Johnny Jones isn’t worried about the outside noise.
Amid a five-game stretch in which the Tigers have dropped four of their last five games, questions were posed about the fifth-year head coach’s job security.
“I don’t get caught up in that,” Jones said. “I’ve coached for a living, and I’ve been doing this for some 30-odd years, and I’ve won everywhere I’ve been. I’m a competitor. Nobody wants to win more than I do.”
LSU has struggled in the Southeastern Conference play, with a 1-3 record and during the Tigers last five games they have also allowed at least 90 points, which prompted Jones to consider changes.
Following a 95-78 thumping at home againstMississippi State, Jones decided to reshuffle the starting lineup against Texas A&M on Jan. 11. Junior point guard Branden Jenkins and freshman forward Wayde Sims had their first appearances in LSU’s starting lineup against the Aggies.
The lineup change was met with little response, as the Tigers were out-rebounded 47-32, and the Aggies shot 57 percent from the field as LSU was blown out 92-62.
“We’ve got to keep searching,” Jones said. “We’ve got to figure out what works exactly for us. We’ve got to make sure that they keep performing, working extremely hard in practice, and then try to transition that into the games.”
Some LSU players are hoping the new lineups will eventually work out better than the trial run against Texas A&M.
“Yesterday was the first time, and it didn’t work,” junior guard Jalyn Patterson said. “Not to say it didn’t work, but we just got blasted. I just know that whoever is out there on the floor is good enough to get stops and score. We just haven’t been doing that lately.”
Sims, who has seen an increased role because of sophomore forward Craig Victor II’s dismissal, understands the search for the most productive lineup might take some time.
“I think we’re just trying to see which five play the best, and which five [are]going to get the most energy and play the best defense,” Sims said. “I think coach is just trying to figure out which is his best five.”
LSU welcomes Alabama on Saturday in the PMAC at 2:30 p.m., and Jones again said he’s not getting caught up with the rumors.
“I don’t get caught up in those things,” Jones said. “I just got to make sure that I coach our team and try to get them to be the best that they can.”