SEC Basketball Final Grades for 2014-15 season

Mar 19, 2015; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; North Carolina State Wolfpack guard Anthony Barber (12) shoots the ball between LSU Tigers forward

(1) and Tigers forward

(25) during the first half in the second round of the 2015 NCAA Tournament at Consol Energy Center. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports

LSU Tigers: C

Forwards Jordan Mickey and Jarell Martin were arguably one of the most talented frontcourts in college basketball last season.

Both players played each game with a high motor and wanted the basketball in their hands just as much as any other forward or center. Mickey and Martin combined to average 32.3 points and 19.1 rebounds per game but the inconsistencies from the Tigers’ backcourt became the team’s downfall at times during the season.

In most people’s eyes, head coach Johnny Jones had enough talent, offensively and defensively, to beat the bottom half of the SEC. In league play, LSU suffered losses to Texas A&M (2), Auburn (2), Missouri, Mississippi State, and Tennessee. When Martin and Mickey were double teamed, the Tigers fell out of sync on offense. Whenever LSU held a comfortable or slight lead, it became nearly impossible to hold onto.

In the 71-69 loss to Kentucky, the Tigers were up 66-60 with under seven minutes to play. In the Feb. 5 loss to the Auburn Tigers, LSU was up 73-72 with 1:19 to go. In the Feb. 17 loss to the Aggies, the Tigers were up 34-26 early in the first half before going ice cold offensively. The same results happened in losses to Auburn (SEC Tournament Quarterfinals) and N.C. State (First round of NCAA Tournament).

Coach Jones’ team finished the season 22-11 overall, including an 11-7 conference record.

Guard Keith Hornsby (13.4 ppg) shot 39.3 percent from deep and floor general Josh Gray (7.1 ppg) averaged 3.8 assists per game, but didn’t have enough firepower to break the team out of a scoring funk. Outside of Martin and Mickey, the other best offensive scorer LSU had was forward Tim Quarterman, who averaged 11.5 points per game while shooting 42.7 percent from the field. Quarterman was the team’s leading scorer in only four games last season.

The frontcourt of Mickey and Martin did its part to ensure LSU would stay in close games, but with the backcourt a couple of steps behind, the Tigers fell more times than expected.

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