Until senior forward Jaime Lloreda returns from his disciplinary suspension, the Tigers will be depending on their three veteran guards to lead the young team and provide consistency.
“Our team right now is on Xavier Whipple, Darrel Mitchell and Antonio Hudson,” said coach John Brady. “That’s where it is. It isn’t on the freshmen. If those three guys don’t play, make others better, complete plays, make plays and take care of the ball, we are going to struggle. We can’t put this on Brandon Bass right now or any of the other freshmen.”
Brady said the three veterans will have to fill in the gap left by the departure of last year’s senior leaders.
“Whipple, Hudson and Mitchell are great guys,” Brady said. “They are great students and great character people, but they need to come out of the cocoon, visit with the other players, help make them better and take on more responsibility. I told them after the game that Collis Temple, Ronald Dupree and Torris Bright are gone. They’re not here. It’s on them now and they have to understand that. There is an expectation level on them that wasn’t there. Now they have to handle the expectation and be the kind of player they think they are and are capable of being.”
Junior guard Xavier Whipple was an essential part of the Tigers’ season-ending run last year. Whipple started the last 13 games of the season when LSU won nine of its last 13 including seven straight wins that propelled the Tigers in the NCAA tournament.
At the end of the first half of the Tigers’ exhibition game against Southeastern All-Stars, LSU trailed 37-28. Whipple ended the half with three turnovers, one steal, two points and no assists in 10 minutes of play. In contrast, Whipple contributed seven assists and four points in the second half helping the Tigers outscore Southeastern 49-27.
Junior guard Antonio Hudson and sophomore guard Darrel Mitchell were also key players for the Tigers last season. Hudson played well in the Tigers’ loss to Global Sports, scoring 15 points and putting LSU in the position to tie the game at the end. But Brady was not happy with Hudson’s performance against Southeastern.
“I told Antonio Hudson in the locker room that he can’t have 15 or 16 then get nine,” Brady said. “I’d rather him get 13 a game then get 18 one game then seven the next. That has to go, inconsistent play.”
Mitchell shot 2-of-12 from the field against Global Sports, but provided a spark for the Tigers in last night’s game, scoring 16 points, grabbing three steals and pulling down seven rebounds.
“We have to step up and take the role because we know how it is in the SEC,” Mitchell said.
Brady said the Tigers are a better team with Lloreda, but he will not reinstate him until he feels the time is right.
“When Lloreda gets back, we’ll put it on him, but I’m not worried about him,” Brady said. “He is going to be fine with it. He’ll make Brandon Bass better, but until that happens those three guys are our team. Honestly he makes our team better. “