Metaloctopus

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You would have had to be an idiot to look at that schedule and believe they would be prepared for SEC play.

And someone on here posted a couple weeks back that this was her most talented team at LSU.

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People have short memories. They played a pre-conference schedule every bit this bad in the year they won the national championship, and only lost two games the whole year once they started playing real teams.

The problem isn't that the schedule didn't prepare them. The problem is that they are playing with a lack of either effort (as was the problem against Kentucky, when they just stood around and let Kentucky get to nearly every rebound) or focus (as was the issue in this game, where they made repeated unforced mistakes, just throwing the ball wildly into heavy traffic areas). When they actually lock in with effort and stop making mental mistakes, they can beat anyone. I mean, you're talking about being unprepared, and yet they've lost two games by a combined 6 points to teams ranked just outside of the top 10, who will both probably be in the top 10 now.

So let's stop acting like they started league play, and now they're getting their teeth kicked in. They've played two bad games, relative to what they are capable of, and could have easily won both games.

I'm irritated at the lack of effort, and the repeated mental mistakes. I'm making no excuses for them, because there is no excuse. But I'm also not buying into this "not ready" narrative. You can play a schedule of nothing but ranked teams, and it means nothing if you don't commit to showing up and playing the right way. Why was Fulwiley so bad against Kentucky? Why was Flau'jae so bad against Vandy? Aren't those two national championship winning players who have been on multiple deep NCAA tournament runs? Are they not tested? Are we really going to blame the schedule for their struggles?

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He isn’t coming here or anywhere. As long as he plays decently for SCar next year he will be a 1st round pick lock.

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It doesn't really matter where he goes in the draft next year. He has another year to play college ball before then, and why not do it for a team that has a decent chance to win, and more money to play there than he'll get at South Carolina?

I don't know if he'll come here, but I don't think his draft status is going to have anything to do with his decision.

And, once more, the majority of the people in the thread have missed the obvious sarcasm.

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Lane did well but he didn’t recruit these guys in 3 days. Come on now.

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He had three days to convince them to stay. Nothing that happens in the months and years leading up to signing day means a thing if you don't close and get them to actually sign. When there are coaching changes, it usually means your recruiting class falls apart. He had to re-recruit these guys, which is especially hard in the NIL era, where you have to fend off not just good programs, but even mediocre ones with deep pockets.

Anyone who doesn't appreciate the job Lane did, in my opinion, does not understand this process.

I watched the 4th quarter of that game. John Curtis played spectacularly soft on defense on the final drive, letting St Aug go 70 yards in 39 seconds with one timeout. Gave them all the space they needed to get up field AND get out of bounds on every play.

I have no dog in that fight, technically, but it's always nice to see Curtis lose.

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They can definitely score. That travels better in December than it does in December.
I saw a sloppy team tonight that doesn’t cherish the ball or really care much to defend.
There’s lots of talent, but lots of deficiencies that need to be addressed.
I’m sure Kim is up to the task. I trust her to coach em up.

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These were my takeaways, as well. We knew they could score, and they further proved that. The turnovers were largely unforced, careless plays, and there was a very noticeable lack of hustle getting back on defense. That was very odd to me. I've seen them have trouble with back cuts, but usually effort is not the problem. They were coasting back after nearly every shot.

LSU won this game by 16, but they handed Duke a large, large portion of what they put on the board with silly turnovers, and just not even trying to defend. If they clean up the decisions and simply play with an acceptable level of effort on defense, they are the best team in the country.

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There's nothing good anymore about conference title games. They've outlived their usefulness. They're only good for getting a key player hurt like Carson Beck (Georgia QB) last season.

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People get hurt in practice. I've never bought that as an excuse to not play a game.

The people who complain that it hurts them, quickly change their mind when that game serves as a de facto play in for their team. There are two sides to every argument.

Well if the only evidence you have is upvotes and downvotes, it seems like you need to read the room, if you think I'm in the minority.

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What does Georgia or Alabama have to gain by playing the SECCG? Other than a trophy? Alabama could get knock out of playoffs with another loss. Not likely because it’s Alabama but possible. Meanwhile, Oklahoma, Texas &M, Ole Miss are actually ranked higher than Alabama and get to sit home and rest.

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They'll have plenty of rest before the playoffs. Playing games keeps you sharp. And it's nothing new that sometimes playing for a conference championship could hurt you. But if you get rid of them, there will be just as many, if not more instances where conferences hurt themselves by not having that extra game. It's just part of the deal.

That was nicely said, overall. I do disagree with one thing he said, which is that Kiffin will "likely" be fired one day by LSU. That's a weird comment. If he doesn't run the program into the ground, he won't be fired. Every coach here who has been fired, whether they won a championship or not, did something to warrant their eventual firing. Why did Miami fire Coker? He sank that ship. Fowler made it sound like LSU just fires people for being there too long. No, they fire people when they stop doing a good job, or never did a good job to begin with. Saban never would have been fired here. If you keep winning, you keep your job. That's the way this works.