The Louisiana State Tigers basketball team represents Louisiana State University in NCAA Division I men's college basketball. The team is currently coached by Trent Johnson and has enjoyed recent success, including a Final Four run in the 2005-2006 season. Past coaches include John Brady, Press Maravich, Dale Brown and Harry Rabenhorst. They play their home games in the Pete Maravich Assembly Center located on the LSU campus in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. The team participates in the West division of the Southeastern Conference.
In the days before the NCAA Tournament, the Tigers won a 1935 mythical national championship by winning the American Legion Bowl (one of several mythical championships awarded that year), under head coach Harry Rabenhorst. While this championship is not officially recognized by the NCAA since it did not sanction a tournament, LSU officially claims this championship and displays a banner in the Pete Maravich Assembly Center. Rabenhorst also led the Tigers to the 1953 Final Four with a team that included future NBA Hall of Famer Bob Pettit. LSU is the only school that officially claims an American Legion Bowl championship.
Pistol Pete dominated the collegiate levels at LSU. Despite averaging over 44 points per game, Pete never won a championship (SEC, NIT, or NCAA) and never played in the NCAA Tournament.
In September 2007, Lester Earl issued an apology to Brown, then-assistant head coach Johnny Jones, and LSU in general for his role in the NCAA investigation. Earl now claims that the NCAA pressured him into making false claims against Dale Brown or else he would lose years of NCAA eligibility."I was pressured into telling them SOMETHING. I was 19 years old at that time. The NCAA intimidated me, manipulated me into making up things, and basically encouraged me to lie, in order to be able to finish my playing career at Kansas. They told me if we don't find any dirt on Coach Brown you won't be allowed to play but one more year at Kansas. I caused great harm, heartache and difficulties for so many people. I feel sorriest for hurting Coach Brown. Coach Brown, I apologize to you for tarnishing your magnificent career at LSU."
WEBSITE: http://www.lsusports.net/
