Wade lays down law on players

Published 7:00 pm Wednesday, January 31, 2018

<p class="p1">OK, Will Wade, now it’s time to show us what you’ve got.</p><p class="p1">It’s been a pretty good ride so far for the LSU basketball’s coach’s first-year, shake-down cruise.</p><p class="p1">You certainly have to at least be encouraged.</p><p class="p1">Sure, he made some wild and brash promises on the alumni-tour circuit, sounding a lot like a young Dale Brown.</p><p class="p1">Nobody really took those speeches seriously enough to really raise expectations. In fact, it was more like mild, knowing chuckles from the peanut gallery, most of them wondering if he realized what he was getting into, what he was inheriting. He sounded more naive than his baby face would suggest.</p><p class="p1">Yet one can argue that his first year is already a success at 12-8 overall and 3-5 in the Southeastern Conference, more victories in both than the Tigers managed last year.</p><p class="p1">There have been enough unexpected upticks to make fans take notice — something of a minor miracle in itself.</p><p class="p1">There’s the nation’s No. 3-ranked recruiting class headed in, presumably to shore up some glaring holes.</p><p class="p1">Look over the horizon and the sky’s the limit.</p><p class="p1">It’s also a team with an uncanny ability to come just short at home just when the big, curious crowds showed up after some eye-opening road successes.</p><p class="p1">But it’s mostly the usual basketball stuff — why, for instance, can’t this team occasionally corral a rebound?</p><p class="p1">Now the real world has come intruding into this honeymoon.</p><p class="p1">Even in the losses, the Tigers have been competitive and apparently well-coached, a far cry from recent seasons.</p><p class="p1">Then came Saturday’s 95-70 loss at Auburn.</p><p class="p1">That day the Tigers were what we thought they’d be. There were ugly flashbacks to the last two seasons. Even if it’s hard to imagine who might have beaten Auburn that day, LSU was hopelessly outclassed and uncompetitive.</p><p class="p1">Again, that’s basketball stuff — back to the drawing board, blow the whistle a little harder.</p><p class="p1">But now Wade has had to earn his coaching stripes.</p><p class="p1">Right in the wake of the Auburn loss — probably the low point of the season — comes word that two players were suspended for tonight’s game at Tennessee, another was suspended for the season and yet another is done forever as a Tiger.</p><p class="p1">Forget Xs and Os, innovative game plans and blocking out on free throws. This is when coaches earn the big paychecks.</p><p class="p1">Forward Galen Alexander’s situation was described as a “leave of absence,” but it wasn’t voluntary and he will not be allowed back.</p><p class="p1">Same thing for forward Mayan Kiir, although his situation will be reviewed after the season and he might — presumably for good behavior — get the opportunity to return next season.</p><p class="p1">Wayde Sims and Brandon Rachal were suspended for tonight’s game in Knoxville.</p><p class="p1">Wade didn’t specify any of the lads’ indiscretions — just the standard “violation of team policies” — but it probably wasn’t for eating Tide pods for Sunday brunch.</p><p class="p1">It’s always something.</p><p class="p1">None of the four are starters, although Sims and Rachel are frequent contributors. But it’s a blow to team depth, and how it affects team chemistry and morale is kind of Wade’s next move.</p><p class="p1">It’s the delicate part of coaching — the “knucklehead factor” — that’s not in the manual and rarely discussed at clinics.</p><p class="p1">“It’s not the most exciting part of your job,” Wade said in announcing the disciplinary actions. “But it’s part of what you have to do. You have to maintain a culture.”</p><p class="p1">We already know how Wade can coach a basketball game — pretty darn good. This is a glimpse, perhaps, of how he can run a program.</p><p class="p1">If nothing else, it’s a preview as to how he will run it.</p><p class="p1">Still, the timing could not have been much worse.</p><p class="p1">The next few weeks, beginning with a trip to No. 18 Tennessee tonight, figure to define the season.</p><p class="p1">There is also a return visit from a good Arkansas team that LSU embarrassed 75-54 in Fayetteville — the Tigers’ season high point was the Hogs’ rock bottom — along with trips to No. 23 Florida and Alabama and a home game against Ole Miss.</p><p class="p1">“That’s on me as a coach to figure that out,” Wade said. “We will put together a plan and do the best we can.”</p><p class="p1">It’s not a deal-breaker for the program — or even Wade’s ability to return LSU basketball to prominence … or even relevance.</p><p class="p1">At the least he is setting some parameters.</p><p class="p1">But now we get to watch him coach — really, <em>really</em> coach.</p><p class="p2">l</p><p class="p3"><strong>Scooter Hobbs</strong> covers LSU athletics. Email him at</p><p class="p3">shobbs@americanpress.com</p>