re: LSU Basketball Perspective

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Makes sense, smaller and quicker guys can defend the perimeter better than taller and slower guys can.

How do they stack up on rebounding and overall D?

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Arkansas leads the SEC in defensive efficiency and is 26th in the nation in that category. So yes, despite a lack of "size" you can be a good defensive team. Certainly having a big frontcourt would be nice. But it is NOT the necessity all the excuse makers try to make it out to be. Baylor has a 4 guard line up with one forward (6'9). They are the 3rd best defense. Penn St. doesn't have an incredibly tall front line, yet they are #17 in D efficiency.

I also think people forget this is only the first year LSU hasn't had a tall frontline, but not the first year they haven't been good defensively. In year one LSU had Reath/Epps (both 6'10). Last year LSU had Reid/KBW (both 6'10). However, the defensive efficiency ratings were 136 (12th in SEC) and 59 (8th in SEC) respectively.

CLEARLY just having a big frontline hasn't been enough. LSU's tremendous offensive ability has masked their defensive woes for three years. This year's defense is just the worst, but not the ONLY bad defense Wade has run out there.

We can sit here and talk about how this player has slow feet, or this player is lazy, or this player has no lateral quickness, etc, etc, etc. But after three years of the same issues I don't see how anyone can deny that the problem is the approach/philosophy of the coaching staff.