Anticipated since his hiring on April 13, Johnny Jones will finally lead his alma mater in a game that counts.
LSU is looking for a stingy defense when it tips the season off against UC Santa Barbara at 7 p.m. tonight in the PMAC. Jones said he was unhappy with his team’s defensive effort in an 82-66 exhibition win against Arkansas Monticello on Monday.
“Defensively, I thought we were not very good [Monday],” Jones said. “A lot of times, guys had straight driving lines from the wings. We didn’t do a great job in terms of rotating together.”
Jones added that tonight’s game will give him and his staff a clearer view of the strengths and weaknesses of his team matched up against the Gauchos, who made their third straight postseason appearance last season after a 20-11 record.
“They are an NCAA Tournament team that had several good players with them last year,” Jones said. “We think it’s a great opportunity for our basketball team to find out exactly where we are.”
The Tigers shot a blistering 65 percent from the floor in the second half on Monday, all without sophomore point guard Anthony Hickey and freshman forward Shane Hammink.
Hickey and Hammink were suspended by Jones for what he termed as the duo not “taking care of their business on and off the floor.”
Jones said both will be available in tonight’s game, but he was vague on whether Hickey would resume his normal role as the starting point guard.
“I thought [freshman guard] Corban Collins did an excellent job the other night,” Jones said. “Both guys will have an opportunity to play, but I’m not sure who exactly will start on Friday.”
Collins poured in 11 points, while grabbing five rebounds and dishing five assists in 33 minutes of play Monday, impressing both his head coach and his suspended teammate.
Hickey said Monday’s suspension not only made him hungrier for tonight’s action but also gave him a glimpse into what his teammates are capable of during uncertain times.
“I’ve seen what my team can be like when things get tough and they pulled it out [Monday],” Hickey said. “I was there cheering them on.”
Senior forward Eddie Ludwig said while Monday’s exhibition may have not counted in the win-loss column, the focus from that contest carries over to tonight’s regular season opener.
“We understand that this really means something, because it’s a real game, but the mindset doesn’t change,” Ludwig said. “We came out last game like it was a real game, trying to get better and tried to show people what kind of team we are.”
Ludwig said the Gauchos’ offense is difficult to explain, with constant cutting and slashing on the court, making it a real test for the defense the team has tried to improve on all week.
Sporting nine freshmen and only one senior from a roster that won 20 games last season, the Gauchos’ young roster didn’t put sophomore forward Johnny O’Bryant III at ease.
“They’re an aggressive team,” O’Bryant said. “They set really hard screens. They execute their plays. We’re just going to try to get aggressive, get into him, cause them to turn the ball over.”
- Who: LSU vs. UC-Santa Barbara
- When: 7 p.m. tonight
- Where: PMAC
- Watch or listen at home: 98.1 FM
