LSU men’s basketball coach Trent Johnson wasn’t shocked when his team lost its past four games by an average of 27.8 points.
Johnson’s squad only won 3 out of 16 conference games while he led Nevada during the 2000-01 season.
But some LSU players, many of whom are freshmen, haven’t faced this type of defeat.
Freshman guard Matt Derenbecker was accustomed to winning as a two-time Gatorade Player of the Year at Country Day High School, claiming the Class 1A state championship in 2009.
“Throughout high school and summer ball, I’m used to being on the other end of that,” Derenbecker said. “I’m trying to use that same mentality to what we’re going through now.”
LSU’s chance to break a four-game spell comes Wednesday night against South Carolina, who is also on a cold streak after two straight loses by at least nine points.
“You got to learn how to lose before you learn how to win,” Johnson said. “There’s a group of guys in the locker room who haven’t learned how to win at this level. They are learning how to lose.”
The South Carolina game will be the first of four games for LSU in the friendly confines of the PMAC during the next three weeks.
Auburn, whom LSU defeated Jan. 8 after leading 32-6 at halftime, upset the Gamecocks on Saturday, 79-64.
“That shows they’re not invincible,” Derenbecker said. “For us to hold Auburn to six points in the first half, that shows [South Carolina] has its weaknesses.”
Derenbecker, who leads LSU with 11.3 points per game during Southeastern Conference games, said South Carolina is vulnerable in the rebounding department, where the Gamecocks are eighth in the conference in rebounding margin.
“We continue to get beat on the boards,” Turner said. “From a toughness standpoint … [rebounding] has to be from everybody all the time.”
South Carolina has found strength in its menacing blocking abilities in the paint. The Gamecocks lead the nation in blocked shots per game with 6.9 per outing.
But LSU junior forward Malcolm White is fresh off a career-best six blocks Saturday at Alabama.
The Crimson Tide trounced the Tigers, 70-46, to give LSU its fourth-straight 20-plus point blowout defeat, the first in school history.
“There’s nothing negative coming from the locker room,” Derenbecker said. “I haven’t heard anything. Everyone that I’ve talked to and everyone I associate with is positive.”
LSU failed to exceed 50 points for the second time this season even with the return of freshman guard Ralston Turner, who was recording 13 points a night before suffering a stress reaction in his foot.
The Muscle Shoals, Ala., native played 20 minutes for four points in front of his family and friends.
“I had no pain in the game, but I did get kind of winded,” Turner said. “That’s normal for someone that hasn’t played in a month.”
Junior forward Storm Warren sat out for the second-straight game at Alabama with an Achilles injury and is questionable again for Wednesday’s game.
“I’m not going to put him out there when he’s hobbling on one foot,” Johnson said. “It’s hard for him because he’s so competitive. We know we need everyone on deck for us to be successful.”
 
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