by Ryan Rogers
LSU Sports Information
AUBURN , Ala. — LSU can clinch the Southeastern Confernece Western Division crown with a win over Auburn Wednesday night at the Beard-Eaves Memorial Coliseum. This is incredible when considering where the Tigers were supposed to be at this point in the season….dead last! LSU was picked sixth in the division by ESPN, CNNSI, and SEC Coaches in preseason analysis.
“Weve certainly come a long way,” said Torris Bright.
That could be the understatement of the year. LSU was in the cellar at this point in the season the past two years. But after a 23-4 record a year later, the Tigers could be going into the SEC tournament as a No. 1 seed.
“We are very happy that weve accomplished our goals so for. The key to our success has been unselfishness,” said Bright.
Indeed, the Tigers have played very unselfish basketball in two ways.
One, regardless of the fact that they have plenty of capable scorers, they try very hard to find the open man with he best shot before shooting. This is a different approach than talented Tiger teams in the early part of the decade had. Those teams had many talented scorers, but often forced shots after falling to their scoring tendencies.
A second way the Tigers have been unselfish is the hustle on defense. Commend coach Brady and his staff for selling defense to his players. Every Tiger plays exceptional defense that has been the difference in lots of games this year.
The Tigers appear to be very focused on the task at hand for tomorrow night.
“We really didnt discuss too much whats on the line for tomorrows game with the players,” said Brady. “I simply asked them do you know what happens if you win tomorrow. They answered ‘yes,’ and I said ‘well lets go practice.’
“They know whats at stake. We just want them to relax.”
Auburn, the other team playing for the title, is supposed to be in this situation. However, with all conference performer Chris Porters status looming in the air, Auburn may not be at full strength. The Auburn Tigers were drilled by Florida Sunday, greatly missing Porters presence on the court.
“I hope he (Porter) plays,” said Brady. “I want to find out where this team is at right now. But if Porter doesnt play I expect Auburn to come out in their last home game and play with a lot of emotion facing the circumstances.”
Guard Doc Robinson will have to step up if Porter is absent. He is a very good shooter and if he gets hot the Tigers could be in trouble.
Mamadou N’diaye should be in the lineup tomorrow for Auburn after recovering from his sprained knee. For LSU, Besharas ankle is tender, but he is probable. And Torris Bright is probable after fighting a virus this week.
Tip off is set for 7 p.m. The game will be televised on Jefferson Pilot Sports and the Voice of the Tigers, Jim Hawthorne, along with Kevin Ford can be heard live on LSUsports.net beginning at 6:30 p.m. with his pregame show.