Tournament time

If I'm a betting man -- I'd say LSU is in the NCAA baseball tournament regardles of the outcome this week in the SEC tournament.

But I also say LSU has played its last game at Alex Box Stadium this season. I think the Tigers are headed on the road for a regional.

A lot of people point to Arkansas getting hot at the right time last year and getting to Omaha. But unless LSU gets its pitching straightened out that will mean nothing.

A spectacular meltdown

It is becoming painfully apparent that not only will LSU not repeat as national champions, not only will LSU not be in Omaha to close out Rosenblatt Stadium, but LSU may not even make postseason baseball play.

It has been that spectacular of a meltdown.

It's funny to hear LSU players talk about how they can't be this bad because they were 32-6 at one time. Uh, yes, you can be this bad.

In fact,you don't have to look far to find a team in a similar situation.

Back in the winter, the Texas basketball team was roling along and reached No. 1 for the first time in school history. And, in much the same way as LSU baseball, the wheels came off for the Longhorns.

Yes, Texas made the NCAA basketball tournament. The Longhorns never returned to their earlier form. They were one and done in the tournament.

And that Tiger fans is about the best you can hope for from this team right now -- just get into the tournament.

Now it's getting serious

Baseball is not the kind of sport where you want to make too big of a deal out of one game.

And while LSU's loss at Kentucky on Friday was the kind that can rip your heart out -- blowing a two-run lead in the bottom of the ninth -- it's still just one game.

But there should be some serious concern around the LSU baseball program. Because unless the Tigers can get Anthony Ranaudo straightened out and even Matty Ott straightened out, there will be more problems ahead. Right now, both aren't pitching to the levels they showed last season and the team is hurting as a result.

Even without Colvin and Von Rosenberg, LSU had -- at least on paper -- enough pitching to make another CWS run. But with Ranaudo and Ott struggling, it appears Omaha will close out Rosenblatt without the Tigers.