re: Rabalais says Johnny Jones ain't gettin' canned if/when they miss the tourney

Kicking the can down the road...this team has no chance in hell at making the tourney next season.

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I'm not saying CJJ didn't underachieve, however w/ only one player making the all sec 1st or 2nd team, Blakeney, Quarterman, Hornsby and Victor were not as advertised.

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Those are higher level talented players in the SEC, don't kid yourself. Blakeney made freshman ALL-SEC.

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JJ will be evaluated by next season

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Why next season? So the thought process is "we're disappointed you didn't make the NCAA tournament with maybe the most talent roster you'll ever have. But if you don't make the tournament next year with a lesser roster, then we are really going to be mad!!" Is the baseline for "success" lower next year considering the roster? For instance, does he get credit for a successful season if LSU makes the NIT? Waiting until next year is a completely illogical decision

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recruiting does next year

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He had 5 open spots on next year's team with more momentum behind LSU basketball than they've had in years. That all resulted in the (currently) 53rd ranked class in America. But even if he does recruit well next year, what difference does it make if it doesn't translate into on-court results? He's coached now 4 MD All-Americans in his time at LSU. That's more than every other program not named, UNC, Duke, UK, UCLA, Kansas, i.e. the traditional basketball powers over that same time period. All that has resulted in 1 NCAAT appearance and 0 wins. No one is expecting LSU to be on Kansas' level year after year, but just making the tournament with that kind of talent is not an unreasonable expectation, right?

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LSU fans need to remember we hired him on the cheap and he is not a well-paid HC among SEC MBB HCs.

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Who gives a shite? So LSU fans should be happy to get mediocre results because at least their coach is "cheap"? What a pathetic program goal. "Hey, keep costs low! Winning isn't all that important" He's not paid well for a reason. LSU doesn't have to pay him well. There is no market for Jones at any power-conf. school but LSU. Frankly, you could argue that he is "over-paid" You're only worth what someone else is willing to pay you, and LSU only had to out-bid North Texas and its $500K salary to get Jones. I don't think LSU is in any danger of another power-conf team coming in a stealing Jones away. Alabama doesn't pay Nick Saban $7 mill per season because he's "doing a good job." They pay him that kind of money to make sure he STAYS at Alabama. They know if they don't pay him well, someone else will.

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remember we hired him on the cheap and he is not a well-paid HC among SEC MBB HCs.

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It's very very obvious why he isn't among the well paid

Jones won't get canned after this season; the optics and politics aren't good for that. This year has been a step back so far, but the program made incremental progress year to year under Jones up to now. Also, he has three years left on his contract.

Now, if the criteria for evaluating him is making the tournament after next season, then you're just delaying the inevitable. I don't see next year's team sniffing the tournament.

The critical factor for me about retaining Jones should they miss the tournament this year is all the speculation that would surround him going into next season, just as two loaded instate recruiting classes come into the picture. That would be a lot of uncertainty and turmoil to effectively recruit those two classes.

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Those are higher level talented players in the SEC, don't kid yourself.

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Not kidding anyone.

None of them made the 1st or 2nd all sec team.
Just stating facts.

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The problem is F. King and his politician buddies.

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This is the correct answer. Jones is benefiting from the current political climate that is not conducive to LSU spending money to replace its basketball coach. A.D. money or not.

Because you can't fire a coach after one bad season. Hell LSU can still make the tournament if they win 3 games.

There are many factors other than just the head coach on why LSU is where they are currently.

It's not Johnnys fault Simmons can't make a front end of a 1&1 resulting in a wasted possession. That was my biggest knock on Ben, if you're going to continue to draw the fouls and get to the line. Make the FTs. Too many times this happened with Ben wanting the ball

These comparisons with Trent Johnson are futile. Everyone knew he sucked as a coach. Why can't LSU get a respected, proven winner to coach basketball? Of the caliber of say, Tom Izzo, or Shaka Smart, or Calipari, etc.

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We were headed no where with Johnson. Atleast Jones brought some life back to the club

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He did, but it seems like the life is slipping away. We used to press under Jones and score some easy baskets that made the difference in games at times. Now we don't do much of anything and our D is just atrocious. That's not a good recipe.