Even though there is a war going on in the Middle East, the LSU basketball team is thinking of a different battle.
The Tigers (21-10, 8-8 Southeastern Conference), seeded eighth in the South bracket, face ninth-seeded Purdue (18-10, 10-6 Big Ten) today at approximately 2:00 p.m. in the first round of the NCAA Tournament in Birmingham, Ala., at the Birmingham-Jefferson Civic Center.
Excitement always is high for basketball players around this time of the year because every game is do-or-die.
“There is nothing like it,” said senior forward Brad Bridgewater of the NCAA Tournament. “We are pumped up and excited. You know that any game could be your last. You have got to give it your all every time out. It is a great feeling.”
Lately getting excited and pumped up has not been a problem for the Tigers.
After starting 1-6 in conference, LSU won nine of its final 12 games, including seven in a row at one point and defeated No. 7 Florida, 65-61, in the second round of the SEC Tournament in New Orleans. The win over the Gators marked LSU’s third win over a Top 10 opponent this year.
Purdue, on the other hand, has been heading South, losing six of its last nine games after winning four straight conference games at one point. Their last time out, the Boilermakers fell to Michigan State, 54-42, in the first round of the Big Ten Tournament.
LSU senior forward Ronald Dupree knows Purdue is capable of playing well, especially since it is 6-6 against Top 50 RPI ranked schools, including victories over then No. 13 Illinois and then No. 14 Indiana.
“They are a solid team,” Dupree said. “We have got to be aggressive. We are not coming in timid. We are going to do what we do best, which is rebound and score. Whoever executes the best will win.”
The Boilermakers, led by head coach Gene Keady in his 23rd year at the helm, follow the lead of senior guard Willie Deane, who is third in the Big Ten in scoring at 18.2 points per game. He also averages 5.1 rebounds per game.
“We are going to try to make [Deane] do things he is not accustomed to,” Dupree said. “We will try to deny him the ball and make other people beat us.”
Purdue’s offense is predominantly perimeter oriented.
“Purdue is really more, this year, a perimeter team than they have been in the past,” said LSU head coach John Brady. “I think it is going to be our perimeter against their perimeter and see which team plays the best. That may determine the game. I think we are OK with them around the goal.”
Brady said controlling Deane is an absolute must.
“He is the key to their team,” Brady said. “It is going to depend on how we can contain him. Most of the games that they have won, he had a big scoring night or had a big assist night, so we are going to do something to contain him. If we can contain him and our other player play as they are capable, than it should give us a chance to win. If not, than we will be disappointed when the game is over.”
Deane’s supporting cast includes junior guard Kenneth Lowe, who was voted the Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year, but is coming off a dislocated shoulder.
Freshman guard David Teague is another threat, as he hit on 34-of-92 3-point attempts for a 37 percent shooting clip. Lowe nailed 22-of-53 on his 3-pointers, which translates into a 41.5 percent shooting mark.
The Boilermakers also are a strong free-throw shooting team, hitting 75.1 percent of their shots from the charity stripe.
“They penetrate, get fouled and go to the line,” Dupree said.
On the Tigers’ side of the ball, Dupree, who was recently voted to the All-SEC Second Team, continues to lead LSU in scoring, averaging 16.0 points per game. He also averages 7.8 rebounds per game and leads the SEC in double-doubles.
Junior center Jaime Lloreda is second on the team in scoring, chipping in with 12.0 points per game, and leads the team in rebounding with 8.8 boards per game. He is a large part of the LSU game plan.
“On our side, we are going to throw it inside,” Dupree said. “We play better when we work inside-out.”
Keady said the Tigers will present his team with a very tall challenge.
“They are very athletic,” Keady said. “They play in a great league, and they have a few guys that are going to be tough to guard. I know that they play very hard.”
LSU point guard Xavier Whipple is just excited about the opportunity to play in the NCAA Tournament.
“I grew up watching the tournament, and now I am just blessed to have a chance to play in it,” Whipple said. “I am going to make the best of it.”