my understanding (i dont have first hand knowledge of current lsu other sec school facilities) is that lsu's facilities are near the bottom of the sec. i'd guess that the absence of practice and locker room photos on lsusports.net means something. pretty sure that Arky, UK, UF, USC and UT absolutely dump all over LSU's facilities. not sure about the others, but does LSU basketball want to be in the same crowd that has a total of 2 FFs (dont hold me to that #)?
Our facilities are pretty bad. They would be great in 1990, but instead of adding we keep renovating. They look alright to the eye but we do not have any special features like a lot of places -- nice practice gyms, players lounges, etc. We are at least better than Georgia, those facilities are the worst I have ever seen.
The refurbishment that went on the season before last was much needed in the PMAC. The seats they had in there before looked like they were straight out of 1980 (and probably seriously were). Thank God they redid the roof at that time, too, because that was pretty embarrassing. Personally, I think the ole gal looks good, considering its age. Of course, the only other college basketball facility I've seen first hand is the Hump at Moo U (which basically just looks like an over sized high school gym). The pressing need, as I understand it, is to get the team a practice facility which, I believe I've heard, they are doing.
Just to add on the last few posts, what Brady had been complaining about during the latter years of his tenure, and rightfully so, was the administration building up the bball facilities. Not necessarily just the PMAC, which still is in need of renovation (the inside upper hall and seating areas were redesigned and recovered, but the player amenities and other internal team furnishings pale in comparison to current arenas), but the auxiliary/practice gym. I think the AD gets this and this was a point of discussion with Trent. It is a "priority" after the baseball stadium gets finished. But, case in point, when these schools recruit these hoops players, they show them the players' locker rooms and lounges and practice facilities and gyms almost just as much as the gym themselves. Alabama recently rebuilt their arena and practice areas (sunk something like 20+M into it). UK speaks for itself, but UT's facilities also don't hurt Pearl's recruiting efforts. Vandy has a pretty nice gym and facilities for hoops. Florida's arena ain't necessarily the best, but I'm sure they put their money to players' amenitites when those recruits come in. You compare LSU to Texas and what Rick Barnes has for his players and it's no comparison (no doubt something that impresses kids like DJ Augustin and others). LSU had what was considered nice stuff during the daddy dale era, but pretty much stopped investing when probation hit. Hence, we're behind everyone else who invested in the last decade.
