With a top-25 opponent coming to the PMAC on Wednesday, LSU will try to end its seven-game losing streak to No. 19 South Carolina.
The Tigers (9-11, 1-7 Southeastern Conference) will look to improve defending the three ball where they have allowed a combined 31 three pointers made over the last two games.
Coach Johnny Jones said his team needs to stick with the principles and to not play defense with their hands.
“You can’t play with your hands, and you’ve got to do certain things,” Jones said. “When guys get open shots, they’ve been good. Teams have been efficient against us. We just have to keep playing as hard as we can to defend that area as well as take away driving lanes.”
The Tigers are surrendering 90 points per game during the seven game losing streak.
Sophomore guard Antonio Blakeney said the key to stopping the three is making teams more uncomfortable.
“We just got to get in guys and make them uncomfortable,” Blakeney said. “Teams are comfortable against us right now shooting the ball. Just try to get to the shooters and make them put the ball on the floor and make them do other things.”
Scoring the ball will not be easy for the Tigers as they take on a South Carolina team with one of the best defenses in the country.
The Gamecocks (17-4, 7-1 SEC) boast one of the best defensive teams in the country, ranking sixth in the country holding their opponents to 60 points per game.
South Carolina is also only opponents to shoot 38 percent shooting clip from the field.
Jones spoke highly of the Gamecocks’ defensive abilities.
“They’re one of the best in the country in terms of what they do and how they do it”, Jones said. “They’re strong and effective, and they hang their hat on it. They’re really aggressive in the manner in which they do it and not just something that you just start doing. They played that way last year and it’s just an older and more experienced group that’s doing it now.”