LSU hasn’t forgotten those 108 points.
On Dec. 2, LSU defeated a sharpshooting, up-tempo North Florida team 119-108. Those same fast-paced attributes are expected to return to the PMAC tonight at 7 p.m.
“Last year they came in on our floor and put on one of the better offensive team performances that I’ve had an opportunity to witness,” coach Johnny Jones said. “They had several of those players back from last year’s team.”
Junior forward Aaron Epps also remembers a few characteristics of the Ospreys’ style of play from last year’s game.
“They can shoot and they can run,” Epps said. “We’re going to have to really focus.”
Friday will be North Florida’s second round against an Southeastern Conference team this year as the Ospreys lost 83-66 to another SEC opponent Auburn in their season opener on Nov. 11.
Much like last year, sophomore Antonio Blakeney remembered the high-speed Osprey offense on Thursday.
“I remember that they don’t like to get deep into their shot clock,” Blakeney said. “They come down and swing it a few times, and they’re going to take the first good look that they get.”
In front of North Florida’s ramped up offense is Dallas Moore, a pro-level talent, sophomore guard, Brandon Sampson said. Moore is averaging 18 points through three games and is shooting 36 percent from the 3-point line. Moore dropped 31 points in North Florida’s game against LSU last season.
“We know that he’s a very good and crafty point guard,” Jones said. “I’m hopeful that we’re so much better on the defensive end of the floor that it doesn’t take the type of effort from one of our offensive players to put that type of game together.”
“He’s capable of getting 30 points almost any night,” Sampson said. “We’re really going to have to focus in on him and not let him get going too early.”
Adversely, Blakeney leads the Tigers in scoring, averaging 18 points through the first two games. The sophomore guard scored 26 points and shot 3 for 3 from beyond the arc against Southern Miss on Tuesday.
To defend the Ospreys’ high-speed attack, Jones said the return of Craig Victor to LSU’s lineup is not far off, yet unlikely for Friday.
“He’ll be back soon,” Jones said. “He’ll probably miss this game, and we’re hopeful he’ll be in uniform when we travel.”
North Florida proved to be a challenge for the Tigers last season, if not for a career-high 43 points from NBA Draft’s No. 1 pick Ben Simmons.
LSU defeated North Florida 119-108 last season behind the career showing from Simmons. However, North Florida went into halftime with a 56-48 lead over the Tigers, forcing LSU to fight from behind in the second half.
North Florida has made a postseason tournament for back-to-back seasons. North Florida made the NCAA Tournament in the 2014-15 season as a No. 16 seed and also picked up a bid to the NIT Tournament last season where they fell 97-68 to Florida.
“I’m hopeful that we’re so much better on the defensive end of the floor that it doesn’t take the type of effort from one of our offensive players to put that type of game together.”