LISTEN IN: Johnny Jones

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Coach preps for first season in TigerTown with TR Radio

By RICHARD FISCHER
Tiger Rag Associate Editor

With the new season set to tip off Friday, Jeff Palermo, Cody Worsham and Richard Fischer welcomed first-year LSU men’s basketball coach Johnny Jones to Tiger Rag Radio Tuesday night.

The headman coached his alma matter to a 82-66 win over Arkansas-Monticello in an exhibition game Monday night. That one didn’t count. Friday’s versus UC Santa Barbara will, and Jones talked about the emotions going through his mind taking the floor at the PMAC for the first time as LSU’s head coach.

“For several weeks building up to that moment with new players and returning guys, it was filled with emotion for me. In preparation I’m glad it was an exhibition in terms of our focus and concentration. I needed to get that one under my belt as well prior to our game on Friday.”

Taking over for the departed Trent Johnson, Jones will coach six players who played under the former coach last year as well as eight newcomers (including three walk-ons). Jones talked about the challenges taking over a program in transition.

“The guys’ attitude has been tremendous. It’s not easy a lot of times when there’s a change and we had guys here, key guys that played a very important part of the basketball team last year. And when change happens and you ask guys to change a lot of things an implement a new system, a lot of times there’s some resistance. But there was never that with those guys. They welcomed it. Not that it’s not necessarily frustrating for them but they understand that they’ve gotta go through some things to where it becomes repetitious. Old habits dying. When we get to that point I think we’ll be pretty good.”

He went on to break down his team in great detail. You’re gonna want to listen to the whole interview below.

 CLICK HERE to listen to Tiger Rag Radio’s interview with Johnny Jones in its entirety.