Since winning the national title in 2007, the Tigers put up a 7-5 season in 2008 that included a losing record in Southeastern Conference play and a 9-4 mark last year that saw them lose just about every big game, including a loss in the Capital One Bowl.

National pundits aren’t exactly calling for LSU to contend for another championship this year, but they should be better than seasons of the recent past. And Tigers fans will certainly be expecting a contender.

LSU coach Les Miles joined WWL in New Orleans with Bobby and Deke to discuss the opening of fall camp, a defense that needs a better pass rush and an ongoing competition at quarterback.

On opening thoughts with fall camp under way:

“The key is that we develop a championship attitude. … There’s so many different ways that the chemistry of a championship team comes together and certainly it starts in the summer that they just had. We had a great summer. But it culminates in the together of two-a-days because you’re locked into a schedule and a calendar that requires you to be productive. … If I had one want going into camp, I just want to see the spirit of this team to be solid.”

On the importance of the pass rush to create consistency on defense:

“Some of the things that we’re looking at certainly involves the personnel … that come off the field, the ability to dial a blitz up more often and the good news is we think that there’s plenty of talent there to operate with. I think there’s going to be some youth, but I think that there’s an ability to have that happen and certainly the strategy involved there we worked on this spring and certainly we’ll continue to work on that this two-a-days.”

On whether quarterback Russell Shepard will have an increased role:

“I think that he came in a little behind the eight-ball. Pursuing the quarterback position just takes so much time and effort to accomplish real quality play. … I think once we got him lined up in a perimeter spot and got him on the field … he becomes a very, very significant player in those touches that can be difference-making.”

On the progression of quarterback Jordan Jefferson:

“I think Jordan Jefferson has gotten much better. I think he’s looking forward to the fall. I think he realizes that he has to play better. … There is competition there. I think he realizes it and our team realizes Jarrett Lee has continued to compete, continue to get better.”

Listen to the entire interview with Les Miles on WWL in New Orleans here (Interview begins about five minutes in)

This is not a good thing for Miles with the fans of LSU and this might lead to the end of the road for him sooner rather than later. It sure doesn’t help that the former coach of LSU is leading his team to the SEC Championship, thanks again Nick Saban. Les Miles joined WWL 870 in New Orleans talk about the game, the team, and even took some calls from fans. That’s not always safe. (In the interview he sounds like he is speaking at a funeral)

Asked what things stood out in that game that need to be fixed:

“First off the head coach is not above criticism and fixing things and getting them right. From 1:32, the back end of the game, I need to manage that better. I told my team that the corrections will be made by me and I expect our team, each guy, will get this film and do the same.  You have to go forward. We play too quality of a schedule; this next team is a very talented team. You have to improve and go forward.”

Asked about the last drive and if the team thought they had a time out left:

“I am sure that they did. If you look up at the scoreboard, you would recognize that there was a timeout on the board. There was not. We used our third timeout with the last timeout called. I would have loved to call a timeout at that point. I knew that I was without one. I told Jordan frankly he did what we asked him to do, the clocking, we can’t do that. You can’t win it with that call.”

Asked if this was top of the list difficult wise for him:

“Nothing professionally could compare to this one.  This was a very difficult loss to take certainly when you point the finger at me, the head coach. There are some things personally; everybody in our lives needs to know how to handle things personally. It comes in all forms. Those days mark your life. If you handle adversity well, you will enjoy tough times.”

Listen to Les Miles with Bobby Hebert and Deke on WWL AM 870 in New Orleans

I know it sounds simple, but he gets his players to play hard for him.  That’s a big part of coaching these days and his players go to the mat for him.  LSU beat Butler on Thursday 75-71behind one of the most dynamic scorers in the country in Marcus Thornton. 

On Saturday, they play the team favored to win the National Championship in North Carolina and if Ty Lawson is out they have a legitimate shot to beat the Tar Heels.

Trent Johnson joined Tirico and Van Pelt on ESPN Radio after their victory over Butler.

Was he worried about the lack of tournament experience his team has?

“There was some concern going in that we’d be able to relax, settle down and play, but it also helps to have a guy the caliber of player Marcus Thornton is.  He makes coaching look easy.”

Listen to Trent Johnson on ESPN Radio with Tirico & Van Pelt

Reason why #1 seed doesn’t make it to the Final Four:   Connecticut just isn’t as good without Jerome Dyson.  His superior shooting opened up everything on offense.  Foul trouble to Haseem Thabeet could be troubling as well.

Best bet in the first round:   Memphis – 19 1/2 over Cal State Northridge

Player I’m most looking forward to playing in the NBA:  Jerel McNeal of Marquette.  A bit of a tweener in that’s he’s too small to play point guard and doesn’t have true point guard skills, but there’s always a role for guys that can defend like him and are clutch shooters.  Would be perfect if he joined a team with a big point guard like Jason Kidd, Chauncey Billups, or Derrick Rose.

Prediction for this bracket:  Memphis. Calipari just rebuilds destitute programs and then reloads year after year.  This may be his best defensive team yet. If Dyson wasn’t injured, I may have picked Connecticut to win the whole thing.  Sleeper pick would be Washington.

Listen to UCONN (#1) Head Coach Jim Calhoun on WFAN in New York with Francesa

Listen to Memphis (#2) Head Coach John Calipari on WFAN in New York with Mike Francesa

Listen to Missouri (#3) Head Coach Mike Anderson on WHB in Kansas City with Soren Petro

Listen to Washington (#4) Head Coach Lorenzo Romar on KJR in Seattle with Mitch Levy

Listen to Purdue (#5) Head Coach Matt Painter on WNDE in Indianapolis with JMV

Listen to Marquette (#6) Head Coach Buzz Williams on WSCR in Chicago with Mully & Hanley

Listen to California (#7) assistant coach Greg Gottlieb on WHB in Kansas City with Soren Petro

Listen to Texas A&M (#9) Head Coach Mark Turgeon on KFAN 1320 in Salt Lake City with DJ & PK

Listen to Maryland (#10) Head Coach Gary Williams on WNST in Baltimore with Drew Forrester

Listen to Utah State (#11) G Jared Quayle on 1280 The Zone in Salt Lake City

Listen here to Northern Iowa (#12 West) head coach Ben Jacobson on WSCR in Chicago

Listen to Mississippi State (#13) Head Coach Rick Stansbury on WQXI in Atlanta with Pollack & Bell

Listen to Cornell (#14 West) head coach Steve Donahue with the Axeman on WNSS in Syracuse

Listen to CSU Northridge (#15) Head Coach Bobby Braswell on ESPN Radio Los Angeles with Mason & Ireland

Listen here to Tennessee Chatanooga (#16 West) head coach John Shulman on WSCR in Chicago

Reason why #1 seed doesn’t make it to the Final Four:   If Ty Lawson isn’t close to a 100%, North Carolina is very beatable.  Roy Williams should rest him for at least the first game against Radford. 

Best bet in the first round:   Butler + 2 1/2 over LSU

Player I’m most looking forward to playing in the NBA:  Johnny Flynn.  I’m biased as a Syracuse grad, but I think he’s the best point guard in the country.  Deceptively strong with a better jumper than most point guards.  I hope he stays another year, but I doubt it.

Prediction for this bracket:  North Carolina, they’re just too deep.  However, if Lawson is still hobbled, I’ll go with Syracuse.  Sleeper pick would be Gonzaga.

Listen to North Carolina (#1) Head Coach Roy Williams on The Dan Patrick Show

Listen to Oklahoma (#2) Head Coach Jeff Capel on ESPN Radio with Tirico & Van Pelt

Listen to Syracuse (#3) Head Coach Jim Boeheim on KLAC with Chris Myers and Steve Hartman

Listen to Gonzaga (#4) Head Coach Mark Few on KTAR in Phoenix with Gambo & Ash

Listen to Illinois (#5) Head Coach Bruce Webber on WSCR in Chicago

Listen to Arizona State (#6) Head Coach Herb Sendek on KTAR in Phoenix with Doug & Wolf

Listen to Butler (#9) Head Coach Brad Stevens on 1070 the Fan in Indy with Bob Kravitz and Eddie White

Listen to Michigan (#10) Head Coach John Beilein on WTKA in Ann Arbor

Listen to Temple (#11) Head Coach Fran Dunphy on WIP in Philadelphia with Howard Eskin

Listen here to Western Kentucky (#12) Head Coach Ken McDonald on KTAR in Phoenix with Gambo & Ash

Listen here to Akron (#13 South) Head Coach Keith Dambrot on ESPN Radio Cleveland

Listen here to Stephen F. Austin (#14) Head Coach Danny Kaspar on ESPN Radio Syracuse

Listen to Morgan State (#15) Head Coach Todd Bozeman on WNST in Baltimore with Drew Forrester

Listen here to Radford (#16) head coach Brad Greenberg on KJR in Seattle