Tigers look tired on the hardwood

TJ has done an unbelievable job turning this program into a winner this year. He deserves all the publicity he is getting as does his team.

That said, the team looks worn out. We have lost 3 of 4 heading into the NCAA tourney. Will the 5-6 days off help? The main concern is with big men working us over inside.

Regarding the seeding I'm thinking we are locked into a # 6 seed. Had we won the tourney I think we could have gone as high as a # 3 seed. No matter what seeding we get I think this team has overachieved all year. Great job Tigers!

 

Not shooting well for the last 4 games & after a outstanding effort at the low post yesterday today was - well - weak, real weak... No easy games left, hope they hunker down.

 

I think that this is what Tiger fans have to keep in perspective. Let's remember that despite what naysayers will say just making the NCAA tournament is something to be excited about. Just ask Kentucky Fans, or Florida Fans, or the other 8 or so other SEC teams that won't make it this year.

Winning a SEC Championship would have been unimaginable at the beginning of the year for most fans. And, let's also not forget that most hoops prognosticators had LSU as a one and done team in the tournament, if they had LSU making it.

I think that the poor shooting at this time of the year is concerning and the Tigers not looking as sharp as they could be, is concerning. But, this is not a particularly deep team and keep in mind that teams like Auburn, Miss St are playing with their seasons on the line. CTJ will have to coach his team up for the tourney and we should be happy that we will be playing ball next week. If they play well in the tournament and squeak out a win or two, I think we should be very happy with the season.

 

exactly. the tigers have done a lot all things considered. this is something to build on in the years to come. not something to make us think the world of basketball is ending.

 

This season is not to be thought of as we must get to a certain achievement, but rather as a lesson. A lesson that confirms what many of us already knew. That the talent has been there, but the coach we had couldn't get the talent out of the players. The lesson that lets us know LSU made the right decision to get Coach Trent Johnson.

CTJ has this team a yr ahead of what should be our schedule. A year ahead of what should be our expectations. He proved we could do it all along. This is the building block to a great future. No matter where we go from here for the rest of this season, it has all been gravy since over a week ago, when we won The SEC outright.

I, for one, am very proud and happy with our boys, and only hope for more for their sake. I want them to go out as seniors having achieved as much as they deserve. They deserve to be looked at as one of the best teams in the country. GEAUX TIGERS!!!!!!!

 

Keep in mind that LSU has hardly been alone among top-ranked teams getting beat in conference tournaments. Ask OU, or Pitt, or UConn, or any number of other teams that have much better overall depth than LSU. State was playing for a tournament berth, where LSU's spot was already secure. With a second win over UK, LSU is in a good position from a matchup perspective with a probable 6 seed. Winning out would have put us at a 4 at best (and probably a stretch at that). This is a good spot for this team to make some noise.

 

I love what the team has done this year.

But I'm not buying the over achievement idea.

Not many teams have as much experience in the lineup as LSU has. Seniors with lots of PT, and a very seasoned Jr. PF. Plus a head coach with track record of success.

I think the SEC was in fact weak this year. And I think LSU's experience played a huge role. MSU has 1 senior on it's roster, in comparison.

Without MT, GT, CJ and QT - LSU will be in a huge rebuilding year next year.

 

i don't know if i necessarily subscribe to the theory that the SEC is terribly weak this season. i see a lot of parity, and sure perennial NCAA teams like UK and Florida are a bit down, but LSU and USCe are doing pretty well. you also have to remember that LSU's players are not necessarily the type of players CTJ would have recruited. i'm not bashing our players, only saying that they might not be the best players for CTJ's system... i really don't know. anyhow, i say..... :geauxtige:champs:

bandit, i definitely agree with you re: the SRs we'll be losing. that will be a TOUGH group of guys to replace.

 

I'm already happy with the season regardless of what happens in the tourney. It's about managing expectations. This type surpassed even the most optimistic fans.

 

Agreed. No doubt that a SECC is reason for any SEC school, and LSU should be no different, to be excited. I think the difficult thing for our LSU fans to grasp is the game of college basketball, when football and baseball have been so dominant in the last decade. The expectations are that LSU should be an Elite 8 (said so by Dandy Don himself) team, or that well with such a "talented" team, they should be winning all of their games. That just doesn't fly in college hoops. Teams like UNC, Duke etc. still lose and exit early from the tourney (case in point, UNC in the ACC tourney and Duke in the NCAA tourney). Instead we should be focusing on what is the product that Trent is putting out on the court. Is he recruiting good players, are they playing hard and competing, are they graduating, and are their games entertaining to watch? I think all are vastly improved, and as this staff brings in players that THEY really want, I think you'll see a very consistent program year in and year out, which is all one can hope for.

This year has been great, b/c as someone said earlier perhaps in another thread, it shows what kind of coach CTJ is and what kind of program we can have--tough defensive oriented teams, that score in various ways, where the players respect the coach and vice versa. True, these are seniors that are adapting this season and they will be hard to replace. Next year will be a rebuilding year no doubt. But, I think folks will be pleasantly surprised by the maturation of some of these bench players under a CTJ system. One, I think you'll find it a nice surprise that you're not talking about a rash number of defections in the offseason. Two, I think that this staff takes player development seriously. Guys like Warren, Bass, Graham, and Harris WILL get better.

In any case, I'm going to be watching where the Tigers get seeded today and lets say, they're a 6 seed. I will be disappointed if they don't play to their potential and beat the lower seed. But, as you say, I am very excited with where this program is headed. Most folks thought LSU would BE that lower seed coming in, and that's overachieving.