I just think they had LSU way overrated coming into this season based solely on our run to the final four. It wasn't like we dominated during the regular season. Losing Thomas to the NBA was a bit too much for this team to endure (along with Mitchell's leadership). We are basically about as good a team as we were during the regular season last year. We are a pretty good team, no more no less.
You could be partially right but we had no consistant outside game against Texas and Duke and one other game I saw that I don't recall in playoffs. I think TT was the difference since we didn't have an outside game in the playoffs plain and simple. He was able to help BB control the inside and could hit the mid range shot. He also freed the way for BB to have the year he did since you were forced to pick your poison between BB and TT! Yes, this team was waaay overrated!
Big Baby was dominated. Magnum Rolle was flat out embarrassed. We got an easy draw in the tournament last year.
its funny how things appear sometimes. many people forget that lsu was very fortunate to win the second round game in the tourney, not to mention they easily could have lost the next two. like many teams that get to the final four, last years team caught some breaks-----and now there is a target on their back and have to replace two main players
Exactly, and I think a lot of people have the "football" frame of mind where they think of every game as a must have. Losing is not the end of the world in basketball where it's more about the entire season's body of work, an entire season to improve and hopefully get it right and peak at the end of the season. Also, there's more parity in the game of basketball as a couple "bounces" of the ball can be the difference in the game. That's what makes it unpredictable and exciting. LSU has also always had the tag of underdog. This year marks an important season in the program's recent history. Can they make the transition to the favorite after recent success and build on the momentum of last year?
the wrong year for that with no frontcourt D. gonna be real tough to even equal last years SEC record, not to mention the Final Four.
Without knowing if you're saying this with a negative, neutral or positive outlook, let me just say that my comment about building momentum should be put in this context. There's no doubt that even coming close to last year's accomplishments will be tough... let's be real, last year we won the SEC title outright and went to the final four (what's sad is that LSU fans didn't probably realized how great that was until AFTER the season, and still don't realize the magnitude of that). So, will it be tough to go 12-4 in the SEC and get back to the final four? Sure. In fact, the same can be said of Florida's chances, with everyone back. It might have been even with Ttrain. Let's face it the entire SEC got older and better--Alabama will give us a run for the SEC West title, we have Georgia that just beat Gonzaga, Kentucky's going to be better, and of course you have Tenn and Florida. So, I'll be the first to say, if we don't win the SEC and go to the final four I won't be too disappointed. What's, however, realistic from a momentum perspective is this. Should LSU with it's talent-level win consistently year after year and show future recruits that this is a good place to go, win games, challenge for championships, and develop themselves for the next level--and continue to recruit top-notch kids? Even if we finish second in the west, and make a little run in the tourney (and by that I mean, usually, you're happy with a sweet 16, very happy with elite 8, and estatic with a final four--if you've won the championship you're lucky) we can do that. As long as we're consistently getting in the dance, making good runs in the tournament, our program will be on the right foundation and hopefully fans can be content with that. Let's face it, in today's college basketball world, Duke's the closest thing to a dynasty (UCLA will rise again) and they haven't been to a final four in how many years?
im happy if they just play well late in the year. that doesnt always mean "win". i'll be disappointed if they dont make the tourney and/or they look horrible when they get there.
Saying Big Baby is the best center is like saying water is wet. Of course he is. Of course I may be biased.
