I'll say this, at least on this board, there isn't a total "the sky is falling" and let's fire the coach mentality. :miles:
I have to say, when I checked the box score after working tonight, I was surprised. But, as I mentioned in another thread earlier in the season, Tennessee (a potentially ranked team btw) lost in an exhibition game to a Div II school. It's early in the season and with a young team, ups and downs are to be expected.
First off, let's be reminded that in basketball, you do have less "talented" teams surprise people every now and then, and more important than anything, is chemistry and team work. Nicholls is a team that almost beat LSU last year, and returned most of it's players, including an All-conference Aussie who lit up LSU for 28 points tonight. LSU actually outrebounded NSU, but the turnovers is a problem. But, when you rely on freshman, expect growing pains.
I'm not panicking, b/c frankly, these freshman need to feel the weight of a loss and why you can't just shoot yourself to a win.
There are some troubling items though. First, you'd expect more from guys like Warren and White. You would have expected LSU to go big against a smaller team--clearly what happened was their perimeter play got a younger LSU guard line up out of rhythm. When you look at the stats, everything's comparable, except for the turnover margin. LSU actually improved you can say on rebounding and defense, since we outrebounded them and they shot a worse %. In a tight game, youth will show its ugly head and perhaps down the stretch, LSU lost it's way.
Now, let's see how Trent builds on this and the kids learn. As we predicted, different folks are going to be stepping up on different nights. Tonight Matt D surprised off the bench. Again, as the season goes on, they have to find some go to plays, some confidence in players to make the crucial plays. Stringer's definitely asserting himself. Would have like to see more from Dotson and White.
Memphis looms large this weekend... they play Miami tonight, I think.
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