re: Joe Alleva says Tigers chance of making NCAA is "not good"

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I really don't think it will matter with the committee. I think the best thing going for us is Ben Simmons. He is a huge draw.

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I wish people would stop bringing this stupid "argument" up. Everyone who does the bracketologly analysis for a living has said the Simmons factor is not a issue. Even Joe Lunardi, who has been LSU's biggest cheerleader on a national level, has said it's not an influence. The NCAA tournament is much bigger than one player. There are 3 types of people who watch the tournament:

1. Your hardcore college basketball fan who will be watching regardless of if Simmons makes it or not.

2. Your casual fan who tunes in to the first 4 days to see the "madness" wall to wall games and potential upsets. He really doesn't care about individual players

3. The guy betting on the games and/or in some sort of pool.

All 3 are going to watch even if Simmons isn't in the tournament.

There is no guarantee that LSU would make it past the first round even if they made it in. Therefore, the only sure ratings boost by putting LSU in just on the Simmons factor is for one game, on one day, while 3 other games are simultaneously being played

We can debate whether or not Alleva's comments were necessary. To me however, it sounds like a guy who looking at a coach that has coached now 4 McDonald's All Americans (O'Bryant, Martin, Simmons, Blakeney); What will be after this year 4 All SEC 1st teamers (JOB, Martin, Mickey, Simmons); Likely this year's SEC POY and a potential All American (Simmons) and all he may have to show for it is 0 SEC titles, 1 NCAAT appearance and 0 NCAAT wins.

THIS was the year everyone pointed to. Yet here we are with 5 games left to go and LSU might be in WORSE shape fighting for a potential NCAAT birth than they were last season at the same.

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“This team is capable of beating anybody, and it’s capable of losing to anybody,” Alleva said. “You don’t know which team is going to show up on a given day …

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To me, this statement tells you all you need to know about his thoughts on Jones.