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Did LSU during the Shaq years have enough talent to win a NC?
Posted on 2/7/18 at 3:18 pm
Posted on 2/7/18 at 3:18 pm
Could a better coach than Brown have gotten them there?
9
Posted on 2/7/18 at 3:19 pm to cypressbrake3
Johnny Jones being an assistant coach held the team back
Posted on 2/7/18 at 3:24 pm to cypressbrake3
Chemistry was inconsistent all season. 2 guard (Williamson/Devall) play was average at best. We also played a loaded Ga Tech team in the dance that ended up in the final four. Shaq was very raw. Dunks and swats a majority of the time. Blanton would have been a difference maker.....his parents should have held him back in 8th grade so he could have been on that 89-90 team.
This post was edited on 2/7/18 at 3:28 pm
Posted on 2/7/18 at 3:30 pm to cypressbrake3
That’s a tough question. On the surface the answer is yes, there was enough talent there to win a championship. However the same can be said for multiple teams every year. And teams with proven championship coaches. It takes a bit of luck along the way as well, especially when the championship is determined by a single elimination tournament.
One of the tough things about Shaq’s time at LSU is that he was so dominant physically that officials didn’t know what to do with him. He seemed to be held to a different standard and fouls were often not called on the opposing defenders. I’m looking at you, Arkansas and Tennessee. On the flip side, it seemed that Shaq was called for every little touch. Now, I’m sure I’m remembering through homer lenses, but there were definitely games where the officiating was questionable. That made a championship run difficult.
Could a different coach have gotten the team further? Maybe. Would the journey have been as entertaining without Dale? Nope.
One of the tough things about Shaq’s time at LSU is that he was so dominant physically that officials didn’t know what to do with him. He seemed to be held to a different standard and fouls were often not called on the opposing defenders. I’m looking at you, Arkansas and Tennessee. On the flip side, it seemed that Shaq was called for every little touch. Now, I’m sure I’m remembering through homer lenses, but there were definitely games where the officiating was questionable. That made a championship run difficult.
Could a different coach have gotten the team further? Maybe. Would the journey have been as entertaining without Dale? Nope.
Posted on 2/7/18 at 3:31 pm to BR Tiger
NO !.
If you watch the ESPN "Shaq and Dale", Shaq himself admits that the TEAM was not playing as a TEAM...
that's was the key obstacle.
On paper, we had the talent.
If you watch the ESPN "Shaq and Dale", Shaq himself admits that the TEAM was not playing as a TEAM...
that's was the key obstacle.
On paper, we had the talent.
Posted on 2/7/18 at 3:50 pm to cypressbrake3
In his first year, they definitely did with Jackson and Roberts. One more year of that trio and I think LSU would have been a 1 seed and made a FF run.
Posted on 2/7/18 at 3:51 pm to blueboy
to answer your question, yes they did have the talent.
Posted on 2/7/18 at 4:00 pm to cypressbrake3
Yes.
Posted on 2/7/18 at 4:02 pm to cypressbrake3
Talent? Most definitely. We had two dominate 7 footers and chris jackson. They didn't play well together though, so it didn't happen
Posted on 2/7/18 at 4:21 pm to SCLSUMuddogs
Yes. Talent was there. Team chemistry was not.
Posted on 2/7/18 at 4:22 pm to cypressbrake3
We only had both for 1 year 89-90. UNLV won it that year and I really don’t think anyone was beating them. They beat Duke by 30 I think Coach K is a better coach than Dale
Also CJ was a sophomore and Shaq a freshman (he didn’t even turn 18 until March of that year) now before people talk about freshman winning now, back then most great players stayed at least 3 years, like Shaq did and many 4. That Duke team that would win the next 2 Titles was also young. So no I don’t think we should have won the title but should have done better than 3rd in the SEC and making the Final Four was very doable. Frankly for as disappointing as the regular season was if we get passed GaTech we probably do make the FF
Also CJ was a sophomore and Shaq a freshman (he didn’t even turn 18 until March of that year) now before people talk about freshman winning now, back then most great players stayed at least 3 years, like Shaq did and many 4. That Duke team that would win the next 2 Titles was also young. So no I don’t think we should have won the title but should have done better than 3rd in the SEC and making the Final Four was very doable. Frankly for as disappointing as the regular season was if we get passed GaTech we probably do make the FF
Posted on 2/7/18 at 5:04 pm to H-Town Tiger
We beat UNLV the 89-90 season 107-105.
Posted on 2/7/18 at 5:05 pm to blueboy
That group rocked
Posted on 2/7/18 at 5:21 pm to SCLSUMuddogs
quote:NO. That is absolutely wrong. Shaq was not dominate as a freshman. He was very raw. Roberts was better that year but no way dominate.
We had two dominate 7 footers and chris jackson.
No to the OP, and not even close. After Jackson left, the team other than Shaq sucked. There was almost no athleticism on the team. There was no quality 2nd option. No depth. Brown was just coasting at that point.
Posted on 2/7/18 at 6:03 pm to airfernando
Wayne Sims and Vernel Singleton were quality starters.
Posted on 2/7/18 at 6:07 pm to cypressbrake3
Oh yes.
Larry Brown, John Thompson, Pitino, there were quite a few coaches who could've gone further with that team.
Hell, I watched Olajuwan take Houston to the final four every year even without Drexler.
Larry Brown, John Thompson, Pitino, there were quite a few coaches who could've gone further with that team.
Hell, I watched Olajuwan take Houston to the final four every year even without Drexler.
Posted on 2/7/18 at 6:37 pm to NOSTRODAMUS
quote:
We beat UNLV the 89-90 season 107-105
I knew someone was going to say that
I know I was there in the students section. It was Super Bowl Sunday. They also had a couple of guys suspended including Stacey Augman. It was a AWESOME game to be at. But it doesn’t mean we would have beaten them in the Final Four in DenverThis post was edited on 2/7/18 at 6:37 pm
Posted on 2/7/18 at 6:38 pm to cypressbrake3
They had shaq. That should have been enough.
Posted on 2/7/18 at 6:40 pm to root canal
YES!!!!
Posted on 2/7/18 at 6:54 pm to 0
quote:You obviously didn't watch him in college. Shaq was a phenomenal physical specimen who would go on to develop into a dominant NBA player. In college, he couldn't score if he couldn't dunk.
They had shaq. That should have been enough.
Shaq was enough to get into the Tourney, he wasn't good enough to win a title.
The first year was tantalizing, because you hoped CJ + 2 huge big men would be enough. If that team had stayed together, I do think they would have. But you needed Jackson's scoring and Roberts' more polished offense to make the leap from dangerous out, to favorite.
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