Time Out: Scott Hotard column for Feb. 21, 2012
LSU could create buzz with strong finish
The way the LSU men’s basketball team has played in recent weeks, it wouldn’t be a surprise to hear Mardi Gras-goers talking a little hoops Tuesday as they feast on king cake or position themselves to catch a prized throw.
Trent Johnson’s krewe has won three games straight and four of its past five, the best ball the Tigers have played since late in the 2009 season.
The timing is spot on, not only given the rough New Year the LSU sports community has endured, but also because the Southeastern Conference basketball tournament returns to New Orleans next month for the first time since 2003.
It’s a walk-through of sorts for the Crescent City, which will have the Final Four at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome beginning March 31.
Even if they fall short of their second NCAA tournament bid in Johnson’s four seasons as coach, the Tigers look like they might at least have themselves in the conversation for a postseason berth as the regular season ends and New Orleans Arena kicks off four days of SEC basketball March 8.
After beating South Carolina on Saturday for their first road win in league play, they have gained a share of fourth place in the SEC with Mississippi State, Alabama and Tennessee, all 6-6 in the conference.
Only seven days ago, LSU sat ninth in the standings.
The Selection Committee took flack last year when it selected just five SEC teams and left Alabama out of the 68-team field. This year’s SEC (with the nation’s fourth-best cumulative RPI ranking, according to RealTimeRPI.com) is stronger than last year’s and deserves at least as many bids.
Even so, only Kentucky, Florida and Vanderbilt are perceived as locks for March Madness.
ESPN bracketologist Joe Lunardi has Mississippi State and Alabama joining the league’s top three, but LSU beat both of those teams during its three-game winning streak and could finish ahead of them both in the SEC standings.
Also consider that the Selection Committee traditionally favors teams that finish the season strong, which would be a tremendous selling point for the Tigers if they’re able to reach a 19- or 20-win regular season.
On the flip side, LSU has an RPI of only No. 63 and will face just one opponent (Ole Miss) with a top-100 RPI to finish the regular season. So no matter how the next two weeks shake out, the Tigers will probably need to knock off one or two of the league’s heavyweights in the SEC tournament to have a shot at making the Big Dance for the 21st time.
LSU still has plenty of work to do between now and then, and Johnson — forever focused on the task at hand — would rather discuss the Krewe of Rex’s parade route than his team’s postseason prospects.
But if they continue their strong play four more games, the Tigers could create the kind of excitement and energy in New Orleans Arena that seemed like a long shot only two weeks ago.
Not to mention 12 months ago.