LSU Tigers Men's Basketball: A History of Triumph and Tradition
The Louisiana State University (LSU) Tigers men's basketball team has a storied history, marked by periods of success, legendary players, and passionate fan support. Representing Louisiana State University in NCAA Division I men's college basketball, the Tigers compete in the Southeastern Conference (SEC). They play their home games in the Pete Maravich Assembly Center, a venue steeped in history and named after one of the program's all-time greats. Currently, the Tigers are under the guidance of head coach Matt McMahon, who is working to build upon the foundations laid by his predecessors.
Early Years and the Rabenhorst Era
The LSU men's basketball program began in the 1908-09 season. That same season marked a turning point in the sport itself, as continuous dribbling and shots off the dribble were allowed for the first time. The team's inaugural game was a road contest against Dixon Academy, which they won 35-20. Their first home game was also a victory, an 18-12 decision over Mississippi A&M (now Mississippi State).
The program first experienced success under coach C. C. Stroud, who was hired in 1914. However, it was Harry Rabenhorst who truly shaped the program, coaching the team from 1925 to 1957. The 1934-1935 Tigers, led by All-American Sparky Wade, finished with a 14-1 record. In their final game of the season, the Tigers defeated the Eastern Intercollegiate Conference co-champion Pittsburgh Panthers in the American Legion Bowl by a score of 41-37. LSU is the only school that officially claims a national championship on the basis of a win in the American Legion Bowl, an event that made no claim to determine a national champion. The Helms Athletic Foundation retroactively named the 19-1 NYU Violets its national champion for the 1934-35 season. The retroactive Premo-Porretta Power Poll also ranked the Violets as its 1935 national champion.
The Maravich Era
From 1957 to 1966, LSU was coached by Jay McCreary (1957-1965) and Frank Truitt (1965-66 season), who combined for a record of 88-135. Press Maravich took over as head basketball coach from 1966 to 1972, compiling a 76-86 record. While he led the team to three winning seasons, he did not win an SEC championship or make an NCAA tournament appearance. His 1969-70 team did reach the NIT Final Four.
This era is most memorable for the performance of Press Maravich's son, "Pistol" Pete Maravich, whom he coached from 1967 to 1970. The 1971-1972 season marked the Tigers' first in the LSU Assembly Center, which was renamed the Pete Maravich Assembly Center after his death in 1988, ensuring his legacy would forever be tied to the program. Collis Temple Jr. also played during this time.
Read also: LSU Calendar Guide
Dale Brown's Legendary Tenure
Dale Brown served as the head LSU basketball coach for 25 years, from 1972 to 1997. During his tenure, he guided the team to two Final Fours, four Elite Eights, five Sweet Sixteens, and thirteen NCAA Tournament appearances. In 1981, Rudy Macklin led LSU to the Final Four. The 1989 team showcased the talents of Chris Jackson, later known as Mahmoud Abdul-Rauf.
In 1996-97, Dale Brown recruited Baton Rouge high school star Lester Earl, who had led Glen Oaks High School to three consecutive Louisiana High School Athletic Association state championships. Earl played only 11 games at LSU before being suspended and transferring to the University of Kansas. While at Kansas, Earl alleged that an LSU assistant coach had given him money while he was at LSU, prompting an NCAA investigation. The investigation found no evidence that Brown or his assistants paid Earl, but it did reveal that a former booster had given Earl approximately $5,000.
In September 2007, Lester Earl apologized to Brown, then-assistant head coach Johnny Jones, and LSU for his role in the NCAA investigation, retracting his original claims that the NCAA pressured him into making false claims against Dale Brown. Earl stated that the NCAA intimidated and manipulated him into making up things in order to finish his playing career at Kansas. Brown has stated that he has forgiven Earl.
The John Brady Years
In 1997, John Brady succeeded Dale Brown as head coach. When Brady arrived, the program was under probation due to a recruiting scandal. In 2000, the Tigers broke through, achieving a 28-6 record and reaching the NCAA Tournament Sweet 16.
Brady's 2005-06 team, led by Glen "Big Baby" Davis and Tyrus Thomas, won their first outright SEC regular season championship since 1985 and earned a #4 seed in the NCAA tournament. After defeating Iona and Texas A&M, LSU upset #1 seed Duke and #2 seed Texas to advance to their first Final Four since 1986.
Read also: Louisiana Scholarship Eligibility
The 2006 Final Four, held at the RCA Dome in Indianapolis, Indiana, was notable for being the first since 1980 without a #1 seed. LSU, along with #2 UCLA, #3 Florida, and #11 George Mason, competed for the national championship. In the national semifinals, the Tigers lost to UCLA 59-45, bringing LSU's all-time record in the men's Final Four to 0-6 (and 0-11 in all Final Four games, including an 0-5 mark in the women's Final Four).
On February 8, 2008, Brady was fired from LSU. In his ten and a half seasons, he compiled a 192-139 record, including two SEC titles and four NCAA tournament appearances.
The Trent Johnson and Johnny Jones Eras
On April 10, 2008, Trent Johnson was named the 20th head coach of the LSU Tigers men's basketball team, becoming the first African-American head coach of a men's sports team at LSU. In his first season, Johnson led the Tigers to 27 wins and the SEC regular season championship, earning them a return to the NCAA tournament for the first time since 2006. They defeated Butler in the opening round before losing to North Carolina in the second round.
LSU improved to 18-15 in 2011-12 and earned a berth to the NIT, losing in the first round at Oregon.
On April 13, 2012, Johnny Jones was named the 21st head coach of the LSU Tigers men's basketball team. He had an overall record of 90-72 in five seasons at LSU. In the 2014-15 season, Jones led LSU to its first appearance in the NCAA tournament since the 2008-09 season, where the Tigers fell to North Carolina State in their opening game, 66-65. In the 2015-16 season, Jones led the Tigers to a 19-14 overall record, including 11-7 in conference play. Despite starting the season ranked 21st in the AP and 19th in the USA Today Coaches poll, and featuring the No. 1 overall recruit, Ben Simmons, LSU failed to earn an NCAA tournament bid and declined to participate in any postseason play. The Tigers started the 2016-17 season 8-2, but finished the season with a 1-17 slide, ending 2-16 in SEC play and 10-21 overall.
Read also: Understanding TOPS Eligibility
Recent Seasons
The Tigers have appeared in the NCAA tournament 24 times and in the National Invitation Tournament (NIT) nine times.
Home Arenas
Throughout their history, the LSU Tigers have played their home games in several different arenas:
- State Field (1908-1924): The team's original home court was an outdoor grass surface on LSU's old downtown campus.
- LSU Gym/Armory (1930-1937): Completed in 1930, this building served as the home gymnasium for the basketball team until 1937. The gymnasium had a stage at one end and could be converted into an auditorium. When not set up as an auditorium, it provided an open space for basketball games and other events.
- John M. Parker Agricultural Coliseum (1937-1971): Opened in 1937, this arena seated 12,000 people for basketball games. For several years both the Gym/Armory and the coliseum were used for LSU's basketball games.
- Pete Maravich Assembly Center (1972-Present): Originally known as the LSU Assembly Center, the arena was renamed in honor of Pete Maravich in 1988. The arena concourse is divided into four quadrants: Pete Maravich Pass, The Walk of Champions, Heroes Hall and Midway of Memories. The slightly oval building is located directly to the north of Tiger Stadium, and its bright-white roof can be seen in many telecasts of that stadium.
Support and Spirit
The LSU Tigers basketball program is supported by a variety of spirit groups:
- Bengal Brass Basketball Band: A 72-member ensemble selected from the ranks of the band, Bengal Brass performs at home volleyball matches, gymnastics meets, and all home men's and women's basketball games. They also travel with the basketball teams during postseason play.
- LSU Cheerleaders: Both male and female cheerleaders perform at men's and women's basketball games, leading the crowd in cheers. The cheerleaders also compete against other universities in competitions sanctioned by the Universal Cheerleaders Association (UCA).
- LSU Tiger Girls: Established as a danceline for the LSU men's and women's basketball teams, the all-female squad performs during all home games and other university and non-university sponsored functions.
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