Through LSU’s first three basketball games, coach John Brady has been unhappy with the play of his veterans.
Second-team All-Southeastern Conference performer Ronald Dupree was shooting a dismal 37 percent from the field and from the free throw line, with most of his shots being launched from the outside.
Senior point guard Torris Bright was shooting a respectable 44 percent from the field, but was 37 percent from the 3-point line and had compiled eight turnovers.
And sophomore Antonio Hudson, who came on at the end of last season in the SEC Tournament, was shooting 26 percent from the field.
However, to the pleasure of Brady, the veterans stepped up and played their best game to date in the Tigers 65-44 victory over Delaware State Tuesday night in the PMAC.
Dupree was the most impressive, going 8-of-9 from the field for 18 points and throwing down three thunderous trademark dunks. He started at one of the two forward positions rather than the off guard position he has played in the first three games.
“I was proud of the way Ronald approached the game,” Brady said. “He got in to a comfort zone of play. He just looked relaxed out there, and I think he felt comfortable where he was.”
Hudson shot 5-for-7 from the field for 12 points, and many of his baskets came off of slashing drives to the basket.
Bright did not shoot well, going 1-for-6 from the field, but dished out seven assists compared to just three turnovers.
Senior Collis Temple III, who has been the most consistent of the veterans, had a strong game, going 5-for-7 from the field and 3-of-5 from the 3-point line.
Temple said Dupree must play a similar level each night for the Tigers to be successful this season.
“Ronald played like he plays,” Temple said. “He went to his strengths today. He, I and Torris met with Coach [Butch] Pierre yesterday, and Coach Pierre brought up some points to us, and Ronald played his game tonight. When he plays his game, it opens up everything else. I think we played extremely well tonight on both ends of the floor.”
Dupree said this game was important for his and the team’s confidence.
“We were really focused before the game on driving to the hole, getting to the basket, making the extra pass and getting my teammates involved,” Dupree said. “We were trying to get some shots near the rim to get my confidence up and my rhythm back. ”
As a team, LSU shot 57.1 percent from the field and 85.7 percent from the free throw line.
“I was glad to see Antonio Hudson play well,” Brady said. “We are going to need him to play well. Seven assists and three turnovers for Torris in 26 minutes is what we need him to do.”
The game started out on a bad note for the Tigers, as DSU jumped out to a quick 6-0 lead on two 3-point buckets.
LSU then scored four straight points to pull the game to 6-4, and the teams traded baskets until the Hornets led 10-8.
At that point, the Tigers went on a 23-4 run to take a 31-14 lead. LSU went in to the half leading 33-16.
In the second half, Brady started to substitute freely and cleared the bench. Even little-used freshman walk-on Paul Wolfert entered the game for his first collegiate playing time.
Senior forward Andre Matthews led Delaware State, shooting 7-for-13 from the field and pulling down six rebounds in forty minutes of play.
The Tigers will play Saturday, Dec. 7, when they face McNeese State at 2 p.m. in the PMAC.
Last season, McNeese State advanced to the NCAA Tournament and nearly defeated Mississippi State in the first round.