LSU's best chance yet?

So LSU is in the Final Four. And so is UCLA. We'll find out the other half of the Final Four on Sunday.

The question now is this: Is this LSU's best chance to win the national championship?

The Tigers' last trip to the Final Four came in 1986. That team featured a future NBA player in John Williams, had a senior point guard in Derrick Taylor, and some role players. LSU lost to eventual national champion Louisville in the semifinals. But that LSU team needed help to win a national championship.

The Tigers' 1981 team probably should have won the national championship. Instead, they lost to an Indiana team led by Bob Knight and Isiah Thomas.

So what of this year's Tigers?

Well, to hear the experts talk the Tigers have more NBA-type talent on this team than either of the two previous Final Four trips in this generation. Tyrus Thomas, Glen Davis and Tasmin Mitchell are all projected as NBA players in the future. The Tigers are a better defensive team than those clubs. They have a senior point guard in Darrel Mitchell. And who can complain about this team's karma.

LSU may not win the national championship, but it wouldn't be surprising if the Tigers did either. Their run to the Final Four isn't a fluke for anyone who has been watching college basketball this season.

Hey, Dallas Morning News, LSU was the SEC champion (by two games) not just the SEC West champion.