Basketball is a game of big scoring runs, and it’s important to maintain resiliency when hit with a run so a team can climb out of any deficit it has fallen into.
The LSU men’s basketball team has used resiliency to begin its run, but it’s going to take a few more games to complete the climb.
LSU (12-5, 3-2 Southeastern Conference) will attempt to ascend further up the SEC standings as the team plays Alabama (8-10, 2-3 SEC) on Saturday night at Coleman Coliseum in Tuscaloosa, Ala.
“[Coach Johnny Jones] makes it important to realize we have a win streak going, and we want to continue to keep going,” freshman forward Jordan Mickey said. “We have to get some quality wins on the road and just keep ourselves rolling.”
LSU spent the past week saving its season, winning home games against Vanderbilt and Missouri that could help the Tigers make the NCAA tournament.
The main reason for the resurgence is the improved game of junior forward Johnny O’Bryant III, who is averaging 19 points and 9 rebounds in his last two games. O’Bryant III experienced one of his worst games of the season the week before in a loss to Ole Miss, scoring only 6 points on 1-5 shooting.
O’Bryant III said he remembers the Ole Miss game vividly, and he vowed to improve for his teammates.
“I felt like it was a lot of my fault [against Ole Miss]. I fouled out and I didn’t really give them much that game,” O’Bryant III said. “I tried to do my best to produce as much as I could. … I’ve had two good games I’m just going to try to keep it up.”
One of the biggest changes to the team came after the 68-50 loss to Tennessee, when Jones benched senior guard Andre Stringer and freshman forward Jarell Martin for sophomore guard Malik Morgan and senior forward Shavon Coleman.
Since then, Stringer and Martin have had season-highs in points, scoring 23 and 18, respectively. Jones said the selflessness of this team has made the mid-season lineup change an easy process.
“I think the really good part of the makeup of our basketball team is that these guys are so caught up in winning,” Jones said. “They’re not ‘me’ guys, they’re team guys. I think that’s what’s allowed this team to have success.”
Alabama is coming off a 68-62 loss to Florida Thursday night at home. The loss snapped a 14-game home winning streak against SEC opponents for the Crimson Tide, dating back to 2012.
Alabama may come into the game with a losing record, but the Crimson Tide are battle tested. Four of Alabama’s losses have come to teams in the current AP top 25, and eight have come by 10 points or less.
Senior guard Trevor Releford leads Alabama, leading the team in both points and assists. Releford had a career game in his last matchup against LSU, scoring 36 points on 14-18 shooting in a triple overtime Tiger victory.
The Tigers may be looking ahead to next Tuesday, when they host No. 14 Kentucky for the first time in two years. Kentucky comes in with a stellar freshman class and were picked to win the SEC in the preseason media poll.
But Jones said he has emphasized to his players to stay focused on the game ahead to complete their climb out the hole.
“I think our guys understand that our most important game on our schedule is the next one, and that happens to be Alabama this time,” Jones said. “They certainly will present them a great challenge for us on Saturday. … Nothing will come up via our practice but Alabama until our game is over.”