The crowd was great at times. Not really for any stretch of time though. After MT hit his 5th 3 it was probably the loudest. And what a dumb statement. Why would anybody disrespect an environment you just lost in?
because most athletes would rather lose because the opponent was better than because the crowd made them choke. that is the first time i have ever heard the Rupp arena described as loud.
A win over Kentucky and LSU should definitely be breaking into the top 15. The polls are warming up to us, and they are ready to ride the wave! If LSU wins out and wins the tourney, or possibly even loses a close championship game, we will be in the top 10 and a 2 or 3 seed. That's crazy to fathom.
This gives LSU its 10th SEC basketball championship. This is the second most in the SEC, behind KY. GEAUX TIGERS!
You are absolutely correct. Nothing better than having your expectations blown away. What a great feeling. LSU Baseball back on top, Basketball back in the hunt, Football will be back, a whole bunch of other sports ranked and doing well, 2009 just may turn out to be a magical year for LSU sports.
I tend to agree. The committee's still going to see that 30-point loss to Utah sticking out like a sore thumb, too. Winning out all the way through the tourny may put us at a 4 seed max.
Exactly. Why do you think my sign off is... :geauxtige LSU IS A BASKETBALL SCHOOL. Seriously, though. In the aftermath of last night, I think we (i.e., LSU community and quite frankly, the B.R. sports following community) really has to stop a minute and appreciate what this team is doing. Many folks questioned the hiring of CTJ or at least didn't have an opinion on it, b/c here is this Pac-10 coach coming in to coach on the Bayou. This is a tremendous job of coaching. Also, a point about the crowd. This is what Hodge actually said and what was reported in the Advocate... Hodge wasn’t impressed with one of the larger LSU home crowds of the season, a total of 11,187 on Mardi Gras night. Florida has lost at Tennessee (20,984) and at Kentucky (24,355) this season. “I don’t think the environment was that great,” Hodge said. “We are used to playing at Kentucky, and it’s louder. Every game we’ve lost on the road was close, and we just have to execute at the end.” I think there's a little ways before the crowd at PMAC is what it once was during the 80s, which is a little sad. It feels a little still like 2006, when you have a LSU hoops team that's winning the SECC and still an unfilled PMAC. In fact, a tidbit on the 10 SEC titles--LSU has won more SECC titles in the 2000 decade (three--2000, 2006 and 2008) than any other decade--even the 80's--so why is the PMAC nowhere near full? So, it's hard to compare LSU to UK or Tenn, and you shouldn't be defensive. You're looking at a 13k vs. 20+k arenas, and fan bases who are very differently focused on hoops. The fact that it was not a fully attended game last night still is hard for me to stomach--SEC archrival FL no less (and let's be honest, THEY are our overall SEC sports rival). But, the task for CTJ is the same as it was for CJB. Develop a consistent winner, try not to offend folks, and hope that the fans come out again. Hopefully this will happen soon--for LSU hoops fans' sake, for recruiting sake and for striking fear into the hearts of opponents' sake. Which brings me to the last item. What are fair expectations for this team? To me, and I don't want to be a naysayer after last night's win and potential outright SECC down the road, but let's be realistic. Last night the commentators are saying this is potentially a sweet 16 team. Dandy Don on today's blog is talking about LSU being an elite 8 team :huh:. Let's not get ahead of ourselves. Yes, they are improving and getting better. Last night helps on paper, b/c they beat another RPI top 50 team. But, we are beating up on the SEC right now. I just imagine LSU going up against a Pitt, UConn, UNC, Syracuse, Louisville or even Xavier in the second round of the tourney, and what do we think will happen? Any team with an interior guy who's 6'9" and 250lb will expose our team. Luckily only about 20 teams in the country have that kind of personnel. But, let's be realistic. I still stand by the idea that LSU is a top 4 seed, if they win the SEC tourney. I think if LSU can play teams without an interior presence in the tournament they have as good a shot as anyone to squeak into the Sweet 16. Have they improved enough, and learned to play team and interior d enough, to beat the likes of Xavier today? That remains to be seen. I'm just stoked that we get to have this debate this year. :geauxtige LSU IS A BASKETBALL SCHOOL.
