The LSU men’s basketball team (4-2) expect an interesting game at 7 p.m. tonight when the Southern Jaguars (1-3) come to the Pete Maravich Assembly Center for the latest installment in the cross-town rivalry.
The schools’ closeness extends beyond geography.
Several Tigers and Jaguars have played with and against one another since childhood.
“I’ve known three of [Southern’s players] all my life,” freshman guard Bo Spencer said.
The Baton Rouge native was a junior at Glen Oaks High School with Southern guard and former teammate Brandon White.
Spencer also said he has played with Southern’s leading scorers Chris Davis and Joe Holliday.
LSU junior guard Garrett Temple, who attended University High, is also familiar with the Jaguars – including his “close friend” Davis.
“[Davis and I] go out together, and I’ll call him to talk about a lot of stuff,” Temple said.
Temple said he’s known Davis and Holliday since he was about seven.
In addition to years of playing together before college, LSU coach John Brady said players from the two teams often play one another during the summer.
“I think it adds a little extra to it,” Brady said. “Our guys don’t want to get in a situation to lose this game. They want to protect their turf on our home floor.”
While some fans might be quick to overlook the Jaguars, Brady is not letting his team do the same.
“Our team has to be on guard,” Brady said. “Southern expects to win and be competitive, and our team will have to match their intensity. Hopefully we’ll have the opportunity to win.”
Brady’s biggest concern is the Jaguars’ post play.
“Around the goal, we need to be more physical,” Brady said. “[The Jaguars] like to throw it inside, and interior defense is not one of our strengths. Hopefully we can improve on that Friday night.”
The Jaguars are only a year removed from a 2006 NCAA Tournament appearance in which they played Duke very closely for a majority of their first round contest before Duke pulled out a 70-54 victory.
The Tigers will be looking to extend their 65-game home winning streak against Louisiana schools after beating Nicholls State this past Wednesday.
To many of the players, this game will be a little more special.
“I’m happy [White and I] get a chance to play each other,” Spencer said. “It’s going to be an intense game neither one of us wants to lose; we’ve been talking on the phone – talking a lot of noise to each other.”
LSU will again be missing junior forward Tasmin Mitchell, who underwent surgery Thursday for a stress fracture in his left shin.
“The surgery went fine,” Brady said. “It’s going to be about a seven or eight week process.”
Mitchell is expected to apply for a medical redshirt.
—–Contact Jerit Roser at [email protected]