by Chris Macaluso
LSUsports.net
Injuries and the NCAA have guaranteed every healthy LSU basketball player time on the court this season. But, for Tiger Coach John Brady, it’s not enough for his players to simply see the floor. He needs them to play well.
According to Brady, Tiger sophomore forward Ronald Dupree did not play well in LSU’s first exhibition game of the year, committing five turnovers while scoring eight points and grabbing 11 rebounds in a 72-69 win over Global Sports Nov. 6.
Sophomore point guard Torris Bright didn’t play at all, serving a Brady-issued suspension.
Both played a key role in LSU’s 92-52 win over Angola Atletico Petroloes Monday night, the Tigers’ final pre-season tune-up.
Bright finished the contest with 21points and 10 assists in 29 minutes. Dupree matched Bright’s 21 points while pulling down 10 rebounds in 29 minutes.
“I think you can tell the difference when Torris Bright’s on the floor,” Brady said. “Ronald (Dupree) completed some baskets around the goal and he was able to show that he can make a perimeter shot.”
Dupree, who enetered the game with a sore back, played in the paint most of the game, trying to fill the void left by the loss of power forward Brad Bridgewater to a season ending knee injury. But Dupree also stepped out to the three-point line, where he was 1-2 from long distance.
Brady said that aspect of Dupree’s game will help him score more when regular season action begins Monday, Nov. 20 against UL-Monroe
“He (Dupree) showed that he can make a perimeter shot,” Brady said. “If Ronald can drop a perimeter shot in and the defense will come on him, he’s very gifted at driving the ball to the goal. I don’t know if he’s going to score 21 a game, but I’ve got him in the range of 13-15 a night. I’ve got a few other guys in that average or range. If we can get that consistently out of some of our players, than who knows.”
Brady is also counting on contributions from a pair of 6-7 junior transfers in the paint. Jason Wilson played 22 minutes, scoring seven points, while Pete Bozek added four minutes in the paint. Brady said he hopes both will increase their playing time and productivity as the season progresses.
“Jason got 22 minutes and he got a little more comfortable,” Brady said. “He needs to do what he can do, that’s block his man off the boards and be a good effective scorer, make close in baskets or get fouled and go to the line and make some free throws.”
Three of Wilson’s seven points came from the free throw line.
Brady said his team has much to do before the regular season gets underway, but he is encouraged by the way it played Monday, especially in the second half. The Tigers made 71.4 percent of the their free-throws in the second half while converting 56.5 percent of their field goals.
“The only way I know how to show growth is to improve everyday in practice and use games to get better,” he said. “You gage it as you go. There’s never a finished product. We got better tonight than we were in the first exhibition. I like our team.”