LEXINGTON, Ky. — The LSU men’s basketball team faces a new challenge Tuesday night here at Rupp Arena as they face the Kentucky Wildcats with both teams desperately searching for a win.
The Tigers will attempt to do it without their leading scorer and rebounder as junior forward Glen Davis remained in Baton Rouge and did not make the trip as he continues to be bothered by the strained quad muscle in his right leg that he suffered late in the Arkansas game on Feb. 10.
Davis played both against Mississippi and Mississippi State last week, but did not complete all the practices prior to the either game and did not practice Sunday or Monday prior to the team leaving Monday afternoon for Lexington. Davis spent most of the day at the doctor’s office undergoing tests on the leg.
“We are going to determine the extent of his injury and the length of time he needs to get well,” LSU Coach John Brady said after Monday’s practice.
“Before he goes back in a game, he needs to practice. Last week, we held him out of a few things when he wasn’t full speed and tried to play him in the game (against Mississippi State Saturday). If he doesn’t make this trip (to Kentucky), we will try and get him healthy in the next three or four days. We will take off Wednesday and we will determine if he can go this weekend (against Florida at home) by the practices. If he can get himself well to practice, than he has earned the right to play.”
The Tigers (14-12, 3-9) and Wildcats (18-8, 7-5) are both on losing streaks with LSU losing its last two and Kentucky its last three games. ESPN will televise the contest nationally on its Super Tuesday schedule of games beginning local time at 9 p.m. (8 p.m. CST in Baton Rouge) and the LSU Sports Radio Network will have the broadcast on its affiliates and at LSUsports.net in the “GeauxZone.”
With Davis out, Magnum Rolle is expected to get the start. The sophomore from the Bahamas had a career high of nine against Alabama last month and scored seven points on the road at Tennessee. Rolle is averaging 3.3 points and 4.1 rebounds. Rolle will be joined in the LSU lineup by Garrett Temple and Terry Martin at guards and Tasmin Mitchell and Darnell Lazare at forwards.
Coach Brady feels his team is ready to play and is looking forward to the challenge. “We are just going to have to rely on one another more,” he said of playing without Davis. “We are going to have to function as a team efficiently. Obviously, Garrett (Temple) is going have to score a little more and everyone will have to step on offense. Defensively we still have four of the same guys and hopefully Magnum (Rolle) can defend well around the basket. It is just on offense, are we going to be able to compensate for a guy who puts up 18-19 point a game not being there?
“We are going to have to shoot better from the perimeter without a dominant presence around the goal. We are still going to go inside some and not getting the normal double team that Glen would get could open some opportunities for Magnum Rolle, Tasmin Mitchell or Darnell Lazare to get defended one on one. Our team attitude was good these past two days and practice was fun. Our guys have been enthusiastic and we are ready to see how we do.”
The Tigers return home after this game for a Saturday 3 p.m. date with natonally-ranked Florida. All available non-student tickets for the game have been sold. The game will be nationally-televised on CBS.
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Head Coach John Brady made the following comments following his practice late Monday morning in Baton Rouge before the team left for Lexington to face Kentucky (Tuesday, 8 p.m. CST, ESPN, LSU Sports Radio Network)
On the status of Glen Davis who did not practice because of continued problems with right quad muscle…
“He is at the doctor as we speak. We are going to make a determination later on his status. He probably will not go with us to Kentucky; it depends on what the doctor tells me. We are going to determine the extent of his injury and the length of time he needs to get well. Before he goes back in a game, he needs to practice. Last week, we held him out of a few things when he wasn’t full speed and tried to play him in the game (against Mississippi State Saturday). If he doesn’t make this trip, we will try and get him healthy in the next three or four days. We will take off Wednesday and we will determine if he can go this weekend (against Florida at home) by the practices. If he can get himself well to practice, than he has earned the right to play.”
On who will take his spot in the starting lineup…
“I will probably start Magnum (Rolle.) Kentucky normally starts four perimeter guys anyway. Like we did against Mississippi State, Dameon (Mason) will play at the four spot for us sometimes with Darnell (Lazare) at the five. Kentucky plays 6-6 Randolph Morris against a 6-10 Magnum, but the other spots are pretty evenly matched in size. We will see how Rolle guards Morris and if we need to double-team him at times we will. Our team is just excited about the opportunity of going up there and playing.”
On how not having Davis will affect the team…
“I don’t think it will change anything. You can’t put in new things after a day and half of practicing without him. We are just going to have to rely on one another more. We are going to have to function as a team efficiently. Obviously, Garrett (Temple) is going have to score a little more and everyone will have to step on offense. Defensively we still have four of the same guys and hopefully Magnum (Rolle) can defend well around the basket. It is just on offense, are we going to be able to compensate for a guy who puts up 18-19 point a game not being there?”
“We are going to have to shoot better from the perimeter without a dominant presence around the goal. We are still going to go inside some and not getting the normal double team that Glen would get could open some opportunities for Magnum Rolle, Tasmin Mitchell or Darnell Lazare to get defended one on one. Our team attitude was good these past two days and practice was fun. Our guys have been enthusiastic and we are ready to see how we do.”
On how tough it is to play at Rupp Arena…
“Outside of 2003, we haven’t really played a tight game with over there. This would be a great time to get a win there … On the other hand, Kentucky has lost three in a row and it is not often that happens. We will probably get a double dose of any fight they have by where they find themselves right now.”