After suffering a disappointing loss to Southeastern Conference cellar-dwellers Texas A&M, the Tigers look to bounce back against Arkansas in Fayetteville, Ark. on Saturday.
The Tigers (15-8, 6-5 SEC) beat the Razorbacks (15-8, 4-6 SEC) at the start of the month, 88-74, but that was at home, where the Tigers are 11-2 this season, as opposed to the road where the Tigers have dropped their last four games.
“We definitely need a big road win,” said junior forward Johnny O’Bryant III. “Arkansas is definitely a good team; they beat Kentucky at home, lost to Florida by two in overtime. So this will be a good chance to prove we aren’t the bad road team everyone thinks we are.”
O’Bryant has proven to be a catalyst for the Tigers, averaging 23.6 points, 9.3 rebounds and 31.3 minutes per game in victories. For comparison, O’Bryant averages only 12 points, four rebounds and 20 minutes in losses against Texas A&M and Georgia.
Both of O’Bryant’s poor performances have come when the Tigers leave the friendly confines of the Pete Maravich Assembly Center and derive from foul trouble the Cleveland, Miss., native seemingly finds himself in during road contests.
Freshman forward Jordan Mickey said the loss ranked as one of the worst of the season.
“It’s one of the most disappointing losses of the season for me, just because we know Texas A&M isn’t a good team,” Mickey said.
Arkansas has proven to have similar road troubles as the Tigers this season, with six of its eight losses coming on the road.
Freshman forward Jarell Martin said the Tigers are eager to get back on the road in an attempt to silence the critics who have emerged during their recent road slump.
Martin has picked up his play in recent weeks, scoring 10-plus points in his last four games.
O’Bryant said Martin’s improved play, as well as efforts of other underclassmen, has helped the Tigers from dropping more games than they have.
“I definitely noticed the focus in their eyes last night, they played hard, they played aggressive,” O’Bryant said. “[Martin] played strong, he did really well with offensive rebounding.”
Martin said as SEC play has gone on, he’s grown accustomed to the level of competition in the conference.
Mickey helped carry the Tigers to victory during the teams’ first meeting on Feb. 1. Mickey blocked six shots during the matchup, also chipping in 11 rebounds and 22 points.
The freshman phenom has accumulated 82 blocks so far this season, leading the SEC in total blocks and blocks per game with 3.57.
Mickey said even with his success and the Tigers’ success at the PMAC this season, LSU needs to prove its worth on the road.
“We know we’re a good team, we know we can beat some teams,” Mickey said. “It doesn’t matter if you can win at home, we have to prove we can get it done out there.”