It has been exactly eight months since the LSU men’s basketball team last laced up its sneakers for a real game.
 
Eight months for the team to either dwell on the failures of last season or work hard to bust out of the doldrums brought on by an 11-20 campaign.
 
Tonight the Tigers will see which route they followed as they open up their season against the Northwestern State Demons in the PMAC.
 
“I’m not going to flash back too much on last year — last year was last year,” said junior forward Storm Warren. “You’ve got to take it as a learning experience and roll with it. You can’t change anything that happened. There’s no use to put yourself through that again. Just learn from it, build on it and move on.”
 
LSU coach Trent Johnson made it clear the game is an important step for the team to regain the form it had in the 2008-09 season.
 
“When you’re talking about getting respect back, we understand where we’re at, and we understand the process,” Johnson said. “A statement is playing within your capabilities and being the best you can possibly be, not worrying about who you’re competing against but worried about what you’re capable of doing.”
 
The Tigers have taken big steps in reshaping their roster.
 
Gone are Tasmin Mitchell and Bo Spencer, the top two scorers from last season. Now four freshmen and junior transfer Malcolm White are in line for playing time.
 
And the fans won’t only have to adjust to the new faces on the roster.
 
The student section in the PMAC has been moved behind the east basket, instead of its former place on the north side of the facility.
 
Students — whose entry is still free with a valid student ID — can access the new student section through the east portal of the PMAC.
 
Former LSU All-American Rudy Macklin will be in the student lounge at the PMAC to meet students at 5:45 p.m. Macklin’s No. 40 jersey was retired last season.
 
While Johnson is still non-committal with his entire starting five, he did divulge three spots that were locked down.
 
Freshman Ralston Turner, who scored 21 points in the Purple and Gold scrimmage, is starting at shooting guard. A healthy Aaron Dotson is starting at small forward, and White is starting at center.
 
The point guard and power forward spots are still undecided, according to Johnson.
 
Junior guard Chris Bass brings experience to the point guard position. But Bass will be challenged for playing time by diminutive freshman Andre Stringer.
 
Stringer — who won the Gatorade Mississippi Player of the Year award in both his junior and senior high school seasons — provides some offensive firepower in the backcourt.
 
Warren and sophomore Eddie Ludwig figure to challenge each other for playing time at power forward.
 
“The kids in general are looking forward to playing somebody for real now under the lights,” Johnson said. “They are tired of beating up on each other, and for me as a head coach, I want to look at the rotation of nine or 10 guys and get this thing started.”
 
LSU has an edge in the all-time series with Northwestern. The Tigers have won 15 of 21 games against the Demons.
 
 
 
 
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Contact Luke Johnson at [email protected]