Dillard’s new men’s basketballcoach says the team is inrebuilding mode in preparationfor being seen “on a biggerlevel.”Dale Brown assumed hisnew post at Dillard in the fall,replacing Anthony Anderson,who is now assistant coach atTexas Christian University inFort Worth, Texas.Brown, a former pro basketballplayer and Universityof Kentucky basketball star,most recently was head coachat Moss Point High in MossPoint, Miss., where he led theteam to a district championship,a trip to the state semifinals andthe best basketball record in theschool’s history (32-6).He is returning home in a way.Born in Baton Rouge, Brownlater moved to the Ninth Ward,where he attended GeorgeWashington Carver High. Hemoved to Pascagoula, Miss.,during 10th grade and graduatedfrom high school there.”I love Louisiana,” he said.”This is always home to me.Most of my family moved backto Baton Rouge after HurricaneKatrina, but I’m glad to beback.”Brown says his biggest challengehas been to restore theteam’s confidence. The men’steam had a losing season lastyear, winning 16 games of 53 inthe 2007 season. With 11 gamesremaining this season, the teamis 4-3 in conference and 7-10 innon-conference games.The coach’s basketball careerbegan at Mississippi Gulf CoastCommunity College in 1989.During two seasons there, hehelped the Bulldogs win twoconsecutive Region 23 titles anda Top 20 ranking.From there, Brown transferredto the University ofKentucky, playing for coachRick Patino, where he was amember of the 1992 Wildcatsteam that lost to Duke Universityin the NCAA Eastern RegionalFinal, described by SportsIllustrated and ESPN as one ofthe greatest college basketballgames of all time. In 1993, heled the Kentucky Wildcats tothe Final Four and to two consecutiveSoutheastern Conferencechampionships.He entered the National BasketballAssociation, signing as afree agent with the SacramentoKings in 1994, then returned tothe University of Kentucky toobtain his bachelor’s degree in2001.Brown coached the developmentprogram for the AtlantaHawks in 2003; was associatehead coach for the SouthernCrescent Lightning in 2004,earning a World Basketball AssociationChampionship; andwas head coach for the MississippiGulf Coast Bandits in Biloxi,Miss., in 2005.Honors include SEC Newcomerof the Year in 1992; atwo-time Defensive Player ofthe Year in 1992 and 1993; andinduction in the Junior CollegeHall of Fame in 2006.Brown said his plans includean emphasis on academics forhis players: He said players haveto stay focused in the classroomto achieve on the court.