re: Just noticed basketball has 4 players on the roster, how does will wade fill the roster

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the way some spak of Wade is reminiscent of the way the media treated Obama

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We are behind due to how this team is coming together later than normal.

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"normal" has changed. Until very recently it wasn't normal for international pros to come play college basketball. Pro players aren't spending all summer living in dorms/apartments working out together. They are generally training in an individual manner before reporting to preseason camp 30-45 days before the start of the regular season.

What LSU is trying to do is more akin to pro basketball as opposed to what you've always known as college basketball. Thus, "normal" is different in this situation

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International players have long been a part of college basketball. albeit amateurs or quasi professionals.

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On the whole, the international leagues weren't as skilled back in the 70's, 80's and even 90's when Dale was bringing in a few each year. And most of those guys were in their late teens just like domestic freshmen.

This is different. The guys Wade is trying to bring in are multi-year international pros who play in leagues with competition far better than the international leagues decades ago.

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What may not be normal is to have such a large percentage of your roster made up of foreign players? How many other schools have four or more foreigners on the team? Why can't they arrive like other players? Are ther visa issues? If so, that makes the roster building even shakier. Have the four players arrived on campus yet?

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This is a good read

LINK

International players in college basketball have become very commonplace over the last few years. From last season...

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25% of all starters in the Final Four were born outside of the United States. There were 403 players born outside of the U.S. and Canada that played over 25% of a Division-I team's possessions last year, which is by all accounts a new record.

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Randy Bennett did it for years at St. Mary's . What Wade is trying to do this season is push things even further knowing that (1) the NCAA has generally lost every eligibility fight in court for the last 5+ years and (2) the loophole allowing the pros to come in would probably be closed soon by the NCAA. You had teams like Illinois and Arizona with heavy international influence last season. As addressed in the article, though a smaller program, UT Martin is basically an international team that leaned heavily into internation pros last season under their second year coach.


Interestingly, UT Martin may provide some insight as to why LSU is taking this approach. John Aiken is a current assistant coach at UT Martin. He was formerly the HC at McNeese who was hired by....Heath Schroyer because Aiken was an assistant on Schroyer's staff at....UT Martin

Why are the guys LSU signed not here? Can't answer that (though I suspect LSU's staff has a much better idea of the status than I). Ultimately, here is where I fall. LSU has done things "normal" for decades. It's produced great moments here and there, but nothing consistent. So why not, if the opportunity is there, try something different? Particularly now when there is little risk. Best case scenario, Wade zigs while the rest of the NCAA zags and it produces a great season this year. Worst case scenario, it doesn't work and LSU isn't that good. However, the bar for improvement relative to the last 4 season is very, VERY, low. So even if this approach doesn't produce greatness, there still a very good chance the fanbase will be pleased with the results because it will still be much better than the last few years

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You don’t have to make political statements on a sports forum but, since you did:

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I was not making a "political " statement, nor was there any reference to a comparison with Trump. I clearly stated the way some on here clap like seals and proclaim everything Wade does is wonderful and will be successful reminds how the media placed Obama on a pedestal and refused to be objective because he was too big to fail. Wade has not coached a game, won a game or lost a game so we have no idea whether he can repeat or exceed his prior successes. He has pursued a different path to roster building than most college coaches. I don't believe he intended to go so heavily into foreign players, but did not get the results he wanted in the portal, volume wise as it appears those signed are good players but not program changing. If Luis is eleigible then obviously he will be a huge addition. Hopefully the blind adulation will prove warranted but no guarantees until they are all eligible and booted up.

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LSU has done things "normal" for decades. It's produced great moments here and there, but nothing consistent.

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Thank you for an insightful response. I appreciate that you always buttress your argument with a basis instead of a bunch nebulous commentary.

Despite the inconsistency over the years LSU has had the most successful basketball program in the SEC behind Kentucky and latter day Florida. What has hurt the Tiger program more than anything is the evolution of early departures to the NBA. While the Blueblood programs were able to withstand those type departures LSU has been unable to sign future high draft picks every year. Imagine Dwayne Scales on the 1981 team, John Williams on the 1987 team, Chris Jackson on the 1991 team, Stromile on the 2001 team, Brandon Bass in 2006 , Tyrus in 2207 and NAZ & Tremont in 2021 (2020 if not for Covid).

LSU was fine in 2020-2021 lol

Like alt26 said, we have been doing things normally and it hasn’t resulted in winning (outside of the 5 years under wade)

Why not try something different

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normal" has changed. Until very recently it wasn't normal for international pros to come play college basketball. Pro players aren't spending all summer living in dorms/apartments working out together. They are generally training in an individual manner before reporting to preseason camp 30-45 days before the start of the regular season.

What LSU is trying to do is more akin to pro basketball as opposed to what you've always known as college basketball. Thus, "normal" is different in this situation

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Agree that we are in a time of changes. The need to spend time together as a team hasn't changed..

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Waiting on ruling on trans players.

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In this case spelling out “transfer” would be more encouraging

what nonsense? we have multiple players that arent listed on that Twitter post . maybe 2 wont be eligible, the rest will. plus, we have multiple guys to choose from that are coming back to get the 5th year.

the people laughing just arent aware of the situation

They are only playing 4 out of respect for Jayden