These boys are virtually uncoached.

I don't see one coached aspect of the game. This is by far the worst coaching job in the SEC.

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How has WW made a career in a field of which he has no expertise? He's definitely a G.

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Kinda weird that a college bball coach never played the sport at any level.

What do they do at practice? Serious question.

It's been a rough ride. The first year inheritance was totally excusable. Next, the Will Wade sit out during the dance spoiled what was an excellent SEC campaign. COVID year one ended on a sour note without what was to be another tournament appearance. Now, sitting through several blowouts during COVID year two is difficult. It must be difficult in that locker room.

With only one year of high school coaching experience and little basketball court experience, I have no clue what's going south with LSU basketball. Hopefully, Coach Wade will be able to turn this around, and soon.

Do you people live life where EVERYTHING is either one extreme or the other?

There is no question this (to date) has been Wade's worst coaching job while at LSU. I say that because: (a) the defense was horrible last year. He mentioned over and over in the offseason improvement on that side of the ball was THE emphasis going into this season. Yet, the poor approach that made them one of the worst defenses among power conf. teams last year was almost exactly the same this year; and (b) there seems to be very little accountability for poor decision making/shot selection on offense, which is leading to seemingly worse decision making and what appears to be some guys checking out on the season.

That said, the thought that now all of a sudden "can't coach" is ridiculous. 3 years of solid play following the program bottoming out in Jones's final season says otherwise. As with much in life the truth lies somewhere in the middle. A, for the most part, completely foreign concept on this board. The reality is Wade was never as "good" as many on this board felt when they were proclaiming him the "best HC in the history of LSU basketball" and absolutely refusing to accept reasonable criticism of him. And he's not as "bad" as many of those may think he is today.

He's a solid coach with some clear weaknesses. IMO, that weakness is a little bit of hubris. Hubris in the sense that he's appeared reluctant to accept that some aspects of his approach (most notably on the defensive end) simply aren't producing results. Don't get me wrong, a large sense of self-confidence is necessary and warranted it such a competitive environment. But right now he seems to be trying to make every excuse to tell us why his approach isn't flawed ("we're pretty good at first shot defense"; "if we could just create more turnovers we'd be fine"; "sometimes you have to live with great scorers taking awful shots", etc) rather than accepting what the outside world can see (fans, TV analysists, other coaches).

Relative to the last 30 years of LSU basketball there has been far to much GOOD to now simply wash our hands with Wade. Maybe severe blow to your ego is necessary to evolve (that is the case for MANY people...not just coaches). And maybe what looks to be shortcoming of this season will lead to proactive change. But to now say "he can't coach" after 3 years of lauding him as a "genius" is absurd.

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I think roster construction is something he has struggled with.

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Yeah, the coaching criticism is spot on about defense. Wade has to examine his approach, his toughness with star players that don't defend and his overall philosophy in that regard.

However, his style of offense can work, even against good teams, if you just have a little bit less hero-ball when you have Bigby-Williams, Naz, Emmitt Williams type monsters on the glass to turn the bad 1v1 shots from 15 ft in into put backs.

That is some issue with having the type players you need on the roster -- developing some "non-future pros to play 10-15 quality minutes as well.

So far, though, you'd like to see some "plan b" on offense to get players better looks and hold them accountable for bad ones when you're not setting records in offensive rebounding rate.

That said, Alabama is about the worst possible match up for LSU.

They go 6-7 deep in players that will drive the basket based on the mismatch (Watford or Thomas) and work hard on offense to find those mismatches.

Every player through 11 on their roster shoots the 3 ball.

And, they have a number of very lengthy good to great on the ball defenders in Jones, Petty, Primo and the defensive specialist Ellis. They have no issue keeping a fresh, long defender on Thomas and Watford.


As disappointing as the wild, selfish shot selection was last night, I'd wait to see if they can get back to the Texas Tech level of play for the next few games.

I understand you can't coach these kids you private school high schoolers and run weaves or motion offenses or restrict some of the freedoms like you can kids of more modest talents.

However, there has to be a line where they are accountable. It's probably too late to draw that line at this point this year, WW is going to have to live with what he's allowed to become expected.

However, if he is here next year, he needs to draw that line early or the same will happen.

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That said, Alabama is about the worst possible match up for LSU.

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Agreed. In addition to being a very good offensive team, they have been equally as good defensively. As much as I hate to say it, they are a team, with the right matchups, who could make a run to the Final Four.

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As disappointing as the wild, selfish shot selection was last night, I'd wait to see if they can get back to the Texas Tech level of play for the next few games.

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The only positive from last night is, except for Watford, they came out and defended relatively well to start the game. They closed out quickly on shooters. They forced drives instead of threes. Unfortunately, Watford had no interest in actually defending last night...even though he was standing in the post most of the damn game.

I don't think it is hyperbole to say the next three are about as close to "must win" games as it gets. Florida is begin Florida's usually inconsistent self (lose to MSU...then route Tenn; win AT WVU...then lose at home to South Carolina). Still, they have been the most consistent thorn in Wade's side since he's been here.

MSU isn't great. But they have been a bad matchup for LSU. They are big and physical inside.

Tennessee hasn't been a good offense and they simply haven't played many games on the road. Unlike UF and MSU, Tennessee has seemed to be a pretty good matchup for LSU.

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However, there has to be a line where they are accountable. It's probably too late to draw that line at this point this year

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It's a screwed up year

This isn't a great team but he deserves/will get a pass this year, as he should.