For the LSU Tigers, it’s “gone to Carolina” in their minds this week, as the team will play four consecutive games in South Carolina during the next six days.
That stretch begins with the Tigers’ first road test of the season, as a strong Coastal Carolina squad awaits a relatively untested LSU team (1-0) tonight in Charleston.
The Chanticleers (2-0) have won the past two Big South conference regular season titles and made last year’s National Invitational Tournament, losing to Alabama in the first round to finish with a 28-6 record.
Last December, Coastal Carolina marched into the PMAC and fought off a five-point halftime deficit to defeat LSU, 78-69, in overtime.
The Chanticleers lost two of their leading scorers from last season, but return senior guard Anthony Raffa and will feature transfer senior forward and Lake Charles native Chris Gradnigo to boast a dangerous inside-out scoring duo. Gradnigo transferred from the University of Louisiana-Lafayette.
LSU coach Trent Johnson — who said Carolina’s talent level is on a “different level” than the Tigers saw in its 96-74 debut win against Nicholls on Saturday — said the Chanticleer squad will look vastly different from last season but will still challenge LSU’s defensive execution.
“Based off our last game, we have to clean up some things defensively,” Johnson said. “There were way too many breakdowns, guys missing assignments and leaving shooters free. That’s our focus leading into this game against a good