As media members crowd around former No. 1 overall high school prospect Ben Simmons, the differences between the 2015 edition of the LSU men’s basketball team and former Tiger squads are already noticeable.
For the first time since the 2006-07 season, the Tigers will begin the season ranked No. 21 in the Associated Press Poll and No. 19 in USA Today Coaches Poll.
LSU enters the 2015-16 season after its first NCAA Tournament berth since 2008-09 season.
From the Tigers’ preseason trip to Australia in August, LSU coach Johnny Jones looked to start building the chemistry necessary to usher in a new era with a young team built on a team-first mentality.
“We wanted to see if nucleus-wise we were bonding to be on that road and going for 13 days like that and for our guys to get along like they did,” Jones said. “For them to play together and understand the mission that they’re on. Although we were doing a lot of sightseeing, they understood the mentality that we had to have somewhat of a business trip mentality about it.”
Jones’ approach worked in the words of his rookies and veterans alike.
Since the Australia trip, the Tigers’ chemistry off the court grew, creating a family atmosphere within the team and bonding LSU’s veterans and rookies together.
“A lot of teammates hung out with each other on and off the court,” said junior guard Tim Quarterman. “That’s always good for a team because, usually, people go their separate ways when you get off the court. But a lot of us scrum together and hung out together. That’s big for us.”
Despite the hype surrounding the LSU’s third-ranked 2015 class by the recruiting service 247Sports, featuring freshmen guard Antonio Blakeney, freshman guard Brandon Sampson and Simmons, the Tigers’ united focus helps the freshmen trio to relax and learn the intricacies of the collegiate game.
Unlike in high school, where athletic ability reigned supreme, the rookies’ preparation lies on the technical and mental sides of the game.
While Blakeney and Sampson both mentioned moments where they felt their inexperience, Simmons’ talent and experience in high-pressure situations has translated into an easy comfort as a Tiger.
“I don’t look at myself as a freshman,” Simmons said. “I just look at myself as a player. I have a lot of experience under my belt.”
Besides LSU’s freshman talent, a defining difference between the this year’s squad and the Tigers’ 2014-15 team is the absence of forwards Jarell Martin and Jordan Mickey’s strong presence in the paint.
The Tigers’ discipline to box out and contribute defensively provide keys for improvement for all of the guards, especially for Blakeney and Sampson following senior guard Keith Hornsby’s injury.
“It’s very different.” said senior guard Josh Gray. “Knowing as a guard that I can pressure the guard from the top of the key and if somehow he comes off a ball screen or somehow he beats me that I can depend on Jordan Mickey to be there to slap the ball away. … It’s kind of weird I don’t have any of those guys back this year to depend on.”
Although Simmons’ showcased his versatility in the Tigers’ exhibition against Southwest Baptist with 17 points, nine rebounds and four steals on Friday, LSU was outrebounded 44-to-33 with only 11 boards coming from guards, giving the Tigers a focus heading into the first week of the season.
From LSU’s first practice after the exhibition on Saturday, Jones put the team through more box-out drills and instituted running penalties for guards who don’t box out properly.
“Coach is making it a priority for the one, two and three to get back and obviously the four and five to crash the boards,” Gray said. “That’s one main thing we’ve been going over in practice since the game. He’s just holding everybody accountable. We have to do extra runs if the point and shoot guards don’t get back.“