NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Ben Simmons is exceptional at basketball. LSU’s team is not.
The Tigers needed the best from Simmons at the Southeastern Conference Tournament to have a chance to run the table and earn an NCAA bid. But in the quarterfinal and semifinal games that LSU played in, the freshman phenom from Australia didn’t spend enough time where the Tigers needed him — on the court.
LSU, the No. 4 seed, was eliminated from the SEC tourney on Saturday in the semifinal at the hands of a 71-38 pummeling from No. 1 Texas A&M. In 31 minutes played, it was hard for Simmons to play as himself. He struggled to keep LSU afloat and stay out of foul trouble. At halftime, the freshman already had three personal fouls.
“It got to the point to after Ben's second foul, taking him out, I thought they did a much better job. And we wound up, unfortunately, having to put Ben back in, and he picked up his third foul,” LSU coach Johnny Jones said after the loss. “That's not something we're used to doing, playing without (him).”
In Friday’s nine-point win over No. 12 Tennessee, Simmons played just five minutes in the first half because he picked up two early fouls. He finished with 15 points in just 25 minutes, a below average performance for him.
This season, the SEC Freshman of the Year and projected top NBA Draft prospect led his team with 19.2 points and 11.8 rebounds in 34.9 minutes per game. He also led the team in blocks (27), assists (158) and steals (65). Simmons’ 23 double-doubles were the most among major conference players this year.
But when LSU needed him most this weekend, foul trouble kept him on the bench. The Tigers were able to make up for his absence against the lower-seeded Tennessee, but his limited role was evident in the blowout loss to Texas A&M.
“It’s big time,” Aggies’ center Tyler Davis said on Simmons’ foul trouble. “If you can get a guy who’s that skilled and that good and affects the team the way he does out of the game, that’s obviously what you want. You go at him.”
It isn’t that Simmons is the only offensive threat for LSU — Keith Hornsby, Antonio Blakeney, Craig Victor and Tim Quarterman all average double-digit points — it’s that he’s the best one.
LSU won’t be dancing in the NCAA Tournament. It can hope for a good draw in the NIT, if it wants to accept the invitation. Rarely do you see players of Simmons’ caliber leading his team into the NIT, but it’s been an unusual ride for him in his time at LSU.
Why should the postseason be any different?
When asked after Saturday’s loss if he would want his team to accept a bid to the NIT Tournament and keep the season going, Simmons expressed a desire to play with the Tigers this season for as long as possible.
“Whatever the future holds. I want to play with this team as long as I can,” Simmons said. “I love my teammates and my coach and stuff and I'm having a great time playing with these guys. These are like my brothers to me. I don't want to leave.”
Contact Alex Maminakis at amaminakis@alligator.org and follow him on Twitter @alexmaminakis.
Texas A&M's Tyler Davis, right grabs a rebound against LSU's Ben Simmons, left, during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game in the Southeastern Conference tournament in Nashville, Tenn., Saturday, March 12, 2016. (AP Photo/Mark Humphrey)
