Behind a sigh of relief was 6-foot-9 sophomore forward Craig Victor, who made his debut as a Tiger in LSU’s 78-57 victory against Gardner-Webb on Wednesday night in the PMAC.
Victor, who saw the floor for a short period of time as an Arizona Wildcat, transferred to LSU (5-4, 0-0 Southeastern Conference) before the 2015 season and waited until final grades were submitted by LSU for the fall semester on December 15, allowing his eligibility.
Victor provided 10 points and five rebounds in 20 total minutes in his LSU debut. He saw the court for six minutes in the first half, which was enough time to bully his way to six points and two rebounds in his season-opener.
“It was fun,” Victor said. “I wasn’t stressed at all. I was just out there having fun. My family was more nervous than I was. It’s a game, I was just out there having fun.”
“I was glad to see Craig Victor out on the floor tonight,” said LSU coach Johnny Jones. “I thought he certainly made an impact for us on both ends of the floor. It really helped our team in a lot of ways. You can see what we’ve been missing.”
For the first time this season, LSU put, arguably, its best lineup on the floor with Victor at center, Ben Simmons at forward and Antonio Blakeney, Keith Hornsby and Tim Quarterman as guards.
The group combined for 50 of LSU’s 78 points, and 34 of the Tigers 54 rebounds against Gardner-Webb.
Jones commended the Tigers defensive effort against the Runnin’ Bulldogs, which, along with other aspects, was what Victor said he saw from the bench during his ineligibility, and what he could help the Tigers with after he declared eligible.
“Toughness, rebounding, leader[ship] and defense,” Victor said. “Defending my guy, that’s what I do. It doesn’t matter what the case is. I rebounded. I played hell of good defense. I hustled, and got on the floor. I just need to knock down those free throws down.”
Jones and Victor both said Victor is normally a “good” free-throw shooter, but Victor said the rust was because of the in-game situations.
“I’m a real good free-throw shooter,” Victor said. “It’s new to me shooting free throws in a game situation.”
Victor’s influence seemed to make the Tigers more fluid on the defensive end, where they out-rebounded the Runnin’ Bulldogs (4-7, 0-0 Big South Conference) 23-to-11 in the first half, and 37-for-27 for the game — the third game this season where LSU out-numbered its opponent on the glass.
Sophomore Aaron Epps, who finished with a career high 11 rebounds, and tallied 10 points for the Tigers.
He, along with Simmons, Blakeney, Hornsby and Victor, led the Tigers to their second 20-point win this season — all of whom finished in double figures in scoring.
Simmons, the nation’s leading rebounder at 14.6 per game, finished with 10 points, 12 rebounds and four assists, his sixth double-double in points and rebounds this season.
Blakeney was the first Tiger to reach double figures in points, as he finished with 11, four rebounds and two assists, and Hornsby knocked in 14 points to lead all scorers for LSU.
“We moving up to those [high] expectations,” Victor said. “We’re getting there. We’re getting back up and running, I promise you.”