LSU won't accept bid to other postseason tournaments

— -- After failing to making the NCAA tournament,  Ben Simmons & Co. will sit out the entire postseason, LSU Tigers coach Johnny Jones said Sunday.

"I take full responsibility for this team, and will do the things necessary to make sure we are able to reach one of our main goals at LSU in the future," Jones said in a statement.

Jones said in the news release that he had discussed the matter with his staff and talked to players earlier in the day.

"We will be able to utilize this time to get better and start preparations for next season," said Jones, whose Tigers finished 19-14 overall and 11-7 in SEC play and lost senior Keith Hornsby for good when underwent surgery Tuesday for internal injury originally sustained in November, which that caused him to sit out the first month of the season.

Freshman guard Antonio Blakeney would have been listed as questionable after playing in LSU's two SEC tournament games despite being sick.

"That also factored into our decision, but it is primarily now my responsibility to begin working and preparing our players for the prospects that lie ahead," Jones said.

The Tigers also made the decision days after a 71-38 loss to Texas A&M in the SEC semifinals.

Simmons is expected by many to leave for the NBA draft and will likely be chosen first or second overall, according to multiple NBA executives.

Information from ESPN's Jeff Goodman was used in this report.