re: The state of LSU basketball

I guess I am relying on hope a little too much. Hope that Epps is intrinsically motivated to get stronger and better because the coaching staff isn't going to help him much. And I guess that I am hoping beyond that hope that if Epps doesn't work out then maybe just maybe Elbert will be able to contribute like he did early in the year.

If Darcy sees the floor in significant minutes next year I may puke.

At the end of the day, you get what you pay for and LSU is not willing to go out and make a splash hire that will turn the program around. CJJ obviously isn't going to get it done, but he has done a decent job in his first few seasons (barring last year) and the administration is not willing to put in the cash to get a big upgrade.

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On a serious note, basketball at this school is a complete embarrassment. It's a shame when we somehow overlook what a successful program could bring here. LSU treats it like an afterthought and that sucks. If we paid half as much attention as we do baseball, we'd at least get it out of the dark ages.

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At the end of the day, you get what you pay for and LSU is not willing to go out and make a splash hire that will turn the program around. CJJ obviously isn't going to get it done, but he has done a decent job in his first few seasons (barring last year) and the administration is not willing to put in the cash to get a big upgrade.

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In the mid to late 90's the LSU fanbase turned its attention away from basketball and baseball became the number 2 sport for the fanbase. I understand that the success in baseball made the sport more appealing to the fanbase. I also understand that the average fan only has so many entertainment dollars in their budget. It is not the average LSU fans fault that the basketball program has been inconsistent.

On the other hand, the LSU administration's commitment to basketball is absolutely deplorable. Look no further than our freaking scoreboard in the PMAC. Look no further than at how they have reconfigured the PMAC seating arrangement to make it the one of worst in college basketball. Don't feed me bullshite that the students didn't go to the games so they had to move them. That's BS. If the administration would have done something earlier about a coach that not only lost an overwhelming number of games while playing an absolutely boring brand of basketball (I'm looking at you Trent Johnson) then the students wouldn't have quit going. There is nothing wrong with the PMAC. However, there is something wrong with the people that run the PMAC. Our home out of conference schedule always blows unless by luck of the draw we have a good matchup in the SEC-Big 12 challenge, which is only a home game every other year. The administration doesn't care about basketball because they think the fanbase doesn't care. The Kentucky games the last few years and the Oklahoma game this past year has proven that our fans want to care.

Make a splash hire, add a new damn scoreboard, put the students back on top of the court, add some good non-conference games (Daddy Dale used to get freaking Duke to come here. Don't tell me its not possible.) and the PMAC can be intimidating again. I have seen it that way for a handful of games the past couple of years. There are enough fans want to get excited. There is absolutely no reason why we can't be like Florida who is nationally competitive in Football, Basketball and Baseball on a year in and year out basis. All it takes is an administration that gives a damn. Not one that sits with its hands on its arse like ours currently does.

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No coach has won more at the beginning of their career at LSU than Johnny Jones. He wins games and gets his players to the NBA, plain and simple.

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I am not going to get into a debate with you about his performance. It's on paper in the books and it either is or isn't acceptable depending on what you expect. But I do have some questions for you, in all seriousness and not trying to flame him or troll you.

Do you doubt whether, rightly or wrongly, coach Jones is almost universally perceived negatively regarding his ability as a coach? Do you think, in light of his reputation as a poor coach and the failure of 2016 with a potential #1 overall draft pick, there is a realistic hope of his being able to recruit top-level talent to LSU in the future? With his ability to recruit top-level talent (obviously his biggest strength as a coach) either diminished or eliminated, is there any possible way he can improve the program?

Regardless of whether he's getting a bad rap, just had bad luck last season or whatever, strictly looking forward, I doubt ANY coach can overcome the overwhelming negative perceptions that currently prevail with regard to our coach.

And don't misunderstand my motivations. I met Johnny Jones when we were both still in high school and also when I was a student at LSU and he was an assistant coach, and I think he's a great guy. I don't see how anyone could personally dislike him. I'm talking strictly about his coaching prospects for LSU going forward. Assuming that "success" is defined in a way that requires better than we have done the last two seasons (I don't consider him responsible for the first two years as he inherited a bad situation), is there any path to a successful career for him at LSU and success for the program under his leadership?

Perhaps Shaq will come and coach LSU...

at least the women's team is in good hands...

Where to start...

1) frick the administration. As Camp said, they don't give a shite. Look at Duke, Michigan, Michigan State, dozens, maybe hundreds of other schools...they all have PREMIUM seats for students. As a season ticket holder in the 200's, I am eligible to sign up for LSU text alerts about ticket upgrades. Therefore I know for a FACT, they do NOT sell all those tickets in the lower bowls. They seriously sell half of them. I give shite to the students, but when I was in school I had great seats and made a difference. I knew some of the players, but I seriously remember Temple, Tyrus, Big Baby, Mitch making a big play and running by all the students and beat their chests pumping us up. Now, for half the game the students are completely taken out of it. More than any other sport, college basketball relies on the students. It is the lifeblood and makes such a difference. Verge, Nunez, Alleva, etc..are all pussies. Can't do this..can't do that. But you better believe Eddie Nunez got 16 Final Four passes in the lower bowl, all of which had special lounge privileges. Been seen that shite with my own fricking eyes. Fix the damn scoreboard!!! How old is that shite? We don't deserve better? We absolutely do. We're stuck in the 90's.

2) Originally, I liked the CJJ hire. I knew he wasn't a good coach, but he could recruit. However, no one...I mean NO ONE could predict he was THIS bad. TQ ran the team terribly, the bench was used terribly, and no one progressed...so we are left with what? A coach who won't be here in 5 years, but yet they don't want to fire him...so we are in purgatory.

3) I love LSU basketball. I was thinking about applying to jobs out of state and far away..but I didn't because I put all my damn eggs in this basket. I joined the tipoff club, bought seats in the 200's (give me a break, they were the best I could get because apparently LSU didn't want to sell the rest of the 100's), wrote previews about the other team...basically I put my life on hold for a year. Do I regret it? Absolutely, but hindsight is 20//20. Was it pathetic? Absolutely. Did I learn from my mistakes? Absolutely. However, nothing can take away some of the moments LSU basketball has given me...

Ross Neltner tipping in Bass's missed shot and I was the first to greet Ross and get swarmed by everyone, and we were on espn top plays. Ohio State vs LSU double OT the 2004-2005 season...hugging Hudson as he came off telling me it was the most tired he's ever been. Final Four...obviously. UCONN 06-07...camping out multiple nights with some of the best posters in TD history...

My point is I'm one of the few that puts LSU basketball above everything else (not the only, but most would admit they wouldn't say basketball national championship over football or baseball national championship)...our fanbase deserves better. Alt26 said it best...we deserve a better schedule than just the SEC/Big12 challenge. I don't give a shite what those bitches in suits in the admin say...LSU fans love all sports. We want to be successful in basketball just like football and baseball. Most say they don't care just because we suck. If we became Duke or UK...we would 100% care, and that's what drives some of us crazy. When we win ugly or some bullshite game, barely anyone says anything. If we win a big game or lose, the entire first page is littered with posts.

I am begging the administration...Please...PLEASEEEEEE let our program be great again. Do whatever it takes.

Sorry for the wall of text and bullshite...love you all no matter if I fight and call most of you jackasses (except you bfniii, I still think you're a cocksucker).