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BR Tiger 
LSU Fan
Baton Rouge
Member since Mar 2004
1685 posts
 Online
| The Beginning of Something Special (Basketball) (Posted on 11/26/12 at 12:00 pm)
I know- TL,DR.
Listen closely and you can hear it. The echoes of glories past. The battle call of Old Red yelling Geeaauuux Tiiigers heard across the arena; the shattered glass falling to the floor after a monster dunk by Shaq; the roar of 12,000 fans celebrating a 148-141 victory over Loyola-Marymount. And if you look hard enough you might just see the shadows of floppy socks running up and down the court, the smooth dribble and shot of Chris Jackson, the undersized Ricky Blanton playing out of position at center and leading his team to a final four berth . And above all, you will see and hear the indomitable Dale Brown, the coach who put his stamp on the Tigers’ glory days, prowling the sidelines, coaxing more from his players than expected, and turning boys into men, men into teams, and teams into family.
And now, if you care to look, you will see Coach Johnny Jones, who played and learned to coach under the tutelage of Dale Brown, beginning to place his stamp on the LSU program. It is way too early to know the heights he will reach as coach of LSU. But already you can begin to see the kind of program he will create, and for long-time Tiger fans it may seem familiar.
Look no further than Andrew del Piero for the evidence. After spending the last couple years on the practice squad and bench, save a few lackluster appearances, del Piero has become the breakout player of the team so far. Make no mistake, no one will confuse him with Shaq, or even Geert Hammink anytime soon, but consider his play this year. He is playing significant minutes at significant points in the game. Coach Jones has confidence in him and in turn his own self-confidence in his play has increased. And it’s not just his play. The rest of the team is excited for him. You can see it when he comes off the court. There is beginning to be a family built here again, and proud Papa Johnny Jones learned from the best how to coax overachieving performances from players.
If you listen really closely, you will hear a rumble, building its way to a roar; the sound of the tiger faithful awakening from their long slumber and seeing what is being created here again. And make no mistake, it is the beginning of something special.
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THEdeathvalley
LSU Fan
Baton Rouge, LA
Member since Sep 2010
2212 posts
| re: The Beginning of Something Special (Basketball) (Posted on 11/26/12 at 12:02 pm to BR Tiger)
Tl/DR
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SouthOfSouth
LSU Fan
South of I-10 till I die
Member since Jun 2008
19590 posts
| re: The Beginning of Something Special (Basketball) (Posted on 11/26/12 at 12:02 pm to BR Tiger)
You had me until you said Del Piero was the breakout player of the year... He has had a very nice year but I think you pushed it a little too far.
Otherwise I do agree that great things are coming.
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Elleshoe 
McNeese State Fan
Waterproof, La
Member since Jun 2004
116093 posts
| re: The Beginning of Something Special (Basketball) (Posted on 11/26/12 at 12:02 pm to BR Tiger)
and if you look close enough, you will see Pete Maravich, his ghost, riding into the Assembly Center atop a white palomino stallion, ushering in the fruition of a million childhood dreams 
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cowboy4ever
LSU Fan
z-town
Member since Dec 2009
923 posts
| re: The Beginning of Something Special (Basketball) (Posted on 11/26/12 at 12:03 pm to BR Tiger)
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Jim Rockford
LSU Fan
Member since May 2011
23183 posts
| re: The Beginning of Something Special (Basketball) (Posted on 11/26/12 at 12:04 pm to BR Tiger)
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heartbreakTiger
LSU Fan
grinding for my grinders
Member since Jan 2008
101665 posts
| re: The Beginning of Something Special (Basketball) (Posted on 11/26/12 at 12:05 pm to SouthOfSouth)
the class we are bringing in is stacked. Im excited that JJ has us playing more exciting ball this year and that he is recruiting big time players. We have no reason to not be in the upper half of the sec in basketball and a consistent top 25 team.
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BR Tiger
LSU Fan
Baton Rouge
Member since Mar 2004
1685 posts
Online
| re: The Beginning of Something Special (Basketball) (Posted on 11/26/12 at 12:06 pm to SouthOfSouth)
quote:
You had me until you said Del Piero was the breakout player of the year... He has had a very nice year but I think you pushed it a little too far.
I will stand by that. I don't mean he will be the star of the team, but is there another player on the team who has overachieved to the extent he has, who excites the crowd like he does, and who has improved as much as he has? If you think there is, then I am happy to reconsider. But really, I think he is a great example of what is happening under Johnny Jones at LSU. Is it just the word "breakout" that you dislike?
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Tigertown in ATL
LSU Fan
Atlanta
Member since Sep 2009
7453 posts
| re: The Beginning of Something Special (Basketball) (Posted on 11/26/12 at 12:08 pm to Jim Rockford)
I like the references to Shaq, Jackson, Blanton, etc.
BUT, they were second generation something special.
The first generation was Rudy Macklin, DeWayne Scales, Greg Cook, Ethan Martin, Howard Carter, Johnny Jones, and the Green "brothers."
Plus Andy Campbell. 
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LSUGrad9295
LSU Fan
Baton Rouge
Member since May 2007
10115 posts
| re: The Beginning of Something Special (Basketball) (Posted on 11/26/12 at 12:08 pm to BR Tiger)
Too cheesy, didn't hold down breakfast
Seriously, though...
quote:
And now, if you care to look, you will see Coach Johnny Jones, who played and learned to coach under the tutelage of Dale Brown, beginning to place his stamp on the LSU program
We are 4-0 vs a crappy schedule...a little early for all that...but I am enthused and happy for the potential the future might hold.
This post was edited on 11/26 at 12:11 pm
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SouthOfSouth
LSU Fan
South of I-10 till I die
Member since Jun 2008
19590 posts
| re: The Beginning of Something Special (Basketball) (Posted on 11/26/12 at 12:10 pm to BR Tiger)
quote:
I will stand by that. I don't mean he will be the star of the team, but is there another player on the team who has overachieved to the extent he has, who excites the crowd like he does, and who has improved as much as he has? If you think there is, then I am happy to reconsider. But really, I think he is a great example of what is happening under Johnny Jones at LSU. Is it just the word "breakout" that you dislike?
If you wanna talk about over-achieve, lets talk about a 6'5" shooting guard that we are playing at power forward. Coleman leads the team in scoring AND rebounding. I dont think anyone would have thought that.
I certainly think Del Piero is much improved, but I am not quite ready to say that the improvement of Del Piero is a sign of future success...
Either way, he looks great and Jones will be an incredible coach for many years.
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Elleshoe
McNeese State Fan
Waterproof, La
Member since Jun 2004
116093 posts
| re: The Beginning of Something Special (Basketball) (Posted on 11/26/12 at 12:11 pm to SouthOfSouth)
quote:
I am not quite ready to say that the improvement of Del Piero is a sign of future success...
I'll say this... if Johnny can make this kid look like a basketball player it makes me excited to see what he'll do with 4 and 5 star recruits
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SouthOfSouth
LSU Fan
South of I-10 till I die
Member since Jun 2008
19590 posts
| re: The Beginning of Something Special (Basketball) (Posted on 11/26/12 at 12:12 pm to Elleshoe)
quote:
I'll say this... if Johnny can make this kid look like a basketball player it makes me excited to see what he'll do with 4 and 5 star recruits
Well we will see next year won't we!
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The Mick
LSU Fan
Member since Oct 2010
14869 posts
| re: The Beginning of Something Special (Basketball) (Posted on 11/26/12 at 12:13 pm to BR Tiger)
TG/DR
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Walter White
LSU Fan
Jigga City
Member since Sep 2012
1062 posts
| re: The Beginning of Something Special (Basketball) (Posted on 11/26/12 at 2:00 pm to BR Tiger)
This is fricking awesome 
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Tom Bronco
LSU Fan
Austin, TX
Member since Jun 2011
733 posts
| re: The Beginning of Something Special (Basketball) (Posted on 11/26/12 at 2:00 pm to BR Tiger)
To tell you the truth, I'm just happy just to have a team that doesn't bore me to tears or frustrate me to the point of screaming. I know we are very early in the season and I am sure there will be low points where I will moan and bitch but man it sure does seem so much better already. When you consider the horrible way we finished the season last year in the NIT, this is like a cool breeze blowing the bad smell away.
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jozy
LSU Fan
2nd and 2
Member since Aug 2010
396 posts
| re: The Beginning of Something Special (Basketball) (Posted on 11/26/12 at 2:01 pm to BR Tiger)
did not care enough to read
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Tigertown in ATL
LSU Fan
Atlanta
Member since Sep 2009
7453 posts
| re: The Beginning of Something Special (Basketball) (Posted on 11/26/12 at 2:04 pm to jozy)
quote:
did not care enough to read
anyone else see the idiocy?
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bighead7
LSU Fan
Louisiana
Member since Feb 2010
163 posts
| re: The Beginning of Something Special (Basketball) (Posted on 11/26/12 at 2:06 pm to jozy)
Can we call him anything but JJ....
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eddieray 
New Orleans Saints Fan
Lafayette
Member since Mar 2006
5780 posts
| re: The Beginning of Something Special (Basketball) (Posted on 11/26/12 at 2:43 pm to BR Tiger)
Anything we get out of del Piero is a plus because we're so short on big bodies. Nice to be able to get some minutes out of a walk on at a position of need. Don't look now but there's a nice class coming next year.
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