by the Webmaster
LSUsports.net
BATON ROUGE — Been there. Done that. Got the tee-shirt. Then went 8-8 in SEC play. Then lost in the second round in the SEC Tournament. Then played host to the NCAA first and second round games as a No. 11 seed. Then went to the Final Four.
The LSU men’s basketball team has seen this before, done this before and come home from Hawaii undefeated before.
Being undefeated (6-0) mid-way through December after a trip to Hawaii and a schedule full of no-names is strangely similar to the route the 1986 Tigers took to the Final Four — the last LSU squad to be undefeated through seven games.
As a matter of fact, that team opened with 14 straight victories, including four wins in Hawaii (over BYU-Hawaii, Hawaii Pacific, Loa and Hilo), defeating a SWAC opponent (Southern), a west coast team (Washington) and Southeastern Louisiana — all similar to this season.
The ’86 team had no superstars, no attitudes, no video screens and much tighter shorts. But it had what champions are made of.
Now, let’s not get ahead of ourselves. LSU has a long way to go this season before it can be compared to the ’86 squad in terms of leadership, roll playing, cohesion and heart.
But let’s not forget that this 1999-2000 squad and its coach have been through and overcome as much adversity as any team in LSU history, much like Dale Brown‘s ’86 team.
It has overcome attrition, a lack of scholarships and apathy among fans caused by a 24-76 (.240) record in SEC play over the last six seasons to become a talented and exciting group that fans (and students) are going out of their way to get a glimpse at again.
After paying the cost of an NCAA probation handed down on the previous administration, head coach John Brady has his Tigers right where he wants them to be. Through smart scheduling, exceptional recruiting and talent evaluation, and, for the first time in his short tenure, a full summer of weight training and conditioning, the Tigers are undefeated through six games.
Just like the 1986 team.
But there are huge differences that only time can change.
That Cinderella team of ’86 had a bevy of experience that the 1999-2000 team does not have: The experience an SEC Championship and NCAA Tournament (1984-85), a fifth-year senior point guard (Derrick Taylor), senior Don Redden, juniors Dennis and Oliver Brown, and Anthony and Nikita Wilson, and sophomores Jose Vargas, Ricky Blanton, Neboisha Bukumirovich, Bernard Woodside and John Williams.
Another major difference is the fan support. In 1986, LSU averaged 12,614 fans per game, while the 1998-99 Tigers averaged merely 7,746 — paid attendance, that is.
Brady summed up the situation before the season: “Our team has progressed to the point where our biggest obstacle is not to let our own selves stop us from being successful.
“We have recruited well. In spite of some limited scholarships, we have used them wisely. This is our best and most talented team. It is also our most experienced team this year. In comparison to the two previous teams, the third year team has some trust in the coaching staff and believe in what the coaching staff is doing.”
Like an echo of Dale Brown, “You’ve gotta believe.”
The table has been set and the future is now for Brady’s Bunch. With a little luck, a lot of support and an injury-free (and chicken pox-free) season, who knows what could happen?