The mantra Johnny Jones has brought to LSU with his high-octane offense is simple — find the open man.
The Tigers (4-0) have shown new wrinkles with the up-tempo game, sacrificing individual high-scoring games for an easy bucket, whether it comes from starting point guard Anthony Hickey or former walk-on center Andrew Del Piero.
“There’s a lot of unselfishness going on through the team,” Hickey said. “Everyone is willing to pass the ball and find the open man. It’s going to be a great year.”
Led by four players averaging 10 or more points per game, the Tigers have broken out of the slower, half-court offense they became accustomed to under former coach Trent Johnson.
Hickey, who is third on the team with 10.3 points per game, said the more free-flowing style has been favorably received.
“[Jones] gives us more freedom and leeway to just play,” Hickey said. “He just lets us play basketball and have fun.”
Junior forward Shavon Coleman has only cracked the starting lineup once, but averages a team-leading 17.3 points per game.
Playing out of his natural wing position, Coleman has impressed with his ability to handle the bigger bodies on the inside while looking to spread the scoring around.
“A lot of the time, it is Shavon who is the leading scorer for us,” said freshman forward Shane Hammink. “But we always stress to find the open man.”
Coleman teams with junior guard Andre Stringer off the bench to give the Tigers an average of 26.8 points per game from the sideline — something that doesn’t concern Jones.
Jones even likened Stringer’s outside shooting to that of former Tiger legend Chris Jackson.
“Both of them are very capable of being starters, and they’ve been playing starter type minutes,” Jones said. “Both of them are impact players and are difference makers.”
Hickey praised Del Piero, who he said has improved markedly since last season and brings the PMAC crowd to its feet with his contributions.
Del Piero logged 15 minutes in the Tigers’ 75-50 win against Mississippi Valley State, chipping in eight points. Two of them came on a two-hand slam dunk that punctuated a run that sent the Tigers into the locker room with a 10-point lead.
“We need that excitement whenever he’s in the game,” Hickey said. “He’s like an energy guy for us.”
Sophomore forward Johnny O’Bryant III, second on the team with 12.3 points per game, said the new offense is a stark contrast from last season, but has helped the young team to gel under its new coach.
“No one guy is really searching for their shot,” O’Bryant said. “It helps build team chemistry that you can get the ball to your teammate.”
