With the No. 4 LSU football team on a bye week before its showdown against the University of Alabama, LSU men’s basketball took center stage Monday when basketball coach Johnny Jones subbed in for football coach Les Miles during his usual media luncheon.
Jones praised the talent on the Tigers’ roster while looking forward to LSU’s first exhibition against Southwest Baptist University on Nov. 6. The Tigers landed at No. 19 in the USA Today’s preseason Coaches Poll.
“Our practices have really been spirited over the last few weeks, and I know these guys are looking forward to challenges against another opponent here in the near future — Nov. 6 with the exhibition game prior to Nov. 13, our opening date against McNeese State University,” Jones said. “I know that they’re looking forward to it.“
Approaching the hype
With the Tigers picking up preseason accolades left and right during the last few weeks, Jones took an unusual approach to tackling the hype around the Tigers’ talent — opening practice to NBA scouts to reduce distractions.
“Wanted to make sure that we lessen any distractions that we may have over the period of time,” Jones said. “And to be able to bring those guys in early, to be able to close the doors, to get our guys focused to attention to detail, to be able to coach them in the private of our own practices to try to get them better.”
Jones called opening up practices to NBA scouts this season “needed” because of the interest surrounding the program and, in particular, LSU freshman forward and preseason SEC Player of the Year Ben Simmons.
Jones said he plans to evaluate opening practices to scouts on a year-to-year basis.
Although questions swirled regarding the ability of LSU’s highly-touted recruiting class to adjust to the team mentality of the collegiate game, senior guard Keith Hornsby quelled any fear of young guys playing selfish.
“I think the way we’ve been merging our chemistry is outstanding right now, especially with the new guys,” Hornsby said. “A lot of these highly-talented guys may come in and still have that selfish, single-minded high-school standout mindset. I think they’ve really given in to the team concept, and that’s only benefited us so far.”
Veterans excited for scrimmage
After competitive practices against one another, the Tigers eagerly await the opportunity to take the court against another team during a closed-door scrimmage Saturday.
“Just can’t wait to get out there,” said junior guard Tim Quarterman. “Just play against somebody else to take it to them.”
Jones would not specify the opponent, but LSU players later confirmed the Tigers will face Texas Christian University in a media session following Jones’ news conference.
Although he is practicing with the team, redshirt sophomore forward Craig Victor II will not be eligible to play until the end of the fall semester after transferring from the University of Arizona in January 2015.
Victor reflects on growing up with Fournette
For the majority of the college football universe, LSU sophomore running back Leonard Fournette is a superhuman.
But to Victor, Fournette is a childhood friend, who happens to be talented on the football field.
“I recall one time in P.E., we were punished, and he had to run sprints,” Victor said. “Just to see how fast he was in the eighth grade was unbelievable. He just continues to get better.”
Despite Fournette’s weekly feats of bulldozing through defenders, Victor said he isn’t surprised after watching him during his first three years at St. Augustine High School in New Orleans. The 6-foot-9 forward finished his high school basketball career at Findlay Prep in Henderson, Nevada.
However, one play did stick out for Victor this season — Fournette throwing an Auburn University defender over his back on his way to the end zone.
“That was a first for me,” Victor said. “The guy trying to jump on his back that was kind of funny. I guess he didn’t tackle him, but he had to give his coach something, like ‘Coach, I tried.’”