I’ve been a Trent Johnson believer since Day 1.
When I heard the former Stanford and Nevada basketball guru was going to be the successor to John Brady at LSU, I could not have been more excited. Johnson didn’t disappoint in his first year at the helm, guiding the Tigers to the Southeastern Conference regular season championship and the second round of the NCAA Tournament.
With my freshman year at LSU also being Johnson’s first season in Baton Rouge, I can’t help but feel a special bond to the fourth-year coach.
Trent’s last three years have been a bit rocky, but everyone still deserves to get some love thrown their way on Feb. 14.
So on this Valentine’s Day, I give you the five things I love about Trent Johnson as the LSU men’s basketball coach.
1. He’s a Northwest guy
Call me biased because I spent most of my childhood in the great city of Eugene, Ore., but I love that Johnson’s roots are in the Pacific Northwest. Johnson’s stops at Boise State, Nevada and Stanford have allowed him to approach SEC basketball from a West Coast perspective.
It’s not like he lucked his way into the head coaching job at LSU either. Johnson was named Coach of the Year in both the Pac-10 and the WAC.
2. He’s not afraid to make bold decisions on and off the court
One thing is certain: Johnson doesn’t answer to anybody when it comes to strategical moves on the court. For example, his decision to move sophomores Andre Stringer and Ralston Turner to new positions in 2012 made a big impact on the way LSU has played this year. The jury is still out on whether those moves will have helped or hurt the Tigers so far this season.
As far as off the court, Johnson suspended senior forward Malcolm White for his horse-collar foul on Kentucky freshman Anthony Davis in January before the SEC even got the chance. Trent doesn’t mess around when it comes to discipline.
3. He loves dodgeball
I have nothing but respect for a 55-year-old man who still has the moxie to dodge, duck, dip, dive and dodge. After watching Johnson participate in the tournament put on by the men’s basketball team the last two years, I’m starting to think he enjoys it more than the LSU students that also take part. If you’re thinking of entering the tournament next year, a word of warning — Johnson takes no prisoners.
4. He never thinks a game ahead
Another thing I admire about Trent is the fact that he never looks past an opponent. Earlier this year, when asked about facing a top-25 team in Virginia, Johnson reminded reporters that the Tigers still had to play Grambling State before they faced the Cavaliers. It didn’t matter to him Grambling State was 0-9 at that point in the season.
Like the “Honey Badger,” Johnson doesn’t care if his team is playing Baton Rouge Community College for its next contest. With LSU currently sitting at 14-10 and its postseason fate in doubt, his calming presence that takes every game as it comes will be beneficial for this Tiger team going forward.
5. He has a great fashion sense
If anyone has been to the PMAC to watch the Tigers play, they might have noticed a slight wardrobe change for Johnson and his coaching staff.
This season, Trent and his fellow coaches have adopted sweater vests as their clothing of choice on the sidelines. At first I thought it was just a one-game gimmick, but it appears the sweater vests are here to stay.
I find it funny because when he’s off the court, Trent’s demeanor doesn’t necessarily scream “I like to wear lavender vests.” As long as the Tigers finish with a winning record this season, the sweater vests are OK with me.
Micah Bedard is a 21-year-old mass communication senior from Houma. Follow him on Twitter @DardDog.
—-
Contact Micah Bedard at [email protected]
Five things I love about LSU coach Trent Johnson
February 13, 2012