One glance at the LSU men’s basketball team shows just how big a difference a year can make.
The 2013 Tigers are the antithesis of last year’s squad, boasting a veteran core and a nationally ranked recruiting class along with height and depth at every position.
After an offseason marked by hype, LSU has its first chance to showcase its new look when it hosts Xavier (La.) in an exhibition game at 7 p.m. tonight in the PMAC.
“We’ll start trying to work on our rotation here in the early part of the season,” said LSU coach Johnny Jones. “Defensively, we can try to work on a few coverages and some defensive schemes that’ll hopefully help us against some really stiff competition.”
Tonight’s matchup brings the return of junior forward Johnny O’Bryant III, who opted to stay at LSU for another year instead of declaring for the NBA Draft. A year removed from finishing second in the Southeastern Conference with 15 double-doubles, O’Bryant was picked by the media as a preseason First Team All-SEC selection.
Freshman forward Jarell Martin, a Baton Rouge native, will make his LSU debut against the Gold Rush. Martin is a former five-star recruit, and the recruiting service Rivals.com pegged him as the No. 13 player in the nation in 2013.
“We worked really hard in the preseason, and now it’s time for it to pay off,” Martin said. “I’ve got to go out and do whatever the coach wants me to do. I’ll try to make plays for the team so we can get the win.”
The only certainties in the starting lineup against Xavier are O’Bryant and freshman guard Tim Quarterman, Jones said. Junior guard Anthony Hickey ran the offense most of last season, and Jones claimed he will still be heavily involved in the rotation despite Quarterman getting the start.
Jones said he had “things he had to address” with Hickey, but he hinted the junior could soon find his way back into the starting lineup. Senior forward Shavon Coleman was held out of practice Tuesday for health reasons and will be reassessed before tipoff tonight.
The second-year coach asserted that the rest of the starting lineup will fluctuate depending on how players perform at practice. Eight or nine players should see significant playing time against the Gold Rush, according to Jones.
The Tigers have eight active players who are at least 6-feet-6-inches, twice as many as last season. Xavier’s tallest player is 6-foot-8 sophomore forward Jarvis Thibodeaux, giving LSU a size advantage it seldom had in 2012.
“We’re not just big, we’re talented with our post players,” O’Bryant said. “They each can go out and play, so [the height advantage] will be a big difference from last year.”
LSU officially tips off the regular season Nov. 12 at Massachusetts, but the Tigers are aiming to prove themselves against the Gold Rush.
“We’re going to play as hard as we can,” said senior guard Andre Stringer. “We want to play together, defend and rebound the basketball. We want to show ourselves that the season is here and that we’re ready to play.”
“We worked really hard in the preseason, and now it’s time for it pay off.”
Who: LSU vs. Xavier
When: Wednesday, Nov. 6 at 7 p.m.
Where: PMAC
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