FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — The 16th-ranked LSU men’s basketball team will try to improve on its position as early leaders in the Western Division of the Southeastern conference when the Tigers try to take down the Arkansas Razorbacks here Saturday afternoon at the always tough Bud Walton Arena.
The Tigers and Razorbacks will meet at a little after 2:45 p.m. on CBS Sports on a split regional telecast. The radio broadcast will be available on the LSU Sports Radio Network affiliates (Eagle 98.1 FM in Baton Rouge) and online at LSUsports.net in the “Geaux Zone.” Pregame begins at 2:30 p.m.
LSU is 2-1 and the early leader in the Western Division after wins versus Auburn and Ole Miss that extended LSU’s Maravich Center home SEC winning streak to 19 games. Arkansas is coming off three straight losses at Florida, at Ole Miss and at home Wednesday night against Georgia on a last-second three-pointer to stand at 1-3 going into the game.
The Tigers (13-4) got 19 points and 10 rebounds from Tasmin Mitchell on Wednesday in the win over an improved Ole Miss team and Terry Martin added 15 and Glen Davis 11 as LSU puts on another stellar defensive effort to hold down the Rebels.
“I think the most positive thing about our team is that we’re trying to defend hard and rebound the ball,” said LSU Coach John Brady. “Offensively, we don’t have the timing that I’d like. Terry Martin is giving us a little more of threat in the perimeter. Tasmin Mitchell is consistent. Hopefully, we can find a rhythm on offense and make some things happen on that end.”
LSU has out rebounded 14 of its 17 opponents with a 12-2 record in those games and is near the top of the SEC in rebound margin close to eight a game. The Tigers average 39.8 boards a game and only two other John Brady teams have averaged 40 boards or more in his first nine seasons at LSU.
Arkansas leads the overall series, 25-17, thanks to an 11-game win run in the 1990s after joining the league, but LSU has gradually tried to turn the results in the series, winning both games a season ago, seven-of-the-last eight and nine of 11 games. A combined 12 points have decided the last four games combined by.
“We’re going to have to show poise, defend well, rebound the ball and get back in transition,” Brady said when asked about how to play Arkansas. “One thing about (LSU) is that we don’t have the poise like last year. Our team is not quite that tough minded yet. We’ve been there before and hopefully we can come with the necessary poise it takes to win (at Bud Walton). We can’t give Arkansas easy baskets which they really like to create.”
The Tigers will return home Wednesday to face Vanderbilt when it goes for its 20 straight SEC home court win. Tickets for that game are on sale online at LSUsports.net and the LSU Athletics Ticket Office.