The LSU men’s basketball team finished the regular season with the program’s best record in six years.
But regular season records don’t matter to the Tigers, who will begin their postseason journey in the Southeastern Conference Tournament this afternoon.
The games will be more intense and the stakes will be higher with NCAA Tournament résumés on the line.
“It’s postseason play now,” said LSU sophomore guard Tim Quarterman. “Every game counts. We just have to go out there and play every game like it’s the last.”
After earning a double bye, the No. 4-seeded Tigers (22-9) will battle No. 13 seed Auburn (14-19) in the quarterfinals of the SEC Tournament today at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Tennessee.
LSU and Auburn will play approximately 25 minutes after the conclusion of the noon game between No. 1 seed Kentucky and No. 8 seed Florida.
LSU coach Johnny Jones, who was a member in four SEC Tournaments under legendary coach Dale Brown, said everything now changes as the schedule flips to the postseason.
“The good thing is after the regular season is over and you get into the conference tournament, you turn your energy and everything is different,” Jones said. “You know that the tournament is one-and-done. You put yourself in the position and are hopeful to win three games and win the championship.”
With their 81-78 victory against No. 21 Arkansas on March 7, the Tigers all but stamped their ticket to the NCAA Tournament, which they haven’t done since the 2008-09 season.
But LSU junior guard Keith Hornsby, who hit the buzzer-beating 3-pointer to topple the Razorbacks, said the Tigers must remained focused on the task at hand.
“If we look too far ahead, we’ll take for granted the opportunity that we have next, which is the SEC [Tournament],” Hornsby said. “I hear a bunch of stuff [about LSU already being a tournament team], and that’s great and it sounds good. But I just want us to focus on the SEC Tournament right now.”
It seems like LSU is heading into postseason action with a head of steam. The Tigers have won four of their last five games entering the conference tournament, with two victories by double figures.
The Tigers’ victory against the No. 2 seed Razorbacks was even more impressive considering LSU was without the services of sophomore forward Jordan Mickey, who was named a First-Team All-SEC selection Tuesday.
With Mickey nursing a hurt shoulder, LSU received productive performances from its reserves, most notably junior guard Josh Gray. The Tigers’ bench matched Arkansas’ in scoring, 17-17, to make up for the loss of Mickey’s 16 points per game.
Jones said Mickey will likely play today, but LSU sophomore forward Jarell Martin said the Tigers need a replica of Saturday’s performance from their bench in order to have success in the conference tournament.
“I feel great with the way our team played in the last game, especially without Jordan,” Martin said. “Everyone came out and played their hearts out. Everyone that came off the bench gave us good minutes and 100 percent effort out there. We need that to continue.”
In Auburn, LSU faces an opponent its had mixed results against this season. The two conference rivals split the season series, with the road team winning each game.
LSU’s 81-77 home loss to Auburn on Feb. 5 prompted Jones to shake up his starting lineup, adding Quarterman and freshman guard Jalyn Patterson to the first five. Since then, LSU has gone 6-3, including a resounding 84-61 road thumping of Auburn.
While LSU has rested for six days, Auburn has been busy in the first two rounds of the tournament. Auburn beat No. 12 seed Mississippi State on Wednesday before rallying from a 10-point halftime deficit to down No. 5 seed Texas A&M, 66-59.
Though a loss to Auburn would damage its NCAA Tournament résumé, most experts believe LSU has already clinched a spot in the Big Dance, but Patterson said his team still has goals for the conference tournament.
“We’re trying to win it,” Patterson said. “Everyone on the team is on the same page. We’re trying to win the tournament. That way, we have an automatic bid for the NCAA Tournament. So that’s our goal.”
You can reach David Gray on Twitter @dgray_TDR.

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Emily Brauner

LSU sophomore forward Jarell Martin (1) celebrates after scoing points during the Tiger's 81-77 loss against Auburn on Thursday, Feb. 5, 2015 in the Pete Maravich Assembly Center.