BATON ROUGE — No one can ever accuse LSU gymnastics coach D-D Breaux of ducking the top competition in the country. Breaux’s Tigers will take on nine teams ranked in last year’s final top 25 in the 2002 season, as she announced her team’s upcoming schedule on Friday.
The season starts on Jan. 11 for the Tigers with their first-ever appearance in the elite “Super Six” competition in Gainesville, Fla., against two-time defending NCAA champion UCLA, perennial power Penn State and SEC rivals Florida, Alabama and Georgia.
“It’s as difficult a schedule as we’ve had since I’ve been here,” said Breaux, ready to enter her 25th season at the helm of the Tigers. “We’ve got a veteran group returning and a great incoming class that will be introduced to the premier teams in college gymnastics very quickly.”
The Tigers’ 2002 schedule includes six regular season home dates, while the Maravich Assembly Center will also serve as the host site of the NCAA Central Regional Championships on April 7.
The Tigers open their 2002 home slate against SEC rival Auburn on Jan. 18, coached by longtime LSU assistant Jeff Thompson. After a dual meet at Florida on Jan. 25, the Tigers return home for a pair of crucial meets in consecutive weeks against perennial powers Utah and Alabama.
After a road trip to 2001 NCAA Championship participant Denver, the Tigers return home for meets at the PMAC against nationally ranked opponents Iowa and Kentucky.
On March 8, the Tigers head to Georgia and return home on March 15 for their final regular season home meet against Centenary and Rhode Island.
For the second consecutive year, the SEC Championships will be held in Birmingham, as the Bartow Arena will host the event on March 23.
Season tickets for the 2002 season are available for $30 and are currently on sale at the LSU Ticket Office, or by calling (225) 578-2184.