re: LSU Hoops (16-10, 9-4) @ Tennessee (12-14, 5-8) - 4:30pm - ESPNU

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Outside of year 1 when his press was effective, it's like johnny just doesn't give the time of day to defensive principles when that and rebounding should be the bread and butter of every team

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Coleman, Morgan, Hickey and the transfer from Memphis (whose name escapes me) just instinctively knew how to press and were very good at it. Remember the first time they broke it out down 14 at home against Seton Hall? They said they had never even practiced it. They just knew how from AAU ball or whatever. They were very good at it.

Haven't been able to press nearly that well since.

I think we saw our best overall statistical defensive showing last year, but I think Mickey on the back end blocking and altering shots off the ball masked some of the fundamental deficiencies we see biting us more on D this year cause we have no shot blocker on the back end this year.

Still, we can play D when we want (see Kentucky), we just don't seem to want consistently. Got to start with accountability. Sit 'em if they don't want it.

Geaux Tigers!!

On the radio they just said Bridgewater is starting in place of Simmons. I know- it sounds like a really bad troll attempt, but that's what they said. No reason was given.

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Cmon blood, give ya boy Charles Carmouche some respect

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Dat's him. Quality transfer who was a good player on a good Memphis team. Was up and down but had a torrid 5-game stretch toward the end of the year, but cooled right at the end and never got it back.

Dude could consistently defend and he and Hickey were excellent and bird dogging off the full court traps that Morgan and Coleman could lock in as well as any tandem I've seen here.

Finger fricked

Bridgewater has zero idea how to play within himself.

He needs to rebound and pass the ball.

Instead he tries to fricking shoot every time he touches it.

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hat press in Johnny's first year was fricking amazing

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yep and he can't seem to replicate it despite having a deeper more talented team. This drives me crazy. we should be able to press and create easy running baskets for this team. It would make Epps a really good player

So we got to see what the team looks like without Simmons as a reminder of last season. Let's now see how they look with him.

Yeah, but he's running slower too. Looks like a typical big man today.

They're about to get blown out. Everything should go through Simmons or Victor. This team still believes they can win on the outside alone. Simmons had his guy pinned down at least twice in the lane and they look like they're afraid to pass it.