Summer is a time of relaxation for most LSU students and staff.
But the players and coaches of the LSU men’s basketball team need to take a completely different approach to the summer months — if they want to avoid another struggling season, that is.
When they don’t have worry about studying for tests, writing papers and cramming for quizzes, the Tigers should focus on basketball and do everything they can to improve.
Albert Einstein may have said it best — insanity is continuing to repeat the same actions and expect different results.
Does the team want to remain second to last in the Southeastern Conference in rebounding margin and last in scoring offense and assist to turnover ratio?
If so, it should keep doing what it has been doing for the past two seasons. If not, things need to be different.
Change is never comfortable. But it wasn’t comfortable for loyal Maravich Maniacs to sit and watch their team lose to in-state rival Nicholls State or fall to Ole Miss by 27 points.
Here’s three things LSU can do to improve during the summer months:
1. Make the most out of Italy
The Tigers are taking a trek to Italy starting May 17. It could be an opportunity to mold team morale and gain true game experience during the downtime.
“I’m not sure how much sight-seeking we’ll be doing,” LSU coach Trent Johnson said during his post season press conference. “My goal is to play as many games as we can in nine days, and when we have some down time we have some practicing we need to be doing.”
Johnson said he took a similar trip the summer before his final year at Stanford, which could be a positive indication of things to come.
Stanford advanced to the Sweet Sixteen the following season on the backs of 7-footers Brook and Robin Lopez, who were a lethal combination in the low-post for the Cardinal.
2. Integrate the three newcomers
Center Johnny O’Bryant, guard John Isaac and point guard Anthony Hickey will join the team this summer, adding more questions to the already hazy depth chart.
The three need to be seamlessly mixed into the team, both on and off the court.
O’Bryant and Hickey could vie for starting jobs, and the incumbents must accept this as a challenge rather than a threat.
3. Take the next step in development
The returning players need to improve in the offseason, whether it’s bulking up in the weight room, solidifying their shot or improving on defense.
Johnson can no longer use the “young” excuse.
The 2011-12 team will boast five seniors, including veteran forwards Storm Warren, Malcolm White and Garrett Green.
Those three and the addition of O’Bryant and 6-foot-11-inch transfer Justin Hamilton (rising junior) should make the post deeper than it has been in recent seasons.
The backcourt, on the other hand, will be thin and less experienced. Senior point guard Chris Bass, who averaged 16.4 minutes per game last season, will be the only guard with more than one year of experience.
Much change is needed from now until the season opener next year.
It’s time for the Tigers to get to work for the next few months.
Follow Michael Lambert on Twitter @TDR_Lambert.
 
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Contact Michael Lambert at [email protected]