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LSU baseball coach Jay Johnson is making headlines ahead of postseason play. While lobbying for his team’s inclusion in the NCAA Tournament, he made a debatable claim that many believe completely disregarded the Tigers early season struggles.
Johnson said his club is one of the best in the nation, no matter what the college baseball media has to say!
LSU won a national championship last season on the backs of first round MLB Draft picks Paul Skenes and Dylan Crews. Those superstars are now gone, though, and this year’s group looks a bit different than the one that hoisted a trophy in Omaha last June.
The Tigers won 36 games while posting a 13-17 record in SEC play. That drop-off has put the program’s potential title defense in danger.
Johnson’s bunch is a borderline NCAA Tournament team, projected by most to be a three-seed in a regional far away from the friendly confines of Baton Rouge.
Had it not been for a late season run, that postseason inclusion would be in ever further question.
The Tigers finished the year 14-5 after starting just 22-15. They’ve battled their way back into contention, leading Johnson to lobby for a spot in the NCAA Tournament field.
“There’s no doubt we’re one of the top 10-15 teams in college baseball,” the head coach said. “That’s not even debatable.”
“There’s no doubt we’re one of the top 10-15 teams in college baseball. That’s not even debatable.”@LSUbaseball Jay Johnson says #LSU should be in the NCAA Tournament, end of discussion. pic.twitter.com/iJAypf7dMh
— Jacques Doucet (@JacquesDoucet) May 18, 2024
Despite Johnson’s conviction, the claim is, in fact, debatable.
While the roster is certainly talented, the resume is far from Top 10 worthy. In fact, 10 teams were seeded more highly than the Tigers in the SEC standings, alone. It’s the precise reason Johnson’s having to lobby in the first place.
Followers quickly chimed in.
“Those pesky Wins & Losses.”
“Wait, wait, wait…. Did he mean one of the top 10-15 SEC teams in college baseball? I might agree with that.”
“I’m a fan but that’s ambitious, to put it nicely.”
“I mean, all the L’s make it very debatable.”
Despite Johnson’s belief that he boasts a Top 10 team, the Tigers will be sweating unless they win a game or two in the upcoming SEC Tournament. Odds are that they’ll make the field no matter what given the late season success. Still, the team could let out a huge sigh of relief with at least an opening round victory.
That opportunity will come against Georgia on Tuesday.