LSU coach John Brady thinks this season is the time for returning forward Tasmin Mitchell to show he can play with the best.
“He knows this is an opportunity for him to step it up another level and without Tyrus [Thomas] here and Glen [Davis], he is going to [emerge] as our best player and leader on our team,” Brady said in a recent offseason teleconference.
Along with the former forward Davis, Mitchell was one of the Tigers’ most consistent players this past season, averaging 34 minutes and 14.7 points per game.
Now without Davis, Mitchell, along with returning guards Terry Martin and Garrett Temple, must complement several new players for LSU to rebound from its disapointing 2006-2007 when the team went 17-15 (5-11 Southeastern Conference) and missed the NCAA tournament and the National Invitational Tournament.
One player fans should keep their eyes on is newcomer Anthony Randolph, a 6-11 freshman forward who was widely considered one of the nation’s best recruits coming out of high school.
“We signed Anthony Randolph to come in as a freshman [to] play if not start,” Brady said. “Certainly I think he’s got the opportunity to start. We’ve started some freshmen in the past that have done quite well in Brandon [Bass] and Glen [Davis] and even Tyrus [Thomas] as a red-shirt freshman.”
While the the Tigers continue their offseason workouts, here is a look at the remainder of the SEC West and what other coaches said about their teams.
ARKANSAS
Record last season: 21-14, 7-9 SECPostseason: Lost to USC in NCAA tournament first roundCoach: John Pelphrey (first season with team)Returning starters: 5He said it: “We do have six seniors. We’ve got some experience there, and with experience comes good decision making.” – Pelphrey
ALABAMA
Record last season: 20-12, 7-9 SECPostseason: Lost to Massachusetts in NIT first roundCoach: Mark Gottfried (181-108, ninth season)Returning starters: 4He said it: “He had surgery in early April on both knees. It’s now a little over three months since he’s done anything. I think they’re a couple weeks away from letting him do anymore.” – Gottfried on two-time All-SEC returning point guard Ronald Steele, who underwent surgery to repair cartilage in both knees.
AUBURN
Record last season: 17-15, 7-9 SECPostseason: noneCoach: Jeff Lebo (43-48, third season)Returning starters: 5He said it: “We got everyone back from a team that I think [beat] five teams last year that were [in the] top 25 when we played them or [in the] top 25 at one point this season.” – Lebo
OLE MISS
Record last season: 21-13, 8-8 SECPostseason: Lost to Clemson in NIT second roundCoach: Andy Kennedy (21-13, second season)Returning starters: 3He said it: “The [returning starters] have been here the majority of the summer. We’ve challenged them with the loss of our backcourt that now they’re the leaders of this group … And we’ve been really pleased with their attitudes during the summer.” – Kennedy
MISSISSIPPI STATE
Record last season: 21-14, 8-8 SECPostseason: Lost to West Virginia in NIT semifinalsCoach: Rick Stansbury (185-104, ninth season)Returning starters: 4He said it: “It seems like for the first time in a couple years we have a little experience returning. Basically, we’ve been a freshman, sophomore team in the last two years. I do have one senior and one junior, and that still makes us a very young team.” – Stansbury
—-Contact Kyle Whitfield at [email protected]