In an effort to glean something positive from LSU’s 81-57 shellacking of the Bulldogs down on the Bayou, I’ll chalk the trip up to one big learning experience. What did State learn? Quite a bit, actually. Some of it we could have found out a lot less painfully by looking at history or conventional wisdom, but at least this way we won’t soon forget.
We learned no matter how many shooters a team has, they can all turn cold on the same night. For a team that relies as heavily on the three-ball as MSU does, it spells disaster when that does happen.The way this team is structured, these Bulldogs are simply not very good if the shots aren’t falling.
Just when it looked as if State might run away with the division, we learned that MSU would face stiff competition from a veteran ballclub.
We learned LSU is very good within the confines of the Pete Maravich Assembly Center. Of course, we knew that going in, but we’ve now experienced it firsthand.
We learned that it only takes about three minutes for one hot hand to completely take over a game. About a quarter of the way through the second half Wednesday, LSU guard Marcus Thornton went off, turning the game in favor of the Tigers. For the Bulldogs that didn’t see last season’s game at Vanderbilt, this game taught them that sometimes it doesn’t matter how well you defend a guy. For those that did witness Shan Foster’s 42-point shooting spree, Thornton’s mini-rampage served as a painful reminder.
Personally, I reaffirmed my belief that LSU’s reputation of having the rudest, crudest fans in the conference could not be more deserved. This bunch is lewd, vulgar and tactless. Of course every bunch has bad apples. LSU is a bad orchard.
One particular cheer the students did reminded me of a “Man from Nantucket” limerick and, like several others, wouldn’t be fit to print. Then again, what did I expect from a crowd whose fans would hang their dingers over the exits and pee on opposing fans leaving a football game?
I learned it’s really impressive if your gym has banners from each of the last five (That’s right. Five.) Women’s Final Four tournaments. Just think, LSU head coach Van Chancellor is a State grad and would have loved to coach here.
I learned that LSU’s dance team is very good. Earlier this year, the Tiger Girls brought home runner-up at some national competition, and proved to the crowd Wednesday that the honor was well deserved.
Hopefully the Bulldogs learned enough from the experience to avoid repeating it. I guess we’ll find out Saturday, as State hits the road again.
Brandon Wright is the sports editor of The Reflector. He can be reached at [email protected].