BATON ROUGE — As the 1999-2000 basketball season progresses, there’s no doubt that this year’s LSU Tiger basketball team possesses tremendous talent. What the Tigers lack is depth.
In order to continue the success LSU found in a 12-0 start prior to SEC play, head coach John Brady will require the assistance of his young bench. Freshmen Ronald Dupree and Collis Temple, III, and sophomores Brad Bridgewater and Jermaine Williams could be the key ingredients for a winning season and a shot at post-season play.
“Every team needs people coming off the bench to give them quality minutes and quality play,” said Brady. “We don’t have a lot of depth, so it’s necessary that the one’s we do have give us some quality play.”
The Tigers have only three true post players on the roster this season, Bridgewater, Jabari Smith and Stromile Swift. This season Bridgewater must fill a reserve role, but next year could see him in a starting position with the absence of the graduating Smith.
Bridgewater, a multi-talented high school athlete, hails from New Roads, La. where he attended Pointe Coupee Central. For three years he served as a tight end and a defensive end in football, as well as playing four seasons as a sprinter and a field performer in track and field finishing fourth in the state track meet in the triple jump. The sophomore was also named Honorable Mention All-State and All-Parish in basketball.
Throughout the regular season, he averaged 20 points, 10 rebounds, four assists and seven blocked shots a game, and saw his scoring average rise to 25 points in district play. Bridgewater was also a participant in the Louisiana High School Coaches Association All-Star game. In only 13 minutes of action, he scored six points and pulled down six boards. Considered one of the best athletes on the team, his speed and athleticism shows in his play.
“I try to bring some energy to the game,” said Bridgewater. “People say I run the floor like a deer. Right now, though, I need to learn to slow down a bit and try not to force things that aren’t there. I just need to learn to get into the flow of the game and allow the game to come without forcing it.”
The 6’8″ 250 pound forward was pressed into action as a true freshman despite thoughts of a red-shirt season. Bridgewater found playing time in 24 of the 27 games last year averaging 7.3 minutes per contest and shooting over 40 percent from the floor. So far this season, his playing time has begun to increase, especially in SEC play. The sophomore provided quality minutes in the Tennessee game that saw Stromile Swift in early foul trouble.
“The Tennessee game really helped my confidence,” said Bridgewater. “At the time I was feeling down, like I wasn’t contributing to my team. But after the Tennessee game, I feel more confident and I’m ready to do anything to help my team.”
One of Bridgewater’s biggest contributions could be his game experience in the SEC. Last season the Tigers lost five SEC contests by a margin of five points or less. With an abundance of freshmen on this year’s roster and Lamont Roland in his first year as a Tiger, experienced players like Bridgewater could be the difference in some of those close games this season.
“By having played in the SEC and having a feel for it, we now know what it will take to win some of those close games,” Bridgewater said. “You can never underestimate any team or any player in the SEC. It’s all about the effort. We have the talent, there’s no doubt, but I always tell the guys to come out and play hard every play. That’s going to make the difference.”
So far Bridgewater and the rest of the team have exceeded expectations. The Tiger coaching staff not only has this program in the right direction, but they are ahead of schedule. After two more SEC match-ups against Georgia and Arkansas, the Tigers play host to No. 2 Arizona on Jan. 29 before another two-game SEC road stretch.
“I think we really came together as a team in the summer time, we pushed each other really hard and tried to do the things we felt would prepare us for game situations,” said Bridgewater. “We’re having a great time out there. We just love the game and the fans make it that much more fun.”