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BATON ROUGE, La. -- LSU coach Johnny Jones might need the Tigers to considerably exceed expectations if he wants to keep his so-called dream job much longer.Jones doesnt deny that failing to make the NCAA Tournament last season was a disappointment in light of the fact that the Tigers roster featured the NBAs top 2016 draft choice , Ben Simmons.But Jones also stresses injuries to key contributors, including guard Keith Hornsby, which in the short-term undermined LSUs ability to win, allowed a number of young players gain experience in high-pressure situations. Jones hope is that with maturity and the chance to assert themselves more following Simmons departure, LSUs top returning players might develop into a cohesive, balanced and highly competitive force in the Southeastern Conference.When you talk about last years team, you talk about guys who played in (Simmons) shadow, Jones said. I thought it was healthy for them to play in the environment that they did last year because of -- No. 1 -- what we got from other teams; Every team that we played last year, we took their best shot.We did that with a lot of guys who didnt have a great deal of experience, Jones added. So from that and the pressure and everything they played under last year, they should have an opportunity to improve and play extremely well this year.Simmons averaged 19.2 points and 11.2 rebounds last season, but LSU lacked the depth of talent to consistently make opponents pay for running multiple defenders at Simmons in an effort to contain him.This season, Jones promises, Well be different. Well look for different scoring opportunities.It remains to be seen how good those opportunities will be. With Simmons gone, LSU was picked to finish 12th in the 14-team SEC when the conference released its preseason coaches poll.Jones expects perimeter scoring from Antonio Blakeney, as well as sophomores Brandon Sampson and Jalyn Patterson. Inside theyll rely again on junior Craig Victor, as well as 6-foot-10 junior college transfer Duop Reath, who grew up in Australia after his family fled war in Sudan.We know that we have some areas that were certainly going to have to grow, Jones said. Were going to do that by committee.Some other things to know about LSU:GETTING DEFENSIVE: While Jones doesnt plan on abandoning the up-tempo style he prefers, he said LSUs defense was deficient last season and he has emphasized a need to improve on that end.We feel that chemistry will play a big part of that, Jones said. You cant be selfish now on the defensive end of the floor. You have to play as a team, and thats a commitment that we have to make as a group.HELP INSIDE: Reath is no Ben Simmons, but hes the same height and LSU coaches suggest he has the potential to influence outcomes on both ends of the court with his raw athleticism. He transferred from Lee College (Texas), where he averaged 14.6 points and 8.4 rebounds last season.Hes done a great job of filling in and filling something that we feel like we missed from last year -- a rim protector, Jones said, adding that Reaths ability to run and shoot gives him an opportunity to stretch opposing defenses.BLAKENEYS SLATE: During his final 11 games last season, Blakeney averaged about 18 points -- all against SEC competition. If he can sustain that this season, hell be in the mix for an All-SEC selection. An All-SEC freshman last year, Blakeney is also expected to emerge as a locker room leader.SAMPSONS CHALLENGE: Coaches have praised Sampson for working hard this summer and looking like a player who can contribute consistently after failing to live up to his recruiting hype as a freshman. LSU wants Sampson, one of its best ball-handlers, to be the type of dynamic scorer who is as likely to pull up from outside as drive to the hoop.NEWCOMERS: LSU is hoping two freshmen from Baton Rouge -- guards Skylar Mays and Wayde Sims -- will contribute this season. More help could come if Branden Jenkins, a transfer who averaged 15.6 points and made 50 steals in junior college last year, recovers from arthroscopic knee surgery in time for the second half of the season.---Online: www.collegebasketball.ap.org Bruce Sutter Jersey . The Croatian served 21 aces and hit 42 winners against Sijsling, who double-faulted to give Cilic a 4-3 lead in the deciding set. "All the players, they know me and they were really happy to see me and they were really happy that this is over for me," Cilic said. Daniel Ponce de Leon Jersey . -- Jimmy Walkers first PGA Tour trophy came with a special gift tucked inside. https://www.cheapcardinalsonline.com/2654t-paul-goldschmidt-jersey-cardinals.html . Capitals head coach Adam Oates said Ovechkin was injured in the first period against the Vancouver Canucks on Monday and clarified it was not a head injury. Stan Musial Cardinals Jersey . No. 13-seeded John Isner and No. 21 Philipp Kohlschreiber were among six players who dropped out of the tournament on Tuesday, joining No. 12 seed Tommy Haas and two other players who withdrew on Monday. Junior Fernandez Jersey .J. -- Marty Brodeur beat the Pittsburgh Penguins yet again. FORT WORTH, Texas -- A rodeo promoter is suing two star calf ropers, accusing them of rigging an event in Arlington, Texas, last year so that they could get a cut of a possible $1 million prize.RFD-TV Events made the allegations in a lawsuit Tuesday against three-time world champion calf roper Tuf Cooper and the worlds current top-ranked roper, Timber Moore. The alleged scheme centered on a bonus reward for those who qualified for the event rather than being invited, the Fort Worth Star-Telegram (http://bit.ly/2aMkSaE ) reported. Qualifiers could earn up to $1 million from a side pot for winning any of seven competitions at The American Rodeo on March 1, 2015.Cooper and Moore agreed to throw a competition to improve a qualifiers chances. The qualifier won the event, with Cooper finishinng second and Moore third, and all three were to split the winning check of $517,000 -- $100,000 for the first-place finish and $417,000 from the side pot, the lawsuit alleged.ddddddddddddHowever, rodeo organizers soon learned of the scheme and stopped payment on the check, the lawsuit said. RFD-TV Events now wants to recover other prize money earned by Cooper and Moore up to $100,000.A telephone message left by The Associated Press for Cooper at Elite Rodeo Athletes, of which he is a member, was not returned Wednesday. A message left by the AP on Moores cellphone also was not returned.---Information from: Fort Worth Star-Telegram, http://www.star-telegram.com ' ' '