re: LSU basketball 2014 predictions

I hope JOB comes back. It would be a mistake if he leaves this year. He is not projected to go in the first round. If he stays IMHO he would go in the first round next year as he is just starting to develop into the kind of player he can be. Another year and he will be Awesome, and a high draft pick!

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Whos projected starters with the incoming freeshman included

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Most folks see 1 of 2 lineups

Hickey, Stringer/Morgan, Mickey, Martin, JOB III
Hickey, Stringer/Morgan, Martin, JOB III, Odo

Mickey is not a 3, and JOB will never be a first roud pick if Jared Sullinger is a late first round pick then no way.

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Mickey is not a 3

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He's coming in to play some 3 and 4. He said it himself.

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I wish Hammink and Collins could be redshirted also but we are not deep enough still for that.

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We'll have the full compliment of 13 scholarship players next year.

I highly doubt we redshirt 3 guys between Malone, Collins and Hammink...but I see Malone redshirting (if JOB III is here) and maybe 1 between Collins and Hammink. I think Hammink would benefit the most. Collins just seems like a guy who wont improve because he plays so out of control all the time. Hammink has a solid foundation to build on.

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Borderline to make NCAA next year. As we have seen this year, Freshmen aren't great until they prove it under fire. Definite NIT though.

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I think this is way off. I think expecting just the NIT and being borderline NCAA next year would be a big disappointment. We should no doubt be in the NCAAT next year with our team and a decent seed at that (not expecting 1-4 type seed, but I see 5-8 type of seed). The team next year as I've said over and over is very comparable to the 2006 F4 team talent wise.

I dont think even if JOB3 stays from what I have seen of Malone and how CJJ coaches I do not believe Malone will be redshirted. Mickey has the prototypical size and build for a CJJ 3 but just does not have the ball handling or outside ame to be a 3, but could develop into a 3. What I love most about Quarterman is that with bringing him in at the 1, Stringer can guard the other teams 1 but still play the 2.

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but if he has the same type of improvement he had from last season, then I think he not only goes in the first round.....but flirts with a lottery pick (top 15 or so) as a power forward.

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For the most part, JOB plays below the rim. It's unlikely he will be as good as Bass was when he left. I don't see any way JOB can even sniff the lottery. That being said, he will be a damn good player at LSU if he stays.

Speculating on kids that have never played college bball is tough. Coach Jones is damn good and has my full support, but it still comes down to chemistry. Look at Kentucky and UNC. They have all the talent in the world but play very crappy team basketball. Selfish highly recruited players that don't understand help defense or sharing the rock. And Roy Williams and Johnny Cal are 2 of the best in the business.
Who knows what will happen next year? some of these kids might hit campus and not be capable of running parts of JJ's system. Especially the press. You really need to have specific quick type players to run an effective press.

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An LSU team returning everyone basically and adding a high profile recruiting class is different from living year by year with a fresh group of 4-5 freshman, even if those freshman are some of the top guys in the country. Obviously it just depends on the group based on Kentucky this year.

Our situation is different and not comparable. Again, what's hard to believe about one of our guys coming in averaging in double figures. Bass, Big Baby, and Taz all did and Martin is better and much more likely a one and done type.

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In general, this is why Hickey's return is so important. A veteran PG is so valuable to this team taking off. KY really doesn't have it this year. KY also did not return other starters with quality experience like Stringer and JOB. Coach needs to make sure all these guys are back in the fold for 2014. If so, the freshmen can ease into their roles. I think Hickey gets better every week. Next year he will be an absolute floor general.

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An LSU team returning everyone basically

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Wrong! Lose two starters, Carmouche and Del Pierro and probably JOB. Not exactly everyone back.