Talbot dominating inside at LSU-A

Tree give-away Saturday
January 27, 2016
New FBI Boss: Partnerships crucial to keeping the peace
January 27, 2016
Tree give-away Saturday
January 27, 2016
New FBI Boss: Partnerships crucial to keeping the peace
January 27, 2016

After two years at Louisiana Tech and a brief stop at the University of New Orleans, Houma native Gibby Talbot has finally found his college basketball home.

Talbot is a junior center for LSU-Alexandria – an NAIA powerhouse playing its second season of hoops under upstart coach Larry Cordaro.

At press-time, LSU-A is red-hot – owning a 17-2 record, including an 8-1 mark in the Red River Conference.


Talbot, an Ellender graduate, is a huge reason for the team’s success, averaging 9.9 points and 6.0 rebounds per game. Talbot’s offense is as efficient as can be. The massive, 6-foot, 10-inch junior center is shooting 72.2 percent from the floor, while playing 16.8 minutes per game for a Generals team that already owns two wins over Southland Conference teams and which has aspirations for winning the National Championship later in the spring.

“I love it here. Coming here was one of the best decisions that I’ve ever made,” Talbot said. “It feels so good to be part of a team again and to be contributing with a great bunch of guys helping my team win ballgames. I’m excited for the rest of the season, and we have a lot of big goals we’re trying to accomplish.”

For Talbot, the path to Alexandria wasn’t planned, but it’s paying off. After dominating local competition at Ellender for his junior and senior seasons, then-Louisiana Tech coach Michael White thought highly enough of Talbot to give him a scholarship with the Bulldogs program. Talbot chose Tech over a slew of interest from smaller programs around the Southeast, including several Southland Conference programs.


But Talbot was never a natural fit at Louisiana Tech, because of the Bulldogs’ run and good system under White.

Talbot averaged 2.4 points per game as both a freshman and sophomore with Louisiana Tech, but could never find constant playing time on a depth chart loaded with quicker, experienced players.

After the 2013-14 season, Talbot transferred to the University of New Orleans, though he never played a second for the Privateers. Per NCAA rules, the Houma native had to sit out for the 2014-15 season – which Talbot opted to use as his redshirt year.


But he transferred out of UNO and to LSU-A last offseason after having what he called a “slip-up” in his classroom work.

Talbot said he gave his pledge to the Generals out of respect for Cordaro, who Talbot said recruited him out of high school and always maintained close, constant contact with him.

The former All-State Patriots performer said the coach is one of the best he’s ever had – on and off the court.


“He’s like a life coach,” Talbot said. “He wants to see his players succeed – both on and off the court. He knows that for the vast majority of his players, we will be graduating and having normal adult lives. He’s always challenging us and pushing us to do well in the classroom and to be better people.”

With Cordaro at the controls and Talbot on the floor making things happen, the marriage has been successful for the Generals.

Talbot said he loves the way he’s used in the Generals’ offense. After losing weight and becoming more muscular in the offseason, the Houma native said he’s able to run the floor and beat opposing post players down the court with relative ease.


Once on the block, Talbot said he’s more confident ever, and it shows. He’s made 65-of-90 field goals on the year, and was once named the Conference Player of the Week.

“It’s just muscle memory,” Talbot said. “We do a lot of running in our offseason program, so I’m in as good of shape as I’ve ever been. On the basketball floor itself, I’m confident. When I get the ball, it’s in good positions and I’ve been able to take advantage of my opportunities to help my team. That’s my only focus – helping my team.”

Talbot also spent a lot of time applauding his teammates at LSU-Alexandra – calling the Generals a team that’s loaded with players who either have Division-I experience or who have the talent to play at that level.


The Generals are first place in their conference, and the 17-2 mark makes them one of the consensus favorites to win the NAIA National Championship later in the year – something Talbot said he and his teammates embrace.

LSU-Alexandria defeated both Southeastern and Northwestern State in non-conference play, which Talbot said proves that the Generals can compete with any school they face during the season – no matter their size or classification.

The Generals also fell in a hard-fought game against McNeese State earlier in the non-conference slate.


“We have a great team here,” Talbot said. “People sometimes think that just because someone is NAIA that the players on the team are less talented or can’t play at a high level. But that’s not the case. We have so many talented guys here. It’s amazing to be a part of it. It really is.

“You know, it took me a while, but I can finally say I found a home. I love it here. I can’t wait to keep working hard to see what happens in the future.”

‘I love it here. Coming here was one of the best decisions that I’ve ever made.’


Gibby Talbot

Houma native; LSU-A junior post player

Talbot dominating inside at LSU-A


Houma native and Ellender Memorial High School graduate Glbby Talbot shows off his new uniform – an LSU-Alexandria jersey. In his junior season with the Generals, Talbot has made 65-of-90 field goals and is proving to be a near-unstoppable force in the post for the NAIA national powerhouse.

COURTESY