LSU senior point guard Latear Eason knows what it’s like to be injured on the basketball court.
Unfortunately, she knows the feeling a little too well, suffering a torn ACL as a freshman, a broken collarbone as a sophomore, re-aggravated it as a junior, and most recently a concussion Jan. 6 against South Carolina.
But barring a setback or headaches, Eason is expected to return to action tonight for LSU (12-7, 2-3) against Ole Miss (8-8, 1-3) at 7 p.m. in the PMAC.
LSU coach Van Chancellor said the team has missed Eason greatly since her concussion, which caused her to miss the past three games. Eason began practicing again Tuesday.
“When we lost her, we realized how much we missed her inspiration and her organizational skills,” Chancellor said. “She plays with reckless abandonment, no fear whatsoever. … I’ve never seen a kid who has the respect of her peers more than she does.”
Eason did not travel with the team to Mississippi State on Jan. 13, and she said she is chomping at the bit to get back on the court.
“I’ve gotten a lot of reps in, and I feel like I can go tomorrow,” Eason said. “I had never missed a road trip before, so it’s been kind of tough. I’ve been bored in my apartment.”
Chancellor did not say whether Eason will start tonight because her conditioning has been limited during the recovery process.
LSU junior forward LaSondra Barrett said Eason’s return will allow the team to expand its playbook because of Eason’s veteran presence.
Eason was replaced by junior Destini Hughes, who recorded eight points and seven assists in Eason’s absence.
“No disrespect to Destini Hughes, but [Eason] understands the offense a lot more, and she has more experience at the point [guard],” Barrett said. “That chemistry is what opened up a lot of things we’ve been struggling with in the last couple of games.”
Ole Miss beat LSU twice in the 2009-10 season, including a 102-101 victory in triple overtime Feb. 7 in the PMAC.
If the Rebels win tonight, it will be their third-consecutive win against the Lady Tigers, which would be the longest streak since Ole Miss took six straight from LSU from 1991 to 1995.
Turnovers killed LSU in its game Jan. 16 against Auburn. LSU turned the ball over 20 times — 14 in the first half — which came on mistakes Chancellor said need to be corrected soon.
“Three weeks ago, we were No. 2 in the country in turnovers. Today we’re No. 16,” Chancellor said. “Don’t ask me how. We’ve had the same practices, the same intensity. … It’s our decision making. Our team has to recognize there are two teams that everybody in this league is getting up to play — LSU and Tennessee. … Ole Miss is going to come in here scratching and clawing tomorrow night, and we have to meet that. … I ain’t putting up with nothing from nobody.”
Ole Miss enters tonight on a three-game losing streak after beating Vanderbilt, 72-67, on Jan. 2.
Barrett said the Lady Tigers simply have to want to win more to beat the Rebels.
“The last game the team wanted it more than we did,” Barrett said. “That’s unacceptable.”
 
 
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Contact Rachel Whittaker at [email protected]