will battle for playing time.  This is obviously difficult on Foster and the fans but can you imagine being someone like Shoptaw who was the first star of this program?  Or Heller who was integral to their run in the D-2 tournament as anyone with his clutch shooting?  Moore, who is a bear of a man and one heck of a rebounder and defender, was so disillusioned that he went and tried out for the Miami Dolphins (and made the team) as an offensive lineman. Before the 6’6 250 pound Moore left he showed Kea how to set those magnificent screens he has become infamous for.  Barrum was the starting point guard to begin last year but is a svelte 5’11 and gave way to more athletic players as the season progressed.  That was a similar trend for Nicholson and Endicott who were the original bookend forwards in Beaumont.  Johnston and Haynes will get some minutes as backup post and point guard respectively.  Johnston was one heck of a scorer and board guy at one point and had a few decent games last year as well but is a bit too small (6’5) for this level.  Haynes is a terrific athlete who might be the best defensive guard on the roster and was the primary backup point guard (when Olliver wasn’t playing quarterback) for much of the year.  Both of these guys can play and Foster gave them unlike many of their teammates the chance to show what they had. There were two other seniors who not only got their shot but would take roles that might not have been as big as they once were but helped Lamar win the Southland

Swing guard Earl ‘the Pearl’ Dow and Post Don Bryson are wonderful players who were at one point were ‘the guys’ for Lamar.  Martin had given them free reign and these two had responded by being a pair of terrific offensive players in Lamar.  With Tubbs bringing in fresh new talent that was a little better suited for this level these guys would have to change their game a bit.  But being the team players they are they accepted their new roles with gusto.  Don’t get me wrong these guys have talent but when you are competing with Olliver and BB Kea you are in for a long road.  Dow was after all the leading returning scorer (and assist man) and Bryson was third in scoring and rebounding.  Dow will begin the year next to Olliver in the starting lineup as both are combo guards who will take turn running the point.  Bryson is a legend at Lamar and his # 13 might someday be retired (next to Kea and Davis?) as he helped put this program on the map with his talent, charisma and good looks (yes is extremely popular with the coeds and blue hairs) and his support of his teammates.  But for this year he wants to get back to the BD one more time and show the world why he is the stud that he is in Beaumont. 

As good as Kea and Davis are they could not play every minute so depth up front was needed and Foster did some find diamonds in the rough and he did not have to go the JC route to find them.  This time.  Junior Elton Hayes (no relation to the Big E) is a 6’6 post who can play and is looking for more minutes after two years on the JV but has others coming up the pike to challenge for time.  Sophomores James Gulley and Kenneth Perkins gave ample support in the paint in their first year in Beaumont although primarily on the JV. They are both the kind of no-nonsense bangers that a team needs off the bench to succeed.  Gulley is a little better scorer and was getting some huge minutes on the JV when he too got a mid-season call-up.  At six nine and about 235 he has the most size of anyone who was playing large minutes on the roster and is a physical player in the paint who can also block a shot.  Perkins is a blue-collar player that does not do much on the offensive end but is consistent on the boards and the defensive end.  He is a team player who will probably not get much notoriety but he doesn’t care as long as his Lamar win.  

The Lamar basketball program enjoyed another successful season in the Southland Conference.  Lamar used the fine play and leadership of three superb players to carry them through the conference tournament and finish first place.  Coach Pat Foster has also filled in the gaps with as fine of a supporting crew as any team in Texas and it showed.  Lamar did not earn a trip to the NCAA tournament after a hugely disappointing loss to Louisiana-Monroe.  They had to settle for a much-deserved NIT bid and took on SMU from the SWC  An early bid for an upset turned south when the bigger stronger team from Dallas took over.  Lamar ended the season with 20 wins and a conference title but after a run where they upset Oregon State two years ago this past season had to be deemed a disappointment.  This team from East Texas has made a blip on the national radar over the last few years now it is time to come in like the storms that wreak havoc on this part of the world and in the words of Klaus and Rudy ‘Rock you like a hurricane!’ Of course the big storm came when local legend Billy Tubbs was at the help and his protégé has some big shoes to fill.  Pat Foster is a good coach and a solid recruiter but when you follow the ‘Joker’ who left Gotham for the mighty Big 8 you better bring the rain.