LSU men’s basketball coach Trent Johnson always talks about how invaluable game experience is to a player’s development. If he’s right, this season has been an intersession. Many speculated this year might be rough. Senior forward Tasmin Mitchell and junior guard Bo Spencer were the only holdovers with any kind of experience after losing five seniors in 2008. Players like sophomore forward Garrett Green, sophomore forward Storm Warren and freshman forward Dennis Harris were expected to fill big shoes in the post. Sophomore guard Chris Bass and a slew of walk-ons had the tough task of replacing the Southeastern Conference Player of the Year Marcus Thornton in the backcourt after senior guard Alex Farrer went down with a knee injury before the season started. The progression has certainly been rough. Mitchell has been the team’s sole solid contributor thus far, and the Tigers have wielded a measly 1-13 conference record. The team has rebounded of late. The Tigers’ contributing crew came out with three solid efforts after an 87-52 shellacking at Arkansas just three weeks ago. Close losses against Vanderbilt and Mississippi State and a win against Arkansas had many thinking the ship had been righted. Saturday’s 74-59 loss at Auburn seemed like a step back. But Johnson was pleased with the team’s second-half effort despite Mitchell only managing six points and fouling out. “I thought we got some nice production in the second half,” Johnson said. “We scored 40 points.”Mitchell has had to play mentor and leader for the young pack this season as the lone senior on the squad. “Hopefully the guys that have had a chance to play with him and around him and watch him play, hopefully they’ve learned something: What a good player looks like,” Johnson said. “What a good leader looks like.”Mitchell’s full impact has not been seen yet, Johnson said. The coach believes Mitchell’s lasting impression should be positive, or something is wrong with his players. “They’ve improved,” Johnson said. “How much will be determined in the spring and the summer and when he’s not around on an everyday basis. Put it like this: If you haven’t learned from being around a guy like that and being through what we’ve been through, you’re either stupid or you don’t care.”Mitchell has relished his role this season, even if it hasn’t led to a stellar record. The same guy who has won two SEC titles, been to the Final Four and gone through two coaching changes will play his final home game Saturday against Georgia. “I take a lot of pride in leading this team,” Mitchell said. “When we lose games, I take more responsibility. That’s a part of my character. I don’t mind taking responsibility.” Mitchell knew he would have to take more of a teaching role this season with the personnel returning. Mitchell had actually pondered the NBA Draft, but decided to stick around for his final season of eligibility. Johnson made no bones to Mitchell about how much LSU needed him this season. “He sat me down and told me that I was going to have a lot of responsibility on this team,” Mitchell said. “That I was going to be the leader. I was just like, ‘Yes sir. Let’s do this.'” The young Tigers still have more work to do this season — namely to help Mitchell leave campus a winner. “We have a game Thursday, and we need some guys to step up and help [Mitchell] Saturday so he can get out of here on a positive note,” Johnson said.—-Contact Chris Branch at [email protected]