Tennessee Volunteers at LSU Tigers
When/Where: 6 p.m. in the PMAC | Baton Rouge
Television: SEC Network
Radio: WDGL-FM 98.1 (Baton Rouge)
Last Meeting: LSU built a 27-point lead over Tennessee at the break before coasting to a 73-55 victory Feb. 14 in Thompson-Boling Arena. The Tigers have won three of four since that meeting, which kickstarted a five-game losing streak for the Volunteers.
LSU’s last game: The Tigers turned an 11-point deficit into a 73-63 win against Ole Miss on Saturday in the PMAC. The win gave LSU the season sweep over the Rebels and the inside track to a first-round bye in the Southeastern Conference Tournament, which is March 11-15.
Tennessee’s last game: The Volunteers trailed at Florida by 18 at the half before faltering to a 66-49 defeat Saturday in the O’Connell Center. The loss was the fifth in a row for Tennessee, which won four of its first five SEC games before the setbacks began piling up.
Tennessee (14-14, 6-10 SEC)
Possible Starters and Top Reserves
Senior [G] Josh Richardson (6’6’’): 15.5 ppg, 36.1 mpg, 4.1 rpg, 3.6 apg 45.3% FG (155-342).
Junior [G] Kevin Punter (6’4’’): 10.3 ppg, 31.1 mpg, 2.2 rpg, 35.3% 3-point FG (36-102).
Sophomore [G] Robert Hubbs III (6’6’’): 6.5 ppg, 24.0 mpg, 3.0 rpg, 40.9% FG (70-171).
Junior [F] Armani Moore (6’5’’): 10.8 ppg, 30.8 mpg, 6.8 rpg, 44.9% FG (114-254).
Junior [F] Derek Reese (6’8’’): 6.1 ppg, 25.1 mpg, 5.1 rpg, 41.8% FG (59-141).
Freshman [F] Willie Carmichael III (6’8’’): 3.2 ppg, 15.8 mpg, 2.4 rpg, 50.7% FG (38-75).
Junior [G] Devon Baulkman (6’5’’): 4.3 ppg, 14.0 mpg, 2.2 rpg, 39.6% 3-point FG (21-53).
LSU (17-7, 6-5 SEC)
Possible Starters and Top Reserves:
Sophomore [G] Tim Quarterman (6’6’’): 11.7 ppg, 33.3 mpg, 5.3 rpg, 3.9 apg, 43.5% FG (113-260).
Junior [G] Keith Hornsby (6’4’’): 12.8 ppg, 35.2 mpg, 4.2 rpg, 38.4% 3-point FG (61-159).
Sophomore [F] Jarell Martin (6’10’’): 16.1 ppg, 34.5 mpg, 9.1 rpg, 51% FG (175-343).
Sophomore [F] Jordan Mickey (6’8’’): 16.3 ppg, 35.3 mpg, 9.9 rpg, 3.8 bpg, 51.8% FG (184-355).
Freshman [G] Jalyn Patterson (6’0’’): 6.3 ppg, 23.0 mpg, 1.2 spg, 35.5% 3-point FG (33-93).
Sophomore [F] Darcy Malone (7’0’’): 1.0 ppg, 8.6 mpg, 1.4 rpg, 44.4% FG (8-18).
Junior [G] Josh Gray (6’1’’): 7.4 ppg, 25.8 mpg, 4.0 apg, 39.7% FG (77-194).
Three Things to Watch for
Triple-double encore
LSU sophomore guard Tim Quarterman delivered the program’s first triple-double in 13 years against Ole Miss on Saturday, but his defense will perhaps be more important against Tennessee.
Like the first meeting, Quarterman will be tasked with defending Tennessee senior guard Josh Richardson, who leads the Volunteers in scoring (15.5), minutes (36.1) and assists (3.6).
Richardson scored only seven points — his second-lowest in SEC play — against Florida on Saturday, ending a five-game streak of reaching double figures.
But Quarterman already proved he can guard Richardson without giving up much. Quarterman held Tennessee’s top scorer to 15 points on a 5-for-13 mark from the field in 38 minutes. Richardson also missed all three of his 3-point attempts.
Mickey’s recent struggles
LSU sophomore forward Jordan Mickey was a walking double-double for much of the season, but things have changed.
For the first time in SEC play, Mickey is not averaging a double-double, mostly because of his rebounding. The All-SEC forward has pulled down 18 rebounds in his last four games.
Though Mickey is still tied for the league high in rebounding at 9.9 boards per game, his struggles have cost the Tigers on the glass. LSU has been outrebounded in three of its last four games, giving up at least 40 boards in twice.
Aside from his rebounding issues, Mickey has also struggled to find his groove offensively.
The Tigers’ leading scorer has combined for 45 points in his last four games, including a six-point affair in LSU’s loss to Texas A&M on Feb. 17. But the Tigers have hit their stride even with their top scorer in check, winning three in a row and four of five.
Hoping for a different start
If Tennessee is to end its current losing streak, it’ll have to prevent LSU from putting the game out of hand early.
LSU led by a season-high 27 points at the break of the first meeting after shooting 64 percent (16-of-25) from the field. The Tigers also drained 7 of their 10 first-half 3-point attempts and assisted on 11 of their 16 field goals.
While LSU did almost everything right offensively in the first half, Tennessee mostly did wrong. The Vols turned the ball over eight times to LSU — which converted the miscues in 12 points — and missed 18 of their 26 field goals.
Because of the turnovers and poor shooting, Tennessee scored on only 27.3 percent of its possession in the first half to the Tigers’ 60.6 percent.