Heading into this season, no one questioned the talent on LSU’s roster.
For LSU fans and the media alike, the Tigers were a lock for the NCAA Tournament with Southeastern Conference Preseason Player of the Year freshman forward Ben Simmons, power in the paint with sophomore forward Craig Victor II and pinpoint perimeter shooters in senior guard Keith Hornsby and freshman guard Antonio Blakeney.
But talent on paper doesn’t always translate into success on the hardwood, just ask LSU coach Johnny Jones and company as they enter the season’s last week clawing for an at-large bid.
As speculation surrounding its tournament destiny continues, LSU rolls into its regular-season home finale against Missouri at 8 p.m. tonight in the PMAC.
At this point in the season, the goal is simple: just win.
“We really are just focusing on winning one game at a time,” Hornsby said. “For the Florida game, we knew [what kind of] team they were and the challenge possessed when they came in here. We took care of business that night although the ending wasn’t very pretty.”
LSU’s 96-91 win against Florida on Saturday featured a dynamic, balanced offense with all five starters scoring in double figures, including 54 points combined from Simmons and Blakeney.
Looking forward against Missouri (10-19, 3-13 SEC) and Kentucky on Saturday , the pressure rests on Blakeney’s shoulders to continue his development as LSU’s premier perimeter shooter while Hornsby is sidelined indefinitely with a groin tear.
Since Hornsby went down against Tennessee on Feb. 20, Blakeney averages 24.7 points per game while shooting 51.1 percent from the field, including an 8-for-16 clip from three-point territory.
“Everybody stepped up [against Florida],” Blakeney said. “We had five or six guys in double figures, which is good. When we have some balance scoring like that, we will be hard to beat.”
LSU (17-12, 10-6 SEC) has the opportunity to showcase its conference-leading offense against the Missouri’s 10th-ranked scoring defense, which allows 72.4 points per game. When the squad reaches or surpasses its season average of 80.1 points, LSU holds a 11-3 record.
Despite most writing it off as a National Invitation Tournament-bound team, LSU isn’t convinced of this fate as they remain confident in their talent on both ends of the floor heading into a bout with the Tigers from Columbia.
“I think we have the players and the coaching staff,” said senior guard Josh Gray. “We are all on the same page. We are just ready to take off. We got back to our winning ways against Florida. Hopefully, we can keep it up.”
Besides the matchup’s potential effects on LSU’s postseason hopes, tonight marks the last regular season game Gray and Hornsby will play in the PMAC.
The senior duo took a quick break from tournament talk to reminisce on what they have learned through their experiences at LSU.
Hornsby reflected on how his time at LSU has changed his perspective.
“There’s been good [memories],” he said. “There’s been bad. I actually appreciate the bad ones. They help shape you. I feel like without those I wouldn’t be as far along as a human being.”
Looking back on his two seasons at LSU, Gray summed it up — he grew up.
Although Gray will take the court tonight for possibly the final time at the PMAC, Hornsby has accepted his role as the team’s motivator on the bench.
“That’s a hard pill to swallow right there,” Hornsby said. “I would never have imagined it to happen, but there’s nothing I can do about it. It’s senior night. I’ll still be in the building and hopefully, witness a win.”