The Florida men’s basketball team will be without its top two scorers when it faces LSU on
Saturday.
But that doesn’t matter to the Tigers, losers of four of their last six games. With a potential NCAA Tournament berth still uncertain, LSU can’t afford to take any opponent lightly.
“No matter who we play, we can’t overlook anybody,” said sophomore guard Tim
Quarterman.
The Tigers (18-8, 7-6 Southeastern Conference) will look to rebound from their latest setback when they host the depleted Gators (13-13, 6-7 SEC) at noon Saturday at the PMAC.
For LSU, Saturday’s early contest will be a chance to erase the sting of another close game it let slip away in the final minutes.
After thumping Tennessee by 18 points on the road last Saturday, LSU couldn’t sustain momentum throughout its rematch with Texas A&M on Tuesday. The Tigers led the Aggies by eight points in the second half but missed their final seven field goals en route to a 68-62 loss.
Close calls and narrow defeats have become familiar themes for the Tigers, whose last four losses have come by an average of 4.5 points per game.
Despite the numerous setbacks, LSU junior guard Keith Hornsby said the Tigers can’t keep their heads down with an NCAA Tournament bid still within reach.
“It’s very taxing just because of how much work we put in and how much we care,” Hornsby said. “But at the same time, you can’t just let it deplete you because we have five big games, and they’re all very important.”
The Tigers have five games left in the regular season to make their case for the Big Dance. After keeping his team’s focus on each game rather than the bigger picture for most of the year, LSU coach Johnny Jones said now is the time for his squad to think about what it needs to do to qualify for postseason action.
“With what we’re trying to do, these last several games are really important for us, and it’s going to be important that we’re playing the right way,” Jones said. “Wins have to be our focus and certainly on our minds now.”
Unlike the Tigers’ rematch against Texas A&M, they’ll face a team they’ve already defeated when the Gators come to town.
LSU beat Florida on the road, 79-61, earlier this season, and now the Gators will likely be without their top two scorers, junior guard Michael Frazier III and junior forward Dorian Finney-Smith, in their rematch.
Frazier, who’s averaging a team-high 13.2 points per game, has missed the last three games because of an ankle injury. Finney-Smith, who’s scoring 12.9 points per game, missed the Gators’ victory against Vanderbilt on Wednesday after he was suspended indefinitely for violating team rules.
But no matter who Florida coach Billy Donovan sends on the court, LSU sophomore forward Jordan Mickey said his team must be ready to battle.
“That can’t change anything,” Mickey said. “We still have to stay focused. Florida is a good team, even without [Frazier and Finney-Smith]. Billy Donovan is a great coach. He does a great job of getting his team together. We just have to be focused and ready to play.”
Despite playing without their top scoring threats, the Gators rallied past Vanderbilt, 50-47, Wednesday night.
Now Florida will try to upset LSU on its home floor, something opponents have done often in recent weeks. After starting 9-0 at home, the Tigers have dropped three of their last five games at the PMAC. Mickey said it’s time for the home losses to end.
“We can’t let guys come in here and beat us on our home court and in our house,” Mickey said. “It’s something we have to protect and value at all times.”
You can reach David Gray on Twitter @dgray_TDR.