The LSU men’s basketball team isn’t used to hitting the road so often and early in the season.
But the Tigers (3-2) will receive a brief respite from their travels tonight as they take on South Alabama (1-2) for the second of two home games in the PMAC during the season’s opening month.
After losing four starters from last year’s squad, the Jaguars have struggled out of the gate this season, falling late to Mississippi State and getting blasted, 80-39, at Florida State in their last outing.
LSU coach Trent Johnson said South Alabama’s “explosive” transition game will require a continued defensive commitment from the Tigers.
“For me, all I had to do was look at [the Jaguars’] game against Mississippi State,” he said. “It was a tie game in the second half. They’re athletic in the open court, and we’ll have to match that energy and build off our defense performance the last time lately.”
LSU’s wing duo of sophomores Andre Stringer and Ralston Turner have struggled from beyond the arc so far this season, combining to make just 34 percent of their 3-point attempts.
Turner in particular was expected to be the Tigers’ premier scorer following a promising freshman campaign but has reached double figures just twice through five contests.
“I’m just going to keep shooting the same shots,” Turner said. “You have to keep being aggressive because my release has felt good coming out of my hands. The shots are win.”
 
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Contact Chris Abshire at [email protected]