http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2005/writers/luke_winn/04/05/preseason.top.10/1.html 10. LSU The Tigers won 14 of their last 18 games -- before that ugly loss to UAB in the first round of the NCAA tournament -- and lose only Antonio Hudson from their starting lineup. John Brady recruited a suitable replacement -- five-star, 6-7 forward Tasmin Mitchell, to take Hudson's place alongside two powerful big men in Brandon Bass (SEC Player of the Year) and Glen Davis, and two sub-6-foot guards in Tack Minor and Darrel Mitchell. LSU had the talent to make it to the Elite Eight in '04-05, and should be hungry after its tourney flop. It just has to convince Bass to stick around for one more year in Baton Rouge.
Fire Brady. We are LSU. We should be Top 4!!! Duke, UNC, Kentucky and LSU: Perennial basketball powers.
Last sentence is the key. If Bass goes, LSU won't start this high in the polls, as they shouldn't. If he stays and the team plays like they did late in the season, LSU will have more than a split with Alabama next year in the West, they will run away with it. Good luck keeping Bass in school. Since it will be several years before Auburn is anywhere near the top of the SEC, I would cheer for y'all before Bama.
On Songy today he was talking about rumors going around that Bass was leaning towards coming back. This combined with the mock drafts that were posted here recently lead me to believe that Bass will be suiting up in the purple and gold next year.
From ESPN: 17. LSU The Tigers could slide out of this group if Brandon Bass decides to go to the NBA. If he comes back, he joins Glen Davis in one of the nation's most powerful inside tandems. Tasmin Mitchell is coming on board, and Tack Minor is back at point. As it stands, the Tigers have the most talent returning in the SEC West. http://sports.espn.go.com/ncb/news/story?id=2030071 Of course, the whole poll is vastly different from SI. UK is rated as 13th.
