re: LSU basketball... I'm disappointed in this season

Compared to our former coach and the rest of the SEC as a whole, I'll say his recruiting has been great. Martin, Mickey, Simmons, and Robinson were all home runs. Though I think Epps is a real sleeper which every coach in every sport likes to get

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What is wrong with this team? They play soft except for JOB. Does this come from the coach? I don't know. It just could be that this is their personality. Stringer is a nice guy, Hickey is a nice guy, Martin is a nice guy, Mickey is a nice guy. We need somebody nasty and tough who is not afraid to mix it up and COMPETE every minute they are out there!

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I don't think them playing "soft" is the problem. The biggest issue I see is just poor fundamentals and situational awareness.

Defensively, the guards either gamble entirely too much, thus allowing the offensive man to beat them rather easily OR the chase around screens, again allowing the ball handler a free lane to drive. Just focusing on keeping the ball handler in front of them would be welcomed improvement.

In the zone, no one has their hands up. This allows the offensive guys to either shoot uncontested jumpers or easily see over the top of the zone. They're also just very slow to react to passes.

Far too often, LSU defenders are caught straight leged and flat-footed allowing them to get beaten easily off the dribble. Also, any hint of a head fake will get every defender but Mickey in the air. Coleman is the worst at this. He gets in great position and then inexplicably leaves his feet.

Overall, it looks like LSU seems to put so much emphasis on blocked shots and steals (lead the SEC in both categories) that they forego just playing sound defense. UF is the best defensive team in the league, yet they are at the bottom of the SEC in blocks and in the middle of the pack in steals. Nevertheless, they make it difficult for opponents to get good looks.

Yesterday was a good example of poor situational awareness. LSU would pull close, get a stop or two, but then would come down and take a bad shot early in the shot clock. JOB wouldn't even get a touch. It would invariably lead to an Ark run out and easy bucket. The same things happend against UGA and A&M.

Finally, I have no idea why CJJ hates using TOs, but the turning point of the game came following the Arkansas player's big dunk over JOB after LSU took the lead. Arkansas scored 4 quick points and the energy returned to the team and the crowd. LSU should have called a TO immediately, but they didn't and allowed Ark. to go on a 12-2 run. This isn't the first time this year where Jones has refused to call a TO and let an opponent go on an extended run. Runs are going to happen in every basketball game. It's a big part of the coach's in-game responsibility to try to limit the opponents runs. 6-0 runs won't kill you. 14-2 runs will.

This team is certainly in the top half of the league talent wise. However they do none of the little things that help win ballgames well.

I am disappointed in the season also. As far as whether or not Jones did a good job recruiting, wasn't it top 10 coming in? But, the ballyhooed recruiting class has not been as good as advertised. Although Martin has immense talent, it has not translated to game in and game out reliability. Mickey has been better than could be hoped for, Quarterman although talented, is a work in progress. Not quite what was advertised.

The problem with this team from the first of the year with 3 freshmen starting at different points, was cohesion, chemistry, and they haven't found it yet. Although they had the stretch where they beat Kentucky, they did look for real those few games.

The lack of help defense has been glaring. The press was working great early in the year; what happened? The guard play has been hit or miss, with lots of experimentation.

And all the talk about Mickey possibly being one and done and comparisons to Stromile and Tyrus have receded. He's kind of retreated the last few games; what happened there too? A burgeoning superstar, then some lukewarm performances.

And for all the positives O'Bryant brings, at times he appears to have these gigantic mental lapses, taking himself out of games with early fouls, dribbling when surrounded by triple coverage, trying to use finesse when using his strength is needed and visa versa and then hangs his head when he makes these mistakes. That point blank layup miss yesterday was inexplicable. He had great stats yesterday, but maybe it could have been even better?

Coleman also brings good things to the team and yet, he seems to take bad shots, a couple of games ago he was making unforced errors allowing simple passes to go right through his hands.

This team is an enigma and coaching criticism is not unreasonable, though I do think in a year or two, J. Jones will have this team contending.

well, he brought in great classes. We'll have to see how they transition to the court...

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Jim Boeheim is a great recruiter, John Calipari is a great recruiter, Coach K is a great recruiter, Jim Calhoun was a great recruiter ...

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while Cal is a great recruiter I hate seeing him listed with these great COACHES because he's just barely above average in that department but I get your point.

off topic: I think Billy Donovan is one of the most underrated coaches in the nation

ok.

Sad to say but John Brady would have had this team in the tournament.

Anytime he had talent, we were good! And no way he'd be giving up 80 a night.

Billy Donovan has always been one of the best in the business, IMO .. but he is just now finally getting over his one disastrous decision to take the Orlando Magic job, then change his mind .. that little move caused his team at the time to pretty much not trust him and quit on him and his near future recruiting classes to fall off due to distrust .. that whole incident is finally far enough in his rear view mirror, that he finally has his program back to where it was about 10 years ago ..

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Brady didn't get his BIGGEST talent here himself at all .. you know that

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ay, I don't care how a coach gets the talent here as long as it gets here

well, the same "machine" that brought you Mitchell, Thomas, Davis, GT, etc. is what is bringing you the same players we are raving about now .. i.e. we don't really know how "great" of a recruiter Jones is or will be ..