Today’s New York Times includes a short feature on LSU basketball coach Trent Johnson. The first African American to hold the job, in his first season, Johnson has taken LSU from the bottom to the top of the S.E.C. Playing with a discipline they have lacked in recent years, the Tigers are now ranked 20th in the nation, with a 13-3 conference record (25-6 over all). Johnson is a finalist for S.E.C. Coach of the Year honors, and is also in the mix for NCAA Coach of the Year. Despite losing their last two games, LSU is one of the favorites heading into into this week’s S.E.C. tournament in Tampa, Fla. The Tigers play Friday against the winner of Kentucky and Mississippi.