For the LSU men’s basketball team, the season is far from over.
The Tigers have played 27 games, but Saturday could be the toughest test for a team still fighting for room on the NCAA Tournament bracket.
Life outside the PMAC has been unkind to the Tigers in recent weeks, but things won’t get any easier when LSU hits the road to take on No. 1 Florida in Gainesville, Fla., on Saturday.
“Every team can be beaten,” said LSU junior guard Anthony Hickey. “A lot of No. 1 teams have lost. … You don’t have to go out there, and just because they’re No. 1, be all nervous. Just go out there and have fun.”
The last time Florida lost a game in the O’Connell Center, former LSU coach Trent Johnson was still at the helm of the Tigers. 
The Gators are currently on a 32-game home winning tear, the  second-longest active streak of its kind in the country and haven’t lost since March 2012 when eventual national champion Kentucky dealt a 74-59 blow. 
“I know [Florida is] going to be hyped up, the crowd is going to be involved, but that’s something you should want as a college basketball player,” Hickey said. “To go into somebody else’s home — that’s what we’re going to do.”
LSU is on a streak of its own, losing six consecutive games on the road. 
Despite the string of road losses, LSU coach Johnny Jones remained optimistic about the way his team responded to the setbacks, and he looked forward to meeting Florida on Saturday.
“The No. 1 team in the country, it doesn’t get any better,” Jones said. “It’s a college basketball game and you have an opportunity to be in a venue playing at the highest level, and that’s what you look for. It’s certainly going to be a challenge, but that’s one you look forward to.”
One of the primary challenges Florida presents is four out of the Gators’ five starters are seniors compared to LSU’s one in Shavon Coleman, who has only been starting since fellow senior Andre Stringer was moved to the bench at the beginning of Southeastern Conference play.
Hickey said the Tigers are prepared for a team like Florida, but being prepared isn’t the same as playing at maximum level.
“I wouldn’t say we’ve played our best yet, but were going to continue to get better,” Hickey said. “This game is going to show where we stand. The No. 1 team — this is who you want to play against.”
The Tigers are coming off two of their best outings of the season despite losing to Kentucky last Saturday.
LSU took the No. 17 Wildcats to the brink of overtime in a 77-76 loss Saturday and then held Texas A&M to under 50 points Tuesday for its best defensive showing of the season.
“We just have to come back even stronger,” said LSU senior forward Shavon Coleman. “Florida is next on our list, and we’re looking to prepare for them the best we can and have plenty of energy for them and hopefully get a win.”