By Kent Lowe
Special to LSUsports.net
I may be wrong (which I have certainly been before), but this looks like it might just be a pretty good basketball team here at LSU.
Remember how for most of November and December how I was talking about getting to 16 wins and getting a chance to go to the National Invitation Tournament.
Remember how after three straight losses in January 16 was looking good, but we dared to state the words NCAA a couple of times and thoughts of 18, 19 wins crept in to play.
Now here it is March and were talking seedings, location, sites, dates and times and what time is the Selection Sunday party at your house.
A 24-4 record and champions of the SEC West. Winners of eight straight and 11 of 12 games. Potentially playing today for the overall SEC championship. Its really mind-boggling.
Worst-to-first and at this moment a 12-game turnaround from the record a year ago.
The hunters are the hunted and loving every moment of it.
I honestly have to ask myself, did I expect anything like this? The answer is a very honest no. My first five years at LSU, I knew an NCAA Tournament berth was going to be waiting at the end of the line. It was almost mandated to happen. It had happened years before I got here in an administrative capacity. When I was in graduate school, the Tigers were winners and going to Elite Eights and Final Fours.
But then things went the other way. You know that old saying about things being cyclical and what goes around comes around, but Ill be, I was beginning to wonder if that was ever going to be true again about LSU basketball. Would we always be thought of as that sport that ties up a few weeks nicely prior to baseball season. Would the place ever be loud and noisy again like the old days. Would LSU basketball and the Deaf Dome wake up from a seemingly endless slumber.
LSU basketball is definitely awake and the Deaf Dome is alive and well, thanks to the LSU basketball team and to some new and old fans weve acquired along the way.
When credit is handed out, hopefully sometime in April at a banquet or wherever, one must start with the coaching staff, but one must also give a healthy dose of the credit to the players. They have come through like troopers. They have bought into the LSU system and play it with abandonment.
But if there is a reason for the LSU success, all one has to look at the chemistry and comradery of this team. Its something special. Its the reason LSU is a good team this year. Oh sure the talent level and coaching helps, but give credit to a group of players who stick together and work hard together for the betterment of this program.
A couple of final thoughts if I may — Today we will honor LSUs lone senior, Jabari Smith. The big man in the middle who helped with the LSU rise to prosperity. LSU has needed his talents, LSU has needed his ability, and LSU fans needed to see someone like him smiling and having fun, on and off the court.
Ill miss him after hes gone, but he will be in a special place when fans of the future talk about the resurgence of LSU basketball.
Finally to the fans from the team, many thanks for being a part of this wonderful ride. Youve filled the Deaf Dome again and made it noisy. You participated in the first almost fully-orchestrated storming of the court. Youve yelled, not just in the student section, but all over the arena. You dont know how much this appreciates you.
So now it comes to this. One game — Ole Miss. I hope the Tigers are ready. LSU cant afford a slipup. Hopefully LSU does its thing today and then its on to Atlanta for the SEC Tournament.
Then its on to who knows where for the NCAAs. How long were gone, I just dont know. But I do know the journey so far has been one sweet ride and heres hoping it continues for a few more week. Until next time, enjoy the game!!!!