quote:
Simmons has a major lack of effort and drive for any achievement at LSU. First player I have ever seen DQ's for a POY award in any sport because he did not go to class... any classes. He cost CJJ his job. You need to face the fact that he came to LSU because he knew someone here and he would not have the pressure to go to school. If he had gone to one of the major programs that had more talent he would not have gotten away with that. If you think that I am just dumping on LSU that is BS. Most of this came from Ben's own mouth

That's such horseshite! Do you really think UNC or Kentucky would have really squeezed him to go to class? UNC has completely bullshite classes set up SPECIFICALLY for basketball players (even though the spineless NCAA refused to punish them for their sham curriculum)

It was known before he ever stepped foot on LSU's campus that (A) he was only going to be here one season and (b) he was unanimously expected to be the #1 overall pick in the 2016 NBA draft. Jones knew EXACTLY what he was getting when he signed Simmons, so take the woe-is-me he cost CJJ his job bullshite somewhere else.

All Simmons did in his only year was put up overall numbers not seen at LSU, or even the NCAA in decades. Compared to the 20+ years that preceeded Simmons' one year on campus he averaged more points per game than EVERYONE except Marcus Thornton (2009); More rebounds per game than EVERYONE except Shaq and more assist per game than anyone since Randy Livingston. And Simmons did it ALL in the same season.

He carried a Johnny Jones led LSU team that played as close to a YMCA pick-up style that you will see in major college basketball. I've said it a million times on here, but Simmons completely lived up the hype. The problem is so did Johnny Jones. Jones may have been the ONLY coach in America who could have kept that team out of the NCAA tournament. If not for Simmons, LSU doesn't have close to the record they finshed with that season. He had 37/14/7 to allow LSU to escape vs. North Florida. He had 34/14/4 to carry LSU to an upset win vs. Vandy. He had 21/21/7 vs. Marquette to even give LSU a prayer in that game.

Simmons had no connection to LSU other than his Godfather. He knew this was just a quick stop before going to the NBA, so no, he didn't develop any really love or passion for LSU. Nonetheless, he, individually, gave his LSU team MORE than enough production. But it's really hard to win when you have a coach who doesn't actually know how to coach and forgets that you actually have to play both ends of the court.

All Simmons' time at LSU did was create doubt, that otherwise wouldn't have existed if he had played for a better coach, as to whether or not he should be a lock for the #1 pick. As stands though I think Philly is ok with their choice considering Simmons is still the odd-on favorite to win ROY this season.

Simmons definitely had some issues and didn't do LSU a lot of favor in the PR department with some of his comments. But if you're assigning blame for the colossal failure of that season Simmons is WAAAY down the list. What cost Jones his job was the failure of the Simmons' season exposing the fact that Jones should have NEVER had the job in the first place.