re: What is your X’s and O’s critique of McMahon and MBB?

First statement is flat out false. Thomas is more productive in every aspect, they don’t guard the same positions or volume so using a singular defensive team metric to dismiss all others is false and misleading. Your second statement has been addressed, you made a straw man and refuse to acknowledge that your narratives are at odds. Had Eason produced the numbers he had without Wade you’d be telling us he had no talent which is why I keep pointing out that you’ve dismissed the essential time frame and development that took him from non prospect to 1st rounder.

Every player and roster eval you present is nothing but unsupported commentary. In fact you have emotionally destined responses to data. Your question has been answered and it’s hypothesis is completely false. You traffic in complete unknowns except when your narratives are held up to a mirror. To quote you again “please be honest” but I guess for you that was just projection.

Everyone keeps talking about projections based on recruiting rankings which mean nothing to me. I base it on the eye test and based on what I have seen last years team had more talent. This team would be even better with Pinson at point.

Nope, my position is this team shouldn’t be challenging for the worst record in school history. Last years team overachieved, finishing 3 spots ahead of predicted. This years team is 6 spots below predicted. That’s not a talent issue, that’s coaching.


And BTW I know conveniently omitted Naz and you hate facts but here’s another one of your fables debunked.

Ppg
Cam -11.2
Tari- 8.7
Per 36
Cam -23.8ppg
Tari- 16.0ppg

Effective FG%
Cam- 51.1
Tari- 48.7

PER
Cam- 16.8
Tari- 15.8

TS%
Cam- 58.5%
Tari- 52%

3pt%
Cam- 41.2%
Tari- 34.7%

3pt attempt rate
Cam- 27.7%
Tari- 25.8%

Ft rate
Cam- 43.7
Tari- 23.8

Assist%
Cam- 14.7%
Tari- 7.7%

Fg%
Cam- 45.4%
Tari- 44.2%

FT%
Cam- 85%
Tari- 75%

I could go on but your entire editorial about their production and style comparison is completely false. Oh but yea you found that 1 stat, kudos.

Again you have no basis for saying that. And yes Tari is an NBA talent but for college purposes KJ is a more productive player so your 1 player makes a 9 position difference is false. As for Murray you’re simply speculating, so far he’s not an NBA level player.

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That part is going to take time. He put together a system and team together in what a month and a half? Buzz Williams had a few less than impressive seasons his first few years at aTm and I'm not sure they're regretting paying him over there in College Station.

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While inadvertently, I think you make a negative argument against McMahon here while opining he just needs more time. He's one of 6 new coaches in the SEC this year. At least four have been better in conference play with their new teams (Georgia, Missouri, Florida, Mississippi St) with the 5th, South Carolina, leading LSU on LSU's home court from start to finish. All 5 of the other coaches likewise had to put together a system and team in a month and half. Yet virtually all have been better at doing so. At this point I think it is fair to say the ONLY reason LSU doesn't have quite as bad of an overall schedule as Ole Miss and South Carolina (who both beat LSU) is because LSU played literally the worst/weakest non-conference schedule (currently 315th) in the entirety of the SEC. But for that, we really could be looking at a 9 win (or less) LSU team.

The reality is the transfer rules have completely changed the reasonable amount of "patience" a coach should be afforded. It's a double-edge sword. It's never been easier to build a good team quickly. That's the good side. The bad side is it is reasonable for fans/school to expect results quicker than ever before. "Give him 3-5 years" shouldn't be the expectation any longer. Yes, that is tough. But it is not unreasonable.

This season has gone far worse than anyone reasonably expected. If anyone says otherwise they are being dishonest. Maybe that changes next season. But I don't think it is a simple as just "getting better players". McMahon's team has struggled consistently against teams with equal or lesser talent. That's coaching. So it has to be a combination of both bringing in guys AND changing his approach to compete in the SEC. What he is doing now simply isn't working because LSU has not, for the most part, competed with anyone in the SEC since early January.

If he comes back next year and has LSU competing at the top 1/3rd of the SEC and playing in the NCAA Tournament I will HAPPILY admit being wrong about him and give him full credit for proving the naysayers wrong. My ego is not so large that I want him to suck simply because I want some sort of message board cred. I just want to see winning basketball.

I loudly shouted down the chicken-littles after Wade's firing who said LSU basketball would immediately fall to the cellar because I knew McMahon was going to be able to get some players in the portal. I was excited to see his HS signing class because I thought there was no shot he could bring in a good class having taken the job so late. I argued with everyone before the season that LSU should be picked to finish between 7-8 in the SEC and, if things went well, may have an outside shot to be playing meaningful games in March (i.e. with respect to the NCAAT). I tried to argue in the early season as the KenPom ratings continued to plummet that it was just a byproduct of a new team working to come together. I'm now out of justifications. It has simply been that bad

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You continue with this straw man that I ever said this team was as talented as last years.

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This you?

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Side by side comparison of evaluated talent between the last 2 rosters

Reid #29 - Miller #29
O’Neal #38 - Ward #29
Days #59 - Hayes #67
Wilk #68 - Reed #67
Murray #89 - Wilk #68
Eason #94

That’s leaving off KJ Williams who’s more productive than anyone from last years team despite an offensively inept HC. So where this giant talent discrepancy? There’s a reason this years team was picked in the exact same spot as last years. The difference between a national 6 seed and one of the worst teams in program history is the coaching.

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Tari is an NBA talent but for college purposes KJ is a more productive player

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i dunno about that. eason was spectacular on both sides of the ball.

eason's box plus/minus was 14. KJ's is half that, at 7.1.

this is why eason was a steal at 17th pick and KJ will not play in the NBA.

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so your 1 player makes a 9 position difference is false.

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nobody made this claim. last team had more talent in many positions, and a stronger bench. this current team cannot shoot, cannot handle the ball, cant create shots, cant finish. they lack talent and skill and athleticism. they could have john wooden coaching and they still miss layups.

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here’s another one of your fables debunked

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you are only listing offensive stats. i said eason is overall a much better player, and he is. hugely better.

LINK /

cam thomas
CATEGORY: PROJECT
5-YR MARKET VALUE: $27.2M

LINK /

tari eason:

CATEGORY: GOOD PROSPECT
5-YR MARKET VALUE: $64.2M

eason projects at double the market value.


if you want to know why, look at his metrics. eason plays excellent defense, he steals, he blocks, he scores. cam does not. cam is a drag. give him 100 shots and he will score. but he isnt a team player and is a one-dimensional player to an extreme.