LSU will be without the services of junior forward Jaime Lloreda for Saturday’s matchup at No. 23 Alabama at 4 p.m. for at least the start of the game.
Lloreda, who did not attend practice Thursday because he is suffering from the flu, has been suspended from the starting lineup by LSU head coach John Brady for his actions at the end of Tuesday’s 70-53 loss to Florida at the PMAC.
However, if he is well enough, he will see action against the Crimson Tide.
Lloreda was charged with a technical foul with 2:45 remaining when he was tangled with Florida guard Brett Nelson and seemed to purposely punch the Gators guard in the back of the head.
Brady, who determined the punch was intentional after watching the game film, called Lloreda to his office Thursday morning to inform the Panama native of his decision and to take action on the occurrence.
Lloreda sent Nelson a letter of apology in care of Florida head coach Billy Donovan, and Brady informed Donovan of his decision with Lloreda present. Brady also told Athletics Director Skip Bertman of his plans, and Bertman was in agreement with the action. The apology letter was also faxed to Southeastern Conference Commissioner Mark Slive and SEC/Atlantic Coast Conference Director of Officiating John Guthrie.
“I have done this because it was wrong for Jaime to do, plus I have done this hoping the SEC office will accept our proactive move on Jaime,” Brady said. “He is not going to start. We are going to make not only Jaime, but everybody else on our team and anybody else’s team learn a lesson. It is not the right thing to do, whether you win or lose.”
In the game versus the Crimson Tide, LSU faces a team going through some of the same struggles that the Tigers are experiencing.
LSU has dropped four straight, while the Tide is on its own three-game losing streak, with both teams struggling with shooting.
In conference play, the Tigers shooting percentage has dropped to 42 percent, after shooting better than 50 percent for most of the season, while the Crimson Tide is shooting 39 percent in conference play.
In reaction to the Tigers’ shooting woes, teams are playing more zone defense to force LSU to shoot out of its slump.
Senior Collis Temple III expects no change this weekend.
“What teams do when they play a zone is neutralize our inside game, somewhat,” Temple said. “[Zone] neutralizes Jaime because he can’t get the ball in the block where he is most effective.”