by Will Stafford
LSU Sports Information
Some players just seem to have the ability to step up their level of play when the game is on the line. They want the ball in their hands and are willing to carry the weight of the team on their shoulders.
When the LSU men’s basketball team faced the prospect of overtime against the Ohio State Buckeyes in the Pete Maravich Assembly Center earlier this season, it was only natural when head coach John Brady elected to ride the back of his star forward Brandon Bass.
Bass did not disappoint. He scored 14 of his 29 points in the two overtime periods on five-of-six shooting, while snatching 10 rebounds in the game to earn his fourth of seven double-doubles for the season. The Tigers won the game, 113-101.
Bass exuded confidence when describing his ability to take the game over when his team needed him the most.
“When I’m in a rhythm like that, I just feel like I want to do whatever it takes for us to get the win,” Bass said. “I feel like nobody is going to stop me from doing what I’m trying to do.
“That game let me know what I could do on this level — that I could take over a game,” Bass said. “I knew I had that in me, but it took a game like that to show it. When something positive happens, it makes you better.”
Ohio State head coach Thad Matta gave high praise to the Tiger sophomore and agreed that there was nothing he could do to prevent Bass from having his way with the Buckeye defense.
“Bass just took the game to another level,” Matta said. “We challenged his shots but that just showed the caliber of player he is. He is one of the best I have ever coached against.”
Receiving such praise has become routine for Bass. The former McDonald’s All-American and reigning Southeastern Conference Freshman of the Year was awarded the honor of SEC Player of the Week on Jan. 31 for the first time in his career.
He earned double-doubles by averaging 20 points, 11 rebounds and five blocks in two games versus Ole Miss and Mississippi State and sits among the SEC leaders with an average of 17.2 points and 8.5 rebounds per game this season.
Bass offered several reasons for the success he has had this season. He believes that the experience he gained while battling through a tough SEC schedule as a freshman is perhaps the most important.
“I think overall my experience, me just getting that year’s experience and polishing up my moves and my game really helped me out a lot,” Bass said. “I learned that you’ve got to come out here every night with your ‘A’ game. You’ve got to make sure you’re ready to compete with the players and the teams in the SEC.”
Bass learned all about competition this off-season when he participated in workouts with several NBA teams. In April, he entered his name into the 2004 NBA Draft but opted to withdraw before the June 17 deadline. Since he had not signed with an agent, he was allowed return to LSU for his sophomore season.
“It’s just the competitiveness. All I did at NBA workouts was just compete,” Bass said. “That develops you more as a player faster, and I think that it’s just the experience of being around the best players in the country. It only helps.”
He also stated that playing alongside freshman sensation Glen “Big Baby” Davis has relieved much of the pressure on him to single-handedly carry the load in the frontcourt. Davis averages 13.2 points and 9.0 rebounds per game, which ranks second and first among SEC freshmen, respectively. He has added seven double-doubles of his own.
“The support he gives me is that you’ve got to respect his game too,” Bass said. “The way he’s been attracting double teams has really relieved some pressure off of me. He helps me out a lot with his rebounding and his offensive presence.”
Because there are only two seniors on this year’s Tiger team, Bass acknowledged that he is striving to use his experience and competitiveness to provide the team with the leadership it needs to reach its full potential.
“I’ve mainly just tried to get this team to work hard every practice and treat every game like it’s their last,” Bass said. “That’s the type of approach you’ve got to have in the SEC because everybody’s preparing just as you are. You just want to be focused every night and every practice.”
That leadership has even carried itself into the classroom. Bass maintains a solid 3.45 cumulative grade-point average, including a GPA of 3.8 during the fall semester. For his efforts, Bass earned a spot on the 2004 Freshman SEC Academic Honor Roll and has been nominated for the honor of CoSIDA Academic All-American.
Bass said that the Tigers must develop mental toughness to make it through the rigors of conference play and into the postseason.
“I think it’s all mental,” Bass said. “Last year I probably lacked that mental toughness. This year I’m better mentally, and I think that’s going to help us out as a team a lot this year if we continuously work on our mental toughness.”
Bass has guided LSU to victory in six of the last eight games, and the team finds itself alone in second place in the SEC Western Division with a 5-3 conference record, 12-7 overall.
The Tigers will look to continue their winning ways when they return home to battle a pesky Auburn team that is coming off an impressive 90-76 victory over the Mississippi State Bulldogs on Saturday. A victory would make LSU a perfect 6-0 on the season in SEC home games.
“We are taking care of our business at home,” Bass said. “That’s what any team in the SEC is supposed to do — just take care of the games at home right now. Our team is coming along pretty good.”
With the Tigers racing down the homestretch of the conference schedule, there’s no doubt that the team will continue to ride the back of their super sophomore as it claws its way back into position for a berth in the NCAA Tournament.