re: Will Ben Simmons ever be recognized as a true LSU Tiger?

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13 pages arguing over a guy who attended LSU for 7 months and didn't win jack shite or do anything memorable while there.

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Didn't win jack shite or do anything memorable while there?

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No. 1 Overall Pick of 2016 NBA Draft (Philadelphia 76ers) | Details
2015-16 Wayman Tisdale National Freshman of the Year (USBWA)
2015-16 Sporting News National Freshman of the Year
2015-16 USA Today National Freshman of the Year
2015-16 SEC Freshman of the Year
2015-16 First Team All-SEC
2015-16 All-SEC Freshman Team
First Team USBWA All-American
Second Team All-American by ESPN, Sports Illustrated and Sporting News
Third Team All-American by USA Today
2015 Australia Institute of Sport Emerging Athlete of the Year
Julius Erving Award Finalist
Oscar Robertson Trophy Finalist
Naismith Trophy Midseason Finalist
AAU Sullivan Award Semifinalist
Three-time SEC Freshman of the Week
SEC Player of the Week after performance against North Florida on Dec. 2, 2015

FRESHMAN SEASON (2015-16)
Simmons was the consensus National Freshman of the Year and was named the SEC Freshman of the Year in what has been a phenomenal freshman campaign … He is the first LSU freshman to win the conference Freshman of the Year award since 2006 when Tyrus Thomas was honored … Averaged 19.2 points, 11.8 rebounds and 4.8 assists per game, which ranks in the top five in the SEC in each category ... He may become the first SEC player to finish the season in the top five in all three categories ... At the end of the regular season, Simmons was ranked fourth in points (19.6), first in rebounds (11.9), third in field goal percentage ( 206-367, 56.1 percent), fifth in assists per game (5.0) and second in steals per game (2.0) in the SEC ... His 11.8 rebounds per game led all Division I freshmen … One of just two freshmen in the country to average double-figure rebounds … Led all major conference players with 23 double-doubles on the year and ranked fifth nationally ... Became the fourth freshman in the past 20 years with 40 points and 10 rebounds in a game after his performance against North Florida on Dec. 2, 2015, where he also became the first major college player to have a game of 40 points, 10 rebounds, 5 assists and 5 steals in a game in the last 20 years ... The first LSU player since Shaquille O’Neal to score at least 43 points in a game … One of six freshmen in LSU history to score 30 points in a game and joins Chris Jackson (Mahmoud Abdul-Rauf) and fellow freshman Antonio Blakeney as the only players to do it multiple times as he scored 36 at Vanderbilt on Jan. 2, 2016, and had 43 versus UNF on Dec. 2, 2015 … Posted six of the SEC’s eight 20-10-5 games this season … Crossed the 600-point mark at Kentucky on March 5, 2016… He became the sixth first-year LSU player to score 500 points in a season after a late free throw against Alabama on Jan. 17, 2016 … Became the fourth-fastest to pass 500 points in his first year of playing with the Tigers and was the second freshman to do so behind Jackson … Simmons had 18 20-point games this season, which was third in the SEC … Had an active streak of 28 games in double figure scoring … Had a five game streak of 20 points from Feb. 17 to March 1 … Had a double-double and 10 or more rebounds in seven straight contests from Nov. 19-Dec. 16 ... Had a double-double in the last four games to close out the regular season before the conference tournament … Became the first SEC freshman to record 20 points and 15 rebounds since Julius Randle of Kentucky in the 2013-14 season after posting 23 points and 16 rebounds against South Alabama on Nov. 19, 2015 … Recorded his third double-double of the year in Brooklyn, New York, against NC State as he had 14 rebounds and 10 assists, which marked the first time a LSU player had a double-double on rebounds and assists ... With his performance against NC State on Nov. 24,2015, Simmons was the only Division I player at the time listed as 6-10 or taller to have 10 assists and no turnovers in a game in the last 20 seasons… His 21-point, 20-rebound night against Marquette on Nov. 23, 2015, made Simmons the eighth LSU player since 1973-74 to record a 20-point, 20-rebound game … Recorded a career-high seven steals at Kentucky on March 5, 2016, which were the most in a game since Anthony Hickey recorded eight against Texas A&M in 2013 …The only LSU players to record more season free throws than Simmons’ 199 are Pete Maravich and Bob Pettit … At the conclusion of the season, Simmons was ranked eighth in LSU history with 158 season assists, fifth in season rebounds with 388 and was just outside of the top-10 in season scoring with 632 points.

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lsusports.net

And all of that doesn't begin to mention the exposure he brought to LSU basketball everyday that would have never been here before. He was all over the sports media market everyday in an LSU uniform for nearly an entire season. He did a lot more for LSU than people realize or want to give him credit for.

Come on, Peej. That's a Ree type leap in logic. I don't think it hurt. It may, I repeat MAY have helped open a small door to impressionable teenagers that made it possible to have some interest when Wade came calling. It's all Wade to close the deal. Would you say that there's no way it helped?

That's not what we are taking about here. At least I'm not. He offered LSU "free" advertising regardless of how you felt about his play. I say free in quotes because I'm pretty sure LSU was paying him. He didn't turn down money from other schools just to be with his godfather IMO. Just like in football, LSU can now use him as a recruiting tool for the next 8-10 years or so and has been since he left. That's my point.

Ben Simmons could’ve gone literally anywhere for college, and instead he said “I’m gonna waste my only college season playing for arguably the worst basketball coach LSU ever had”. He deserves a fricking medal

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It’s about attitude and appreciation for LSU. Simmons dogged LSU on his way out the door, which pissed off a lot of people.

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This is why I will never count Simmons as a "true LSU Tiger".

Naz is fine by me.

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Looking at it now, I don't really know what I learned, financially, or just being a person at LSU.

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In my book, that's dogging LSU.

"Column: Ben Simmons’ comments about LSU reveal his own immaturity"

LULZ

“Forget all of the positive things he’s done and said for LSU, my interpretation of this one statement means he’s never gonna be a real Tiger!”

(no message)

1 and done don't mean much to me

Don't dislike just not the same