Expectations that increased after LSU began the Southeastern Conference slate 2-0 have quickly came back down to preseason level.
The men’s basketball team suffered its second rout in a row, 78-51, Saturday afternoon against Ole Miss.
A 14-4 run by the Rebels to begin the second half helped hand the Tigers the loss in front of 8,060 fans and the 1981 and 1986 Final Four teams, who were honored at halftime.
“The last two games we haven’t been very competitive, and it’s been very disturbing,” said LSU coach Trent Johnson.
The second half shooting numbers tell the story. The Rebels were shooting a lights out 70 percent from the field in the final 20 minutes, while the Tigers made merely 25 percent of their shots during that time period.
“You can’t be afraid to make a play,” Johnson said. “You can’t be afraid to shoot an open shot when you’re open.”
Ole Miss turned the ball over two more times than LSU, but the Rebels still scored nine more points off turnovers.
The backcourt belonged to Ole Miss, who pounded the glass for 14 more rebounds than LSU. Scoring down low was dominated by the Rebels as well, recording 28 points in the paint compared to LSU’s 12.
“The thing that bother me is our inability to get the loose balls, being beat 33-19 on the glass,” Johnson said.
Junior forward Malcolm White, who transferred to LSU from Ole Miss, didn’t put up gaudy numbers against his former teammates.
White led the Tigers with five turnovers but added six points.
“It was good seeing those guys again, but we didn’t come out with the win,” White said. “My expectations were to come out with the win.”
The schedule doesn’t ease up for LSU. The Tigers travel to Tennessee for a Wednesday night tip-off against the Volunteers.
 
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