LSU Tigers (4-3, 0-0 Southeastern Conference) vs. Houston Cougars (5-1, 0-0 American Athletic Conference)
When/Where: 4:30 p.m. at Hofheinz Pavilion | Houston, Texas
Television: ESPN2
Radio: WDGL-FM 98.1 (Baton Rouge)
Note: ‘Voice of the Tigers’ Jim Hawthorne will make his first road trip for an LSU sporting event since a medical procedure in late October.
LSU’s last game: The Tigers ended a three-game losing streak against a tricky North Florida team, but it took more than 100 total points – 43 of which came from freshman forward Ben Simmons. On top of seven assists and five steals, Simmons collected his sixth double-double with 14 boards on the night as the Tigers rallied in the second half to win 119-108. The Ospreys hit 19-of-33 three-point attempts, but LSU shot 77 percent from the field in the second half to erase an eight-point halftime deficit.
Houston’s last game: While LSU snapped a losing streak in its last game, Rhode Island snapped Houston’s undefeated record as the Cougars fell to Rams, 67-57. For the first time on the season, Houston played away from home but were unable to establish a rhythm from the perimeter and the free-throw line, shooting just 1-of-11 from three-point territory and 10-of-17 from the charity stripe. Despite only playing eight total players, the Rams had four different starters in the double figures while shooting 50 percent from the field.
LSU’s possible starters:
G Jalyn Patterson (So.): 5.9 ppg., 0.7 rpg., 2.3 apg.
G Josh Gray (Sr.): 10.3 ppg., 2.7 rpg., 2.7 apg.
F Ben Simmons (Fr.): 19.9 ppg., 14.9 rpg., 6.0 apg.
F Aaron Epps (So.): 5.0 ppg., 2.6 rpg., 0.6 apg.
G Tim Quarterman (Jr.): 13.7 ppg., 4.4 rpg., 3.3 apg.
LSU’s top reserves:
G Antonio Blakeney (Fr.): 12.3 ppg., 4.3 rpg., 1.3 apg.
G Brandon Sampson (Fr.): 9.1 ppg., 2.4 rpg., 1.3 apg.
G Keith Hornsby (Sr.): 13.4 ppg., 4.2 rpg., 2.1 apg. (2014 statistics)
C Elbert Robinson (So.): 5.6 ppg., 3.4 rpg., 0.2 apg.
Houston’s possible starters:
G Ronnie Johnson (Jr.): 13.3 ppg., 3.5 rpg., 3.3 apg.
G LeRon Barnes (Sr.): 6.2 ppg., 6.5 rpg., 2.0 apg.
G Damyean Dotson (Jr.): 11.3 ppg. 7.3 rpg. 0.8 apg.
F Devonta Pollard (Sr.): 15.7 ppg. 6.7 rpg. 1.3 apg.
C Kyle Meyer (Jr.): 4.0 ppg. 2.7 rpg., 0.7 bpg.
Houston’s top reserves:
G Rob Gray (Jr.): 17.7 ppg., 3.0 rpg., 1.7 apg.
G Galen Robinson (Jr.): 7.2 ppg., 1.8 rpg., 3.5 apg.
Things to watch for:
Hornsby’s return: LSU’s leader and stabilizing force returns to the rotation on Sunday, but for how long is still to be determined. After undergoing an unspecified medical procedure before the start of the season, Hornsby will play “some minutes,” according to coach Johnny Jones, in what should be his season debut. But Jones wants to make sure he is fully acclimated to game speed before he plays extended minutes. Regardless of his playing time, Hornsby should bring his trademark intensity and three-point shooting ability, which he said was unaffected by the injury, to a lineup in desperate need of another veteran. The Tigers’ front court should also be strengthened with the return of Robinson, who missed the last two games with an injury.
Struggling freshmen: Although Simmons has rarely missed a beat in his transition from the high school to collegiate basketball, his two rookie counterparts have hit a lull after a solid start. Blakeney and Sampson have combined for just eight total points in the past two games, shooting a combined 2-for-21 from the field. While Jones hasn’t lost confidence in either of his young players, both need to progress quickly off the bench during LSU’s non-conference stretch.
