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Anyone have the scoop on LSU Men's Tennis?

Posted on 2/26/25 at 1:32 am
Posted by Adajax
Member since Nov 2015
8049 posts
Posted on 2/26/25 at 1:32 am
I know Coach Bryan is in his third year and came to LSU with a solid resume. Last year LSU beat several Top 25 teams. This year they've started conference play 0-2. There are 14 SEC teams ranked in ITA top 64 but LSU isn't in the top 75.

Is Coach gonna turn this team around? Yeah, I know a bunch of you don't care about tennis but I don't like seeing LSU at the bottom of the SEC in any sport.
Posted by tigerbait2010
PNW
Member since May 2006
32648 posts
Posted on 2/26/25 at 1:40 am to
I was a little surprised he got the job with his experience, but I liked the gamble being a young alum.

On a positive note Taylor Fogleman is killing it with the women’s tennis program. #9 and already beat two top 10 teams
Posted by Tigerpride18
Lakewood Colorado
Member since Sep 2017
31854 posts
Posted on 2/26/25 at 2:16 am to
I doubt there are more than 10 people on this board that could name an lsu tennis player ,or women's tennis player ,that has ever played for lsu.
This post was edited on 2/26/25 at 2:17 am
Posted by Cryin Kelly
Member since Dec 2023
323 posts
Posted on 2/26/25 at 2:42 am to
For those of us who know nothing but similarly don’t like to see LSU at the bottom, can you give the lay of the land.

How many programs actually competing for nattys? Are we in that resources wise? If not what tier are we in?
Posted by Adajax
Member since Nov 2015
8049 posts
Posted on 2/26/25 at 3:03 am to
I really don't know. I saw the ITA rankings posted and 14 SEC tea.s are in the top 64. Texas is the highest ranked SEC school at #4. I remember we hired a young gun, former LSU ALL American, as coach several years ago and I was optimistic the men's team would be good but we're not on the Top 75 nationally and worse not in the Top 14 in the SEC.

ITA Rankings
This post was edited on 2/26/25 at 3:18 am
Posted by PurpleExile
Member since Dec 2020
590 posts
Posted on 2/26/25 at 4:39 am to
College tennis is a farce.

The coaches are all afraid to recruit the way most other NCAA sports do.
Tennis coaches could look for talented young American players in places like Florida, California and Texas, where there are hundreds.
But no, they choose to simply scan the list of young international players -- some of whom are already professionals -- and pick from those.

Eight of the 10 guys on the LSU mens tennis roster are foreigners. To me, that's a ridiculous number. (The womens roster shows 6 of 11).

The international players see the US colleges as a great way to further develop their game -- and, as a bonus, their rich parents won't have to pay for most of it.

Coaches defend the practice, saying that they won't win unless they fill their rosters with internationals. But if they all had the guts to diminish the practice and start recruiting young Americans, schools could compete on their own merits. And maybe a few more people like me, who enjoy tennis, would enjoy the college sport more because we'd be seeing the next wave of talented American players.

As it stands now, I couldn't care less whether LSU wins in tennis.
Just my opinion. But I know I'm not alone on thinking this.


Posted by josh336
baton rouge
Member since Jan 2007
81680 posts
Posted on 2/26/25 at 6:01 am to
Americans have the option to get better at tennis if they want to compete with international players. They just don’t prioritize it.
Posted by Recoveringcajun
Banjo country
Member since Aug 2022
2469 posts
Posted on 2/26/25 at 6:24 am to
No. No I dont.
Posted by chimesstreet
Bucks County, PA
Member since Jan 2008
1811 posts
Posted on 2/26/25 at 6:32 am to
I can name one, but can I spell it? Guy who won Wimbledon doubles. Was in Olympics last year. Skupski (?) But after him, you're right. I can't name any current or former LSU tennis players.
Posted by lsubatman1
Member since Feb 2009
1617 posts
Posted on 2/26/25 at 6:35 am to
Im not sure who the coach or players are, but im willing to bet if we loaded up on some louisiana baseball studs that werent quite good enough to play for LSU we would be winning championships left and right.

And yes there is a strong coralation between baseball and tennia sucess so you can save that argument buds!
This post was edited on 2/26/25 at 6:36 am
Posted by Tiger Ugly
Baton Rouge
Member since Jul 2008
17554 posts
Posted on 2/26/25 at 6:43 am to
quote:


College tennis is a farce.



I would imagine women's tennis has come a long way since I last watched a match but it was back in the early 90's I was on campus for reason I cannot remember and it happened that there was a women's tennis match going on that day so curious I walked in - free admission of course no one was there to even check anyone at the entrance.

it was a match against Auburn and they way it worked the is there were 6 singles matches - our one against their one, our two against their to and so on until the 6 seeds an there were three head to head doubles matches.

This was still fairly early in the Title 9 stuff and the women had to have as many scholarships as men and with football getting 85 of course women's sports like tennis gave out full scholarships to make up the deficit.

Well as I watched the first 3 seeds were pretty good players but once you got to the 4, 5 and 6 it got to be progressively more comical. I feel pretty certain I could have beaten the 5 and 6 seeds for each team and I at my best was a mediocre tennis player. And this is SEC tennis I could imagine what you would see at lower levels and with golf, etc.

I would assume as the years have past and opportunities have grown for girls the product is better now than it was then?
Posted by Screaming Viking
Member since Jul 2013
5566 posts
Posted on 2/26/25 at 6:48 am to
quote:

But no, they choose to simply scan the list of young international players -- some of whom are already professionals -- and pick from those.


Purple, you are just wrong on this. Fact is that there are only a limited number of truly elite American players. And those players have historically attended a small number of colleges. There are not enough American born players to fill the Top 25 ranked teams. They simply must being in foreigners to compete.

While I agree with your sentiment, tennis is not the sport to argue about. When I was at LSU, foreign born athletes filled the women’s volleyball team, both tennis teams, and both swim/dive teams. And that is my personal experience.
Posted by Houston Texas Tiger
Houston
Member since Jul 2004
1443 posts
Posted on 2/26/25 at 7:12 am to
I went to the lsu rice match here in Houston. All I can say is the number one player was a freshman sho held his own against rice number one. And the number two was a sophomore. So maybe the team is on the younger side with some potential. They struggled with doubles but I think that is more of a reflection of youth. Your best doubles teams play together longer.
Posted by lsupride87
Member since Dec 2007
107799 posts
Posted on 2/26/25 at 7:42 am to
Men’s tennis more than any sport is 100% dependent on NIL

You want the best team? You will have to pay the most. Due to the fact not every big school had big donors that care enough to give to tennis, some schools hoard the talent

You could simply look at the UTR rating of each team and it will basically mimic the rankings.

Tennis team has been very close on some big recruits and Danny has actually out performed the teams UTR rating but without the money there isn’t much to be done

And to the other poster, a college tennis coach would much much much rather fill his roster with Americans. Much simpler process.
This post was edited on 2/26/25 at 7:44 am
Posted by lagniappe09
Northshore
Member since Jul 2009
632 posts
Posted on 2/26/25 at 7:49 am to
Danny Bryan is the coach. Great coach The Bryan family is one of the top tennis families in LA
His son is top Junior player

Need to get the players. Not much Bayou Tradition $ making it down to Men's tennis unfortunately

Needs the players....
Posted by Zephyrius
Wharton, La.
Member since Dec 2004
9287 posts
Posted on 2/26/25 at 8:35 am to
Hot take --- Pickle ball is killing Tennis
Posted by Swampcat
Member since Dec 2003
12029 posts
Posted on 2/26/25 at 8:45 am to
College tennis is a farce.

The coaches are all afraid to recruit the way most other NCAA sports do.
Tennis coaches could look for talented young American players in places like Florida, California and Texas, where there are hundreds.
But no, they choose to simply scan the list of young international players -- some of whom are already professionals -- and pick from those.

Eight of the 10 guys on the LSU mens tennis roster are foreigners. To me, that's a ridiculous number. (The womens roster shows 6 of 11).

The international players see the US colleges as a great way to further develop their game -- and, as a bonus, their rich parents won't have to pay for most of it.

Coaches defend the practice, saying that they won't win unless they fill their rosters with internationals. But if they all had the guts to diminish the practice and start recruiting young Americans, schools could compete on their own merits. And maybe a few more people like me, who enjoy tennis, would enjoy the college sport more because we'd be seeing the next wave of talented American players.

As it stands now, I couldn't care less whether LSU wins in tennis.
Just my opinion. But I know I'm not alone on thinking this.
100%
Posted by Swampcat
Member since Dec 2003
12029 posts
Posted on 2/26/25 at 8:54 am to
I can not tell you how many times we/ my son were told by college tennis coaches “ I do not recruit Americans!!!
And that’s at every level d1, d2, NAIA ETC. They are 99% all foreigners. Coaches need to do a better job recruiting American players that is the bottom line becuz there are great American players being over looked for sure. However can not say I blame young American tennis players when they see rosters that are 100% foreigners and coaches who say “ sorry we don’t recruit Americans!
This post was edited on 2/26/25 at 8:55 am
Posted by lsupride87
Member since Dec 2007
107799 posts
Posted on 2/26/25 at 9:38 am to
quote:

can not tell you how many times we/ my son were told by college tennis coaches “ I do not recruit Americans!!!
Your son wasn’t good enough…

I’m from Brusly, La and was offered by LSU, Memphis, UNC, Bama, Purdue, and Penn st

It’s far easier process to recruit Americans. Trust me the coaches want Americans. For multiple reasons: it’s cheaper, more straightforward, far easier to clear admissions with both school and ncaa, helps easier to get fan support, etc
This post was edited on 2/26/25 at 9:42 am
Posted by tigersbb
Member since Oct 2012
12046 posts
Posted on 2/26/25 at 10:07 am to
quote:

I doubt there are more than 10 people on this board that could name an lsu tennis player ,or women's tennis player ,that has ever played for lsu.


Teddy Viator, who was all SEC and the LSU Male Athlete of the Year one year. His father was my high school coach.
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