Nothing like this season for Jones

LSU could establish a first when it takes on Georgia at Stegeman Coliseum in Athens on Saturday (5 p.m. Central/SEC Network).

If the Tigers lose to the Bulldogs, their losing streak would reach 15 games – the longest in school history. Both the 1966 and 1967 LSU teams dropped 14 games in a row.

The 1966 team ended the losing streak by defeating Florida in the second-to-last game of the season. The 1967 team lost its final 14 games of the season. There were four non-conference defeats during the 1966 team’s losing streak. The 1967 streak began with a non-conference loss to Tulane.

A case could be made that the current 14-game losing streak is worse than the previous two. The average margin of defeat for the 1966 team during the streak was 15.5 points. There were seven double-digit setbacks and six losses by at least 20 points.

The average margin of defeat for the 1967 team during its streak was 13.9 points. There were nine double-digit losses and four setbacks by at least 20 points. The average margin of defeat in the current streak is 17.1 points. There have been 11 double-digit losses and five setbacks by at least 20 points.

“The losing has gotten to be a bit much now,” Jones said. “None of us saw this coming, including Craig (Victor) getting dismissed and having the type of effect it had. Guys continuing to come to work every day and trying to get better has been the good part of it.

“It’s certainly tough life lessons that this group is learning. At some point, they’ll benefit from (losing) because they all have much brighter days in front of them.”

Since the end of last season, Jones repeatedly said that improved defense was the major goal for this year’s squad. The defense has not made progress. In fact, it is one of the worst in the history of the school. During the 14-game losing streak, LSU has allowed at least 90 points eight times.

The Tigers are allowing opposing teams to make 47 percent of their field goal attempts, including 38 percent on 3-point shots. LSU is giving up 83 points per game. The Tigers are averaging 3.6 blocked shots and six steals per game.

It has been 23 seasons since the opposition shot at least 47 percent. The 1994 team permitted its opponents to make 49 percent of their field goal attempts. It has been 28 seasons since the opponents have averaged more than 83 points per game. The 1989 team yielded 89.4 points per game.

Just last season, the Tigers blocked fewer shots than they have done this year. The 2016 team averaged 2.7 blocks per game. It has been nine seasons since LSU averaged as few as six steals per contest. The 2008 team – coach John Brady’s final one – also averaged six steals per game.

Jones has been around the LSU program for a long time since he signed with the Tigers out of DeRidder (La.) High School. Jones has been a player, a student assistant coach, an administrative assistant, an assistant coach and a head coach. He has been involved with the program for 22 seasons.

Prior to this season, Jones was a part of just four LSU teams which had both a losing overall record and a losing Southeastern Conference record. Those four squads were the final ones in coach Dale Brown’s career – from 1994-97. Now, Jones will have the same poor results as a head coach.

“Being such a big part of LSU’s tradition, this is one of the toughest things to deal with,” Jones said. “I played and we never had setbacks like this.

“As an assistant, we went through some losing seasons, but nothing with this type of stretch. Being a part of this program and seeing what we’re going through is obviously something you wrestle with.”

Jones has two years remaining on his contract following this season. The Tigers have lost 20 of their last 25 games against SEC opponents. All but five of those 20 defeats have come by double digits.

Jones acknowledged that he has had the same amount of contact with LSU Director of Athletics Joe Alleva this season as in the past. According to Jones, their last conversation took place before the start of the SEC schedule. Alleva has made no public statement on Jones’ status.