A division lead was never really in the cards last season for LSU’s men’s basketball team.The Tigers started with no wins and losses like every other Southeastern Conference team, but five straight losses to begin conference play quickly put LSU behind the pack.But the Tigers (14-3, 2-1), one year and one day removed from a 7-11 record and a 0-4 start in SEC play, will have a chance at a division lead tonight against defending division champion Mississippi State (13-5, 3-0).”I actually thought about that while we were lifting today,” said senior guard Garrett Temple. “We have a chance to go 3-1 and take the lead in the West. They beat us twice last year, but we have a chance to have the lead in the West … it’s another game to get us where we need to be, and it’s a big game for us.”It seemed unlikely LSU would be in position to compete for anything just a week ago. The Tigers followed a 91-61 shellacking from Utah on Jan. 6 with a 65-59 loss to Alabama on Jan. 11. But the team responded with two of its most impressive performances of the season — an 85-68 win against South Carolina and a dominant 83-51 performance at Ole Miss.”I feel good about this week from the standpoint that we have a little confidence,” Johnson said. “We’re coming off a good home win versus South Carolina in which we played really well in the first half [and] a good road win in which we played really well in the first half. But like I told them, you’re going to have to play 40 minutes because this is a team that’s capable of going off in spurts.”Junior forward Tasmin Mitchell led the turnaround, averaging 23.5 points and 9.5 rebounds in the two wins. Temple also had 24 points, 14 rebounds and 12 assists last week.”I like the camaraderie we’ve had the last couple games,” Temple said. “Coach holds us accountable, and we do a good job of holding each other accountable. Besides the Utah game, we’ve competed real well, and that’s a plus.”The Bulldogs have raced out to a fast start in league play after a rough end to 2008. They lost five of eight games from Nov. 28 to Dec. 30 but have a 5-0 record, including three straight conference wins, since the start of 2009.Normally known for physicality, Mississippi State has found a rhythm using a four-guard approach this season. The Bulldogs have attempted 360 3-pointers, the third-highest total in the conference. They are also ranked No. 4 in the SEC in field goal percentage, shooting 47 percent from the field.”It is a physical team, usually, probably because they had the   biggest guard in the conference last year and a very big post player in Jamont Gordon and Charles Rhodes,” Temple said. “But [Mississippi State coach Rick Stansbury] has done a great job of finding their niche, which is athleticism and speed. They shoot the ball well and use what they have to their advantage.”The game is the first of a nasty four-game stretch for LSU. Following Mississippi State, LSU hosts No. 15 Xavier on Saturday before traveling to face preseason SEC favorite Tennessee. If the Tigers are still standing, they return home to face Arkansas, which started the season 12-1 before opening 0-3 in SEC play.”I’m worried about this next job, this next possession right now,” Johnson said “We’ve got Mississippi State … we’re as healthy right now as we can expect to be, and there’s really no excuse for not playing hard and competing at a high level.”—-Contact David Helman at [email protected]