A couple of weeks before LSU baseball began what would become its first championship season since 2009, I wrote about Jay Johnson assembling a dream team.
I wrote about how rare it was for “dream teams” to meet expectations, how the preseason favorite often isn’t hoisting the trophy at the end, and how challenging it is to go wire-to-wire.
This roster was one of the most talented the sport has ever seen. We knew that before games were even played. A combination of homegrown talent gelling as upperclassmen paired with elite additions in the portal made LSU a force to be reckoned with.
The expectations were sky-high.
And LSU met every single one.
There were times when it looked like LSU wouldn’t do it. It slipped from No. 1 as the bullpen struggled and other inconsistencies arose in conference play. Again, in Omaha, LSU did it the hard way out of the losers’ bracket.
This wasn’t the dominant team some thought would just roll through the sport. Not because LSU wasn’t that good, but because that’s not how this works. It’s not easy to win a title no matter how talented you may be.
The pressure could have gotten to LSU this year, but Jay Johnson’s group didn’t let it. LSU embraced the stage.
When the chatter is that loud, that’s the only thing you can do. When you have a roster with the first two projected draft picks playing for the biggest brand in college baseball, you’re going to get attention.
There’s a lot to say about the work Johnson did this year. He did good work in the transfer portal and knew exactly what buttons to push with the pitching staff in the playoffs, but more impressive than anything, he kept this team moving forward.
Johnson, who had plenty of pressure on himself, knew what he had in this team. He just let them go out, have fun, and play. And because of it, LSU delivered.
[lawrence-auto-related count=3 category=611345007]
Contact/Follow us @LSUTigersWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Louisiana State news, notes, and opinions.