Urgency.
With the regular season coming to a swift close, the No. 22 LSU gymnastics team needs plenty of urgency to continue its drive to the NCAA Tournament.
The challenges the Tigers have faced throughout the season don’t get any easier as they travel to Tuscaloosa, Ala., to take on No. 2 Alabama.
“The kids are focused, and I am hoping our good experiences at home will carry us on the road for the rest of the season,” said LSU coach D-D Breaux. “I have seen a lot of emotion in the gym this week, and the one emotion I have not seen is fear.”
LSU will look to win its third- consecutive meet against Alabama and its second-consecutive in Tuscaloosa.
In 2009, the Tigers won in Coleman Coliseum for the second time in school history when they upset the Tide 196.675-195.750.
“It will be their last home meet, their senior night,” Breaux said. “We need that kind of pressure going into [the] SEC [Championships].”
LSU is coming off its second highest score of the season, a 196.000 against New Hampshire.
A good score for the Tigers would allow them to drop a 193.350 score from their Regional Qualifying Score.
Alabama has scored a 197.075 or higher in four consecutive meets and haven’t lost at home this season.
“I personally love competing at Alabama,” said senior Sam Engle. “They pack thousands of fans in there, and it’s a really intense atmosphere. I hope the girls like it, but we’re really going to have to keep our focus.”