With identical 2-5 Southeastern Conference records, equally short benches and first-year coaches, LSU and Mississippi State will come into Humphrey Coliseum on Saturday as apparent mirrors of each other.
But looking beyond the win-loss record, the Tigers and Bulldogs have taken varying roads into conference play, with the former surging after taking two of three at home, while the latter trudges through a five-game skid — losing by an average of 22.6 points.
“There’s no weak team in this league,” said LSU junior guard Andre Stringer. “Obviously, they haven’t won so many games, but we haven’t either.”
Coming off coach Johnny Jones’ biggest win of his short LSU coaching career, the Tigers (11-7, 2-5 SEC) will try to rectify a 1-5 road record and keep the pressure on the fledgling Bulldogs (7-12, 2-5 SEC), who average 17.7 turnovers a game.
Jones acknowledged the upset against No. 17 Missouri on Wednesday as a reward for the work his players put in, but he remained steadfast in his preparation for Mississippi State.
“We still have a great challenge ahead of us Saturday,” Jones said. “[Mississippi State] is somewhat similar to us with their guard play. … They try to control the tempo in terms of their style of play.”
Freshman guard Fred Thomas, the only Bulldog averaging double figures, chips in 10.6 points per game for coach Rick Ray, who inherited a mess from former coach Rick Stansbury.
With Arnett Moultrie gone to the NBA, Dee Bost playing professionally overseas and controversial big man Renardo Sidney out of the picture, Ray’s team is a shell of the Bulldogs’ NIT squad from last season.
“They’re young, they’re kind of small in size, but they’re tough,” said LSU sophomore forward Johnny O’Bryant III. “Same with us. We’re not big at all, but we’re going to fight.”
O’Bryant posted his fourth straight double-double against Missouri, where he scored 14 points and grabbed 11 rebounds against a taller front and backcourt.
Who: LSU at Mississippi State
Where: Humphrey Coliseum, Starkville, Miss.
When: 4:30 p.m. Saturday
Watch on CST (FSN)
