How they got there: To be blunt, at the beginning of the season, a miracle was LSU's only prayer of being invited to the NCAA Tournament. That dream has become reality, because the team many predicted to finish last in the SEC West, not only proved it wasn't the SEC doormat, but the Tigers won their division. Southeast Missouri State is making its first tourney appearance after beating perenial NCAA invitee, Murray State, in the Ohio Valley tournament title game.
The coaches: What John Brady has done in the Bayou is amazing, even more so when you figure he was coaching Crowley (La). High School less than a decade ago. Brady, who spent six years at Samford prior to taking over for Dale Brown in 1997, has been coaching at a major disadvantage because of NCAA violations the school committed long before he ever arrived. Despite only having nine scholarship players, however, Brady has convinced his players they can win, and they've been doing it. Like Brady, Indians coach Gary Garner can boast about jumpstarting a program. Southeast Missouri State has only been a Division I program since 1992, and since that infancy stage, Garner has produced a legitimate conference contender.
Keys to the game: Depth, it's that simple. Because of those dreaded NCAA probations, the Tigers only have nine scholarships players, and even then coach Brady rarely goes more than two deep on his bench. If the Indians can figure out a way to get the Tigers into foul trouble, they might be able to hang with LSU. Then again, Southeast Missouri State isn't exactly the most athletic team in the country, so if LSU can jump out to a quick lead, the Indians probably won't be making any remarkable rallies.
Styles of play: LSU is athletic, and talented, so everything they do on the court will appear more flashy than Southeast Missouri State. However, teams like Villanova in 1985, and even Utah in 1998, have proven that athleticism alone doesn't win games. Just like LSU utilizes its quickness to its advantage, the Indians do the same with their strengths, which is halfcourt basketball. They play smart basketball, and run the triangle offense, made famous by the Chicago Bulls, to near perfection. Southeast Missouri State isn't going to make dumb passes or get embarrassed defensively that often, because they play within the system, which has proven its worth in the last few years.
Noteable: LSU made the NCAA tournament each season from 1984-1993, which included a 1986 Final Four appearance, but the Tigers haven't been dancing since. LSU's last tournament win was a first-round 94-83 victory over Brigham Young in 1992. ...Southeast Missouri State, on the other hand, has no prior postseason experience. ...Many believe The Tigers' Stromile Swift, a 6-foot-8 sophomore, should be the SEC player of the year. He's averaged 16.2 points and 8.2 rebounds this season. ...Southeast Missouri State's strength is its backcourt, with Antonio Short and Michael Stokes. Southeast Missouri State's RPI ranking is 61; LSU's RPI ranking is 12.
Louisiana State (26-5)
No. Starters Pos. Year Ht. Wt. ppg. rpg. apg.
4 Stromile Swift F So. 6-9 230 16.5 8.2 0.9
2 Brian Beshara F Jr. 6-8 220 12.4 7.1 2.3
52 Jabari Smith C Sr. 6-11 250 12.4 7.1 2.3
3 Torris Bright G Fr. 6-4 200 10.0 3.7 4.5
43 Lamont Roland G Jr. 6-4 205 11.3 4.8 2.3
No. Reserves Pos. Year Ht. Wt. ppg. rpg. apg.
41 Collis Temple G Fr. 6-6 205 4.1 1.5 1.0
12 Ronald Dupree F Fr. 6-6 205 5.2 3.5 0.5
21 Jerm. Williams F So. 6-6 180 4.9 2.5 1.9
54 Brad Bridgwater F So. 6-8 250 1.7 1.2 0.1
45 Jack Warner G Jr. 6-4 205 0.9 0.2 0.0
10 Edmond Davis G Fr. 5-10 170 0.9 0.1 0.2
11 Brandon Landry G So. 6-0 175 0.8 0.1 0.5
00 Brian Green G/F Fr. 6-4 190 0.5 0.4 0.0
SOUTHEAST MISSOURI STATE (24-6)
No. Starters Pos. Year Ht. Wt. ppg. rpg. apg.
33 Rod Johnson F Sr. 6-6 200 13.9 8.4 1.3
44 Mike Branson F Sr. 6-6 200 12.1 3.8 1.1
4 Brian Bunche C Sr. 6-8 240 3.9 5.9 1.5
5 Antonio Short G Jr. 6-2 180 8.2 2.9 1.7
12 Michael Stokes G Jr. 6-0 165 13.0 3.7 4.2
No. Reserves Pos. Year Ht. Wt. ppg. rpg. apg.
23 Drew DeMond F Fr. 6-7 200 1.3 1.9 0.4
54 Nyah Jones C Jr. 6-11 230 5.6 3.6 0.7
3 Amory Sanders G Jr. 6-1 175 5.7 0.8 1.0
15 E. McCuthison G Jr. 6-4 180 5.0 2.0 0.3
10 Fred Abraham G So. 6-0 175 2.3 0.7 0.9
34 Matt Morris G Jr. 6-2 180 2.0 0.8 0.2
20 Tim Scheer G Fr. 6-6 190 1.6 0.9 0.1
22 Ryan Thomas G So. 6-1 175 0.4 0.1 0.3