quote:
So do you think that's the reason LSU isn't playing or that they just weren't selected by the NIT and JJ is trying to save face?

Because if Simmons simply playing dictated that decision, LSU should be embarrassed that they let a player become bigger than it's program.

Your last point about Simmons "becoming bigger than the program" is one that could explain a lot of the issues LSU faced on and (seemingly) off the court this season.

This is not to defend Jones' coaching but it seemed that LSU's play was often more designed to "showcase" Simmons' talents than to do whatever it took to win basketball games.
(Especially when it meant Simmons may not have the ball in his hands showing off "point forward" skills quite as much and his numbers may get spread out a bit more among team mates).

The way the team as a whole seemed to respond to adversity, to each other etc could be rooted in at least players feeling this was the case.

No one knows how "coachable" Simmons was or what was discussed as a prerequisite for him coming to LSU. Maybe Jones' mistake wasn't not figuring out some of the problems along the way but having already tied his own hands with Simmons' "handlers" about what he'd be able to do and had simply hoped it would all work out.

If there's any good point to what some people have said about one and dones going to blue blood programs it's mainly just that one looks at LSU this season and really does wonder who was running the show (though I would add that there's also a whole lot of head coaches all around college basketball that I can't see getting into this situation regardless of how talented the player is).