re: Jay Bilas: "I'd say it (LSU) is one of the top 20 jobs in college basketball"

Probably true, but last time we raided Michigan State it worked out pretty good. As I stated start at the top and make them turn you down.

I hope Johnny Jones turns out to be a great hire. Thus far the talent level is trending upward. They may have underperformed a little this year, but best to reserve judgment until a coach has had 3 to 4 years to recruit and implement. They don't quite have enough talent yet to overcome the mistakes of their youth. It also seemed several opponents just shot lights out from long range against them, whether due to poor defense or it was just their night. Crucial that no one and dones this year and if Obryant stays would be icing on the cake.

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You can push this idea that the LSU probation hamstrung Brady during his over a decade stay at LSU all you want, but the fact he was able to recruit Swift and Smith in year two, win the SEC, and reach the Sweet 16 in year three blows that stuff out of the water

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You need historical perspective. He recruited Swift and Jabari during year one (1998), had Swift for half a season as a freshman. He was able to recruit Torris Bright, Ronald Dupree,
CT III and Lamont Roland just before the NCAA sanctions hit.He won the SEC and went to the Sweet 16 in year three.

Then Swift left early, Jabari graduated and Roland blew out his knee while CT III was limited by ankle injuries. The sanctions limited official visits and scholarships. There is a residual cumulative effect which lasted through 2002.

Beginning in 2003 there was a significant upward trajectory through 2006 Final Four. Again the cumulative effect of NBA early departures prevented consistent progress. Then Brady and LSU tired of each other and it was to the benefit of all parties to cut ties.

You cant just lump all 10 years together as though all factors were equal when they clearly were not. You may think Brady was a jerk, and perhaps he was. But a Final Four, Sweet 16, four NCAA tourney appearances, two SEC titles and three SEC West crowns is nothing to scoff at it given the restrictions the NCAA sanctions presented.

Since his firing in 2008 LSU has had one NCAA appearance in 5 years and make it 6 if this years club is not selected. It is fair to state the program inherited by Trent and then Jones is in a hell of a lot better shape than what Brady inherited in the spring of 1997.

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Jay Bilas: "I'd say it (LSU) is one of the top 20 jobs in college basketball"

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-Kentucky, Kansas, Duke, North Carolina, UCLA

-Syracuse, Arizona, Michigan State, Ohio State, UConn

-Texas, Indiana, Louisville, Michigan, Florida

-Wisconsin, Memphis, Georgetown, Illinois, Cincinnati

Just off the top of my head, I tried to rattle off 20 teams. I'm not going to lie, towards the end I was struggling to put teams in over LSU. That being said, what makes LSU a better job than Notre Dame, St. John's, Pittsburgh, Mizzou, Temple, etc?

Honestly, other than history, what makes LSU a better job than Georgia? If you get a tob notch coach at UGA who can lock-down the Atlanta talent, Georgia would be a premier powerhouse. The same can be said with LSU locking down New Orleans (or really the whole state of Louisiana). LSU is definitely a top 30 job in my opinion. The inconsistency and all around apathetic attitude from the administration and fans demotes it though.

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Somewhat off topic but I always wondered what the hate for Brady was all about.

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Dude alienated everyone at every level, players, fans assistants, fans, high school coaches...everyone.

Now IMHO he was a better bench coach and X and O coach than either Trent or CJJ, especially defensively where he really put together great game plans as well as a defensive system that was consistent.

But his manner undermined his strengths.

The irony was in his first speach upon taking the LSU job he emphasized relationships as the main ingredient to success and that's the area that he failed at miserably.

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STJ, temple, Pitt, Notre Dame and Mizzou are better jobs. The recruiting advantage is huge. You also left off Villanova.

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The recruiting cycle can be fickle. I think Louisiana had a down cycle in the years following Bass. Baby and Tyrus, but it's cycling up again.

CJJ is coming in at the right time and with his son playing at U-High gives us that pipeline we had with the Temple's that gives us an inside edge in landing that new dearth of talent.

Now the atmosphere and enthusiasm for hoops here right now is definitely nowhere near the top 20, but maybe if we get the low lying fruit in recruiting we can move toward changing that.

Let's see what CJJ can do. He will get the opportunity.

This year hasn't been his finest hour but he'll get the chance to learn and develop in the role as head coach. I hope he can get it done.

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18-20 wins and Ncaa tourny.

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Seriously???

18-20 wins is not getting you in the NCAAT in most conferences these days.

We're already close to 18 wins anyways.

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Couldn't you say Brady's final four was a lucky run?

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One certainly could, and the same could be said of Dale's second one getting to play the first two games at home as an 11-seed.

But in the end we beat the one and two seeds on neutral courts to get there so credit earned.

Could we have done better than CJJ? Maybe.

Did we really try? I don't know what the answer is on that.

But we have some talent coming in and a pipeline to more in the coming years.

CJJ will IMHO get more than a fair shot. I was not thrilled with the hire but he's gonna be here awhile. I'm pulling for him.

LSU is probably within the top 40 jobs in the country.

Face it, the SEC as a conference has really gone downhill. There was a time when Bilas was correct but not today.