By Ryan Rogers
LSUsports.net
(1/11/01)
To say that LSU basketball coach John Brady has had to deal with his share of hardships since his arrival in 1997 would be an understatement. It would be easy to look for excuses as to why this year will not be the year of the Tiger for LSU basketball.
One might start by blaming the NCAA for imposing heavy sanctions on the program. Others may point toward the injuries. Losing starting center Brad Bridgewater to a knee injury in the preseason and starting shooting guard and best perimeter defender Lamont Roland to a similar knee injury in the Alabama game leaves the Tigers with only five scholarship players and only walk-ons to support off the bench.
However, this team chooses not to concentrate on the negative that has surrounded the program. They choose to see the challenge ahead as an opportunity and not a burden. After all, this is the same team that won an SEC Championship with limited scholarship players going from worst to first.
This is a team that despite being the least experienced team in the NCAA tournament, made an impressive push to the Sweet Sixteen. And a team that glided through the non-conference schedule with an impressive 9-1 record with only six scholarship players this season. Remember, every team they defeated had more scholarship players.
So what does this all mean? It means the Tigers have proven critics and analysts wrong over and over again, and they don’t plan to quit now.
“Yes Sir, no doubt. We can still make the tournament. As long as we unite as a team and just go 110 percent we’ll be fine,” said Jermaine Williams.
With Roland’s injury Jermaine William’s will make his first appearance as a full-time starter. William’s has been the Tigers sixth man all-year and is averaging 5.6 points a game.
“It’s no big deal to me. I look at it as an opportunity,” said Williams. “I’m comfortable either way, starting or coming off the bench. I’m a little disappointed that I haven’t been able to help the team more from a shooting standpoint, most of my points have come in transition. I need to step it up as a player and start hitting the outside shots.”
Williams is no stranger to pressure. As a true freshman he was a major contributor off the bench for the Tigers. Last year he hit a game-icing three pointer to bury Georgia 61-57. That win ended a crucial three-game losing streak and the Tigers would go on to win 11 of 12 remaining SEC games.
Williams is known for his unselfish play. He is always willing to make that extra pass to ensure a bucket and rarely puts up an ill-advised shot. He’s a solid defender, but will have to be a more productive shooter to boost the Tigers.
Another player who will see more playing time is walk-on Charlie Thompson, a native of Lake Charles, La. Thompson has impressed many so for in his young career making people shake their heads at his walk-on status.
Thompson has proven he can play at the SEC level and has surprised even himself a little.
“I think I surprised myself more than anything. I just want to be a solid contributor on this team,” said Thompson. His play is a welcomed gift to a Tiger squad short on bodies. With Roland’s injury he will see time at shooting guard and we could see him running the point guard with Torris Bright pushing over to the shooting guard spot.
“I’m excited about it. It’ll be different getting more minutes, but I’m looking forward to it,” added Thompson. “It’s real tough losing a guy like Lamont, but now someone else needs to step up and someone will.”
The biggest mistake any Tiger fan could make would be to write this team off. They have the “Us against the world attitude”, and are prepared to win against those odds again. Teams like John Brady‘s Tigers just seem to have a knack for over-achieving.