LSU Basketball

after last night's game, here are my observations:

The team looked very rusty, green, etc. but it was the first game. NWSU is a scrappy, well coached team (first rate coach, too). LSU had some trouble with the press, but i think that was more inexperience than anything. While the game was fairly close, it was pretty evident that LSU was in control, except for about at 5 minute stretch when we couldn't buy a basket.

Onto personnel:

Team is much deeper this year. LSU played at least 10 players.

LSU is pretty solid at the 2, 3, 4, i think. No true 5 on the team, however, Malcolm White is kind of a 4/5 but should be pretty effective with Storm Warren. The point guard play was far better.

A few key observations:

Malcolm White and Storm looked to be pretty solid.

Ralston Turner is very good.

Aaron Dotson appeared to be more effective.

Andre Stringer ... kid is gonna be a stud. He appears to have what LSU has missed since pre-Torris Bright (i can't remember the last really good PG we have had), the ability to drive the lane and score. On several occasions he was able to use the dribble drive to create, which was very nice. He also had several huge threes (including a few long range). The kid can definately play and should be the starter. The last few years LSU hasn't had a true shooting/scoring PG. i'm very excited about him. He'll make mistakes, since he is a Frosh, but a good player.

Eddie Ludwig (Ginger Assassin) appears more comfortable, and should be significantly better. Was very impressed with the game knowledge and hustle of Derenbecker (and Stringer).

Jalen Courtney got some good minutes and looked solid.

while i don't think LSU is Final Four bound (it is waaaaay too early to tell), i think they will be much much much better, even without Tas. Next year (with the addition of true center Hamilton) could be special.

:geaux:

 

Well, they had no where else to go but up after last year, LOL.

I'm cautiously optimistic. If the defense comes around, and the offense stays as unselfish as it is now, the Tigers could be the surprise team of the SEC west.

:LSU231:

 

Others have posted about the game on another thread, but LOVE the hoops talk. :grin:

For those that want to see Stringer's range go to LSUsports.net Geaux Zone for free highlights. There were a few of those pull up threes that were easily NBA range out to about 28 feet. But, then again, there were some highlights like that of Stringer in high school, so you knew the kid could light it up. I think as I said in the other thread, the key is whether Stringer and Turner, who will initiate the offense in many cases as FROSH, will know when to pull the trigger and when to involve teammates. We saw at times what Bo Spencer's propensity to pull the trigger did. Stringer was shooting it well, but we can't ignore his 6 TOs to 5 assists.

No doubt, though, this is a team that the Tiger fans can get excited about. They may not win every game, but they will be really fun to watch. Games are always a little prettier when the boys can shoot. But, the difference between a great season and a good one will be their defense. We underestimate how important a guy like Garrett Temple can be in a game, with the ability to neutralize the other team's best guard. The Stringer/Bass debate won't last very long, if Stringer can defend as well as he shoots. Dotson may be that guy, as Turner is behind on defense. Kudos to Eddie and Garrett Green, unsung players, but productive. Eddie with 3 steals was active down low on defense, and Green with 6 boards in 11 minutes was letting the game to him--hustle, block out, rebound and worry about all else after that. I hope he can build on that.

As was said earlier, add O'Bryant and Hamilton to this team (and let's not forget about Isaac)? LSU is going to be consistently NCAA tourney teams in years to come, folks. :geauxtige:bball::geauxtige:bball:

 

REALLY liking Stringer!!

I think this team will be fine. They appeared to be pressing last night...like they didnt want to screw up. Just need to get comfortable out there.

 

Yeah, I'm ready to jump on the Andre Stringer bandwagon. Chris Bass has never really progressed into the floor general I had imagined.

Stringer seems to have the shooting ability of Darrel Mitchell and the quickness of Tack Minor. Obviously, Tack is not a comparison anyone would want, but the one thing he could do well was push the basketball.

Combining that ability to drive with such shooting range should make for an unstoppable force. Once he masters the high-low game with White and Warren, we're going to be dangerous.

Realistically, it's ambitious of us to expect to make the tournament this year, but I could definitely see LSU peaking late in the year and coming into 2011 as a sexy sleeper pick, similar to how much love Georgia's hoops squad is getting heading in to this year.

The future is bright with Trent Johnson. I'm a believer. This team is going to be DEEP once everybody gets seasoned.

 

It finally looks like LSU will have a team with good outside shooting. Thank god we got John Brady out of here!

 

I went, I watched, I was impressed with the team. The freshmen played great, Turner & Stringer especially, Dodson is healthly & very good. White did ok, I expected more but it was just his first game in two years. Green played good in the second half but still needs to get off the floor better & his defense wasn't as good as it needs to be.. Bass had problems with the press & still is no threat to score.. What happended to Harris? Injured or Gone? Overall the team is much better, much deeper & will cause some pain in the SEC. I'm going back!!!

 

Tom,
Coach said before the game he was injured out for at least 6 weeks. I wanna say it was a torn ACL but cant remeber for sure.

 

I guess it depends on the severity, but usually ACL tears require 6 months minimum of time to heal and rehab. 6 week time lines usually sound like broken bones. I have no idea because I didn't hear anything, but ACL tear sounds unlikely.