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Posted: Sunday November 07, 1999 08:08 PM

LSU

1998-99 record

12-15 overall, 4-12 SEC

Coach

John Brady, 21-33 (2 years at LSU); 110-110 overall

Projected starting lineup

G Torris Bright, 6-4, Fr. Scorer in high school (33 points per game) will likely have to adjust to role of distributor for a team that lost three senior guards. G Lamont Roland, 6-4, Jr. Last year's JUCO player of the year was all-state coming out of high school in Indiana, played in 19 games for Ball State in 1997-98 season. C Jabari Smith, 6-11, Jr. LSU's only proven commodity averaged 12.7 points and 9.7 rebounds per game last year, and should only get better due to off-season nose surgery to correct a breathing problem. F Brian Beshara, 6-8, Jr. Versatile Dallas native is Tigers' second-leading returning scorer (11 points per game), transferred from Rice. F Stromile Swift, 6-9, So. Tigers' star (former McDonald's All-American) didn't become eligible until Jan. 7; a year of offseason and preseason work should only help.

Top guy off the bench

G/F Ronald Dupree, 6-6 Fr. Smith calls Dupree "the best athlete on the team," versatility makes him even more valuable.

Key Newcomer

Roland, New Albandy, Ind. Tigers need someone to score outside to complement inside threat of Swift and Smith, and Roland looks like the best candidate.

Key Games

vs. Oklahoma State (Nov. 30). LSU finally gets around to real competition at end of the year. vs. Alabama (Jan. 5) Tigers need to win at home in their division to keep season respectable. vs. Arizona (Jan. 29). LSU fans will get to see a top national program at their place.

Outlook

When your coach says at media days that "we don¹t have the least amount of talent in the league as we did when I came here," you know it's going to be a long season. The Tigers are still reeling from NCAA sanctions that arrived the same time as Brady. LSU has only nine scholarship players and can only sign one player for its 2000 recruiting class. That is making Brady's already tough rebuilding job almost impossible. Swift, who is 21 pounds heavier after hard work in the weight room, should be the bright spot for the Tigers. Light schedule gives LSU a chance to stockpile some wins early, but the true test will come in the conference season. If the Tigers can go .500 in the league and get an NIT bid, this season will be considered a success. Of course, that would mean winning two more SEC games than they won in Brady¹s first two years combined.

Tigers' 1999-00 schedule

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