Simmons still having season for the ages despite LSU's struggles
"Called up the homies and I'm asking y'all
Which park, are y'all playing basketball?
Get me on the court and I'm trouble
Last week messed around and got a triple double"
Ice Cube - "It Was A Good Day"
LSU suffered an embarrassing 16-point loss Saturday to Tennessee, Ben Simmons was relegated to the bench due to an "academic issue," and the Tigers NCAA hopes are now on life support.
How is it possible that it was a good day for the Australian-born freshman?
Anyone who watched the SEC contest saw just how atrocious the Tigers team is and despite his ability to "mess around" with a triple double there's nothing Simmons can do about it.
Twenty-one points on 9-of-16 shooting and nine rebounds is a great day for anyone in the country not named Ben Simmons. There's nobody in the country averaging those numbers per contest, yet somehow the consensus No. 1 overall pick in the 2017 NBA Draft is being pelted with criticism ranging from "overrated" to "needs another year in college."
Simmons is averaging 19 points, 12 rebounds, and five assists per game. Nobody else in the country is doing that. Remember, he's only a freshman.
Sporting a jumper that needs a makeover, which implores opponents to sag off the 19-year-old on defense, he still somehow manages a sparkling 56.1 field-goal percentage. That trails only High Point's John Brown for players averaging 19-plus points per game.
Simmons leads his team in points, rebounds, assists, steals, and blocks. Compare the degree LSU relies upon the talented freshman to other stars around the country, and it becomes widely evident how important he is to the program.
| Player | School | % of team points | % of team rebounds | % of team assists | % of team steals | % of team blocks |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ben Simmons | LSU | 24 | 30.9 | 30.9 | 23.3 | 31.6 |
| Denzel Valentine | Michigan State | 21 | 15.5 | 29.9 | 18.8 | 2 |
| Buddy Hield | Oklahoma | 30.7 | 13.6 | 14.4 | 18 | 7 |
| Brandon Ingram | Duke | 20.6 | 18 | 14 | 18 | 32.5 |
| Grayson Allen | Duke | 25 | 12.5 | 26.4 | 17.6 | 4 |
| Kris Dunn | Providence | 21.6 | 15.2 | 38.4 | 38.6 | 18.3 |
| Brice Johnson | North Carolina | 20 | 25 | 7 | 15.9 | 26 |
| Georges Niang | Iowa State | 23.7 | 17.2 | 18.8 | 14.3 | 14 |
| Gary Payton II | Oregon State | 22.3 | 22.4 | 39.2 | 33.8 | 15.2 |
| Perry Ellis | Kansas | 19.9 | 16.2 | 8.4 | 7.7 | 11.9 |
Simmons and Ingram are the only freshmen on that chart, and not surprisingly are also widely regarded as the top two prospects for the 2016 NBA Draft. It's astonishing just how much LSU needs Simmons to play at a superhuman level just to maintain its underwhelming 16-11 record.
Beyond the extremely favorable comparisons to this season's players, how does Simmons stack up against memorable one-and-done players from the past?
| Year | Player | School | Points per game | Assists per game | Rebounds per game | Steals per game | Blocks per game |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2015-16 | Ben Simmons | LSU | 19.4 | 5 | 11.9 | 1.8 | 0.9 |
| 2011-12 | Anthony Davis | Kentucky | 14.2 | 1.3 | 10.4 | 1.4 | 4.7 |
| 2006-07 | Kevin Durant | Texas | 25.8 | 1.3 | 11.1 | 1.9 | 1.9 |
| 2002-03 | Carmelo Anthony | Syracuse | 22.2 | 2.2 | 10 | 1.6 | 0.9 |
| 2007-08 | Kevin Love | UCLA | 17.5 | 1.9 | 10.6 | 0.7 | 1.4 |
Turning professional after one season seemed to work well for Kevin Durant, Anthony Davis, Kevin Love, and Carmelo Anthony, didn't it?
Those people making the statement that Simmons should return for another season of college basketball need immediate psychiatric evaluation.
He isn't being coached by Mike Krzyzewski, Roy Williams, Bill Self, or Tom Izzo.
I can't confirm the report that Tigers coach Johnny Jones owns a Ferrari and never drives over 35 miles-per-hour, but seeing the way Simmons is misused makes it highly believable.
The 6-foot-10, 225-pound gazelle is a menace off the dribble, and has admitted he loves running the point in transition. Knowing that information makes Jones' decision to use him in the post on failed possession after failed possession against the Volunteers even more maddening.
Whether the Tigers make the NCAA tournament or not shouldn't tarnish the season Simmons has had. Enjoy the experience for what it is, one of the best in college basketball history.