Trent Johnson reportedly in at LSU

Despite rumors that UMass' Travis Ford, Ole Miss' Andy Kennedy, and VCU's Anthony Grant were the top 3 candidates to replace John Brady, it looks like the Tigers have landed Stanford's Trent Johnson.

Johnson took the Cardinal to the Sweet 16 this year and may best be remembered for his uncharacteristic - but nonetheless stupid - blowup in the 2nd round game against Marquette that saw him get ejected from the game. Stanford ended up winning on a last second shot or that would have been a much bigger story than it was. And, with both Lopez brothers bolting for the NBA, it's really not a surprise that Johnson was eager to get the hell outta Palo Alto.

Based on his coaching ability, this seems like a good hire for the Tigers. It seemed like some one with SEC connections - like Ford or Grant - would have been a more logical choice but LSU decided on Johnson. Priority numero uno will be to try and convince freshman sensation Anthony Randolph to stick around for another year. He could certainly use some offensive refinement and about 40 more pounds on his spindly frame. ***UPDATE: So much for that***

As for interim coach Butch Pierre, look for him to land squarely on his feet. My hunch is he'll be back in the SEC as an assistant coach somewhere if he can't land a smaller school head coaching job. He and his 5head did a great job rallying a talented group of LSU players after their souls had been sucked out by the force of nature that is John Brady.

NO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

LSU announced today that it has fired head basketball coach John Brady. Aside from an improbable run to the Final 4 a couple of years ago, no coach in the SEC has consistently done less with more than Brady. At a school with unlimited resources, fertile recruiting ground, and nice facilities, he never could put a consistent winner on the floor. In his first 10 years in Baton Rouge, he finished 4th in the SEC West 4 times. They're a lock to make it 5 times in 11 years this season. A loss to Tennessee on Saturday will make him 20 games below .500 in conference games for his career.

Fans in the SEC have to be disappointed as the John Brady farewell tour didn't even get to make its full rounds through the conference. Saturday's game against UT will be the last time we'll get to watch him make facial expressions that make the Keystone "Bitter Beer Face" guy jealous.

You can bet that VCU head coach Anthony Grant's phone will be ringing shortly if it hasn't already. Grant, a former assistant at Florida, was lined up to take the UF job when Billy Donovan had a momentary lapse of reason and took the Orlando Magic job. University of Memphis head sleazeball coach John Calipari may get a call as well, but his ego won't let him leave a gig where he can feast on patsies from Conference DOA. Tim Floyd and all his NOLA connections may be a good fit as well. Ole Miss may want to make sure Andy Kennedy is happy too...