A record 21 home games this year. http://www.shreveporttimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080802/SPORTS0202/80802007/1001/SPORTS
Johnson's got to build this program and get the fans to have some confidence. I don't think getting pounded at home by a bunch of established programs is going to help anything. Are LSU basketball fans ever happy?
Ive always supported the program and went to every game when Brady was there, so that wasn't my point. You can play 80-90% cupcakes and still buy wins with a respectable schedule. But this schedule won't help attendance, won't get them get exposure, won't help with the media, won't help with recruiting, and wont impress the selection committee. Not to mention the fans deserve better. Most fans know this team isn't terrible. They dont need the help of THAT schedule. Here are the OOC opponents before SEC play: LSU Men’s Basketball Schedule November Sat. 15 Jackson State LSU Invitational (Nov. 20-21, 23; 28-30) Thurs. 20 Alcorn State Sun. 23 Northwestern State Fri. 28 Centenary Sun. 30 Troy December Tues. 2 Cal State Fullerton Sat. 13 Grambling Wed. 17 Nicholls State Sat. 20 vs. Texas A&M (at Houston Toyota Center) Mon. 22 McNeese State Sat. 27 Washington State (ESPN2) Wed. 31 Louisiana-Lafayette January Sat. 3 Southeastern Louisiana Tues. 6 at Utah I didnt see WSU at first. Should be an exciting game...
Woah. Woah. I'd like to give you the benefit of the doubt, here, but a couple of points. First, you've got to understand the mindset of a new coach, with new players to him and new players with a new scheme. What coach with that set of circumstances is just going to schedule all top 20 teams? Much like when Brady was building his program, he instilled a new brand of ball, while making sure to play a softer schedule earlier in his tenure--that got him consistently into post season play. Then fans claimed he was playing cupcakes and then he started scheduling tougher games... and it eventually caught up with him. I don't see an issue with Johnson in his first few years, scheduling teams to help him teach his kids his new system, get to know his players in less strenuous environments, etc. Remember, as well a team that has a winning % in the SEC is the key to getting to the dance, not necessarily the pre-SEC SOS. A coach has got to prepare his kids to play the SEC and if that means having a "preseason" so be it. Johnson says himself: “For our basketball team with the philosophy change this season and the numerous injuries to key players like Tasmin Mitchell and Garrett Temple, one of the things for me as a new coach is that I didn’t over schedule,” Johnson said. “My philosophy as it regards to scheduling is that the most important game is going to be the first game we play against Jackson State. For us to compete at a high level, every opponent on our schedule regardless of who we play, when we play or where we play it is important we compete at a high level and look at every opponent the same way.” Second, I think you left some items off the "schedule". We play Xavier and Wash State at home (Cal State Fullerton is also an underrated team which is dangerous). We also play Texas A&M and Utah away. Those four teams are all solid NCAA teams, with three of them being Sweet 16 type teams. I wouldn't call this necessarily the weakest schedule. We'll see when the SOS are evaluated during the season, but it's a decent enough schedule to get his feet wet and then hopefully this team surprises in the SEC. That's his formula to get to the Big Dance.
I listed teams before conference play. WSU and Tamu are decent matchups, though they aren't top 25 teams. My main point was the home schedule. I realize he needs time and all that bs but is scheduling one top 25 team that hard? Xavier will probably be a top 25 team by the time thye come to BR and it will be a GREAT game. The other point I was making was it is not only the lack of good teams, but the other teams are beyond bad. Reminds me of...well, our football schedule.
EXACTLY. Looks familiar right? You're sounding like John Brady himself... Rest up in the pre-SEC play, b/c that's when boys become men.
the year LSU went to the Final Four, they became men when they were on the road playing Cincinnati, UConn, WVU and others. Not playing Ole Miss and SEC opponents, which I might add is hands-down the weakest conference of all the major conferences.
yeah, i dont generally hear the annoying announcers at 11 am during conference tourneys say, "this team really gelled after buying some wins and then going to conference play."
