FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — The LSU Tigers, ranked for the first time since Jan of 2007, put that ranking on the line as well as its two-game lead in the Southeastern Conference regular season chase, when it faces Arkansas here Wednesday night at 7 p.m. at Bud Walton Arena.
The game is not scheduled for any television package, but the radio broadcast will be available on the affiliates of the LSU Sports Radio Network (New Country 100.7 FM The Tiger in Baton Rouge) and in the Geaux Zone at LSUsports.net.
LSU was ranked Monday in both major polls with a No. 24 ranking in the ESPN/USA Today coaches poll and a No. 23 ranking in the Associated Press poll.
The Tigers are now 21-4 and winners of nine straight conference games after an opening conference game loss at Alabama. LSU has a three-game lead in the Western Division over Mississippi State (6-4), while Tennessee, Kentucky and South Carolina are tied for the Eastern Division lead and two games back of the Tigers for the overall conference lead at 7-3.
LSU’s magic number is two to clinch a first-round bye in the end of season SEC Tournament and LSU’s number to clinch the Western Division title is three.
Arkansas enters the game 13-10, 1-9 in the Western Division. The Hogs have lost five straight games starting with the first meeting with the Tigers in Baton Rouge on Jan. 31 (79-69). In that game, LSU opened a 20-point advantage in the first half, leading 41-21 at the break, before Arkansas came back strong in the second half to cut the game to as close as five.
LSU Coach Trent Johnson announced at Monday’s media session (free video) that point guard Bo Spencer would miss a second straight game with the sprained left ankle suffered a week ago in the Mississippi State game. Terry Martin, who had 11 points in his first start of the season Saturday in the 73-66 win at home over Ole Miss, will get his second straight of the season against the Razorbacks.
“It’s interesting,” said Johnson. “Pittsburgh beats UConn, Oklahoma will probably be ranked No. 1. They only have one loss. Guess who beat them. Arkansas did, in Fayetteville. I’m happy for the people that are happy and follow the program (about being ranked). The other side of it is that we have a lot of work to do. We are going to have to play better than we’ve played. I don’t want to take anything away from what we’ve done the last two of three games, but Arkansas, in Fayetteville, is a difficult and different challenge.”
Marcus Thornton leads the team with a 20.0 points per game average with Tasmin Mitchell averaging 16.8 points per game. Mitchell followed up an SEC Player of the Week two games by scoring 61 points last week, including 41 against Mississippi State a week ago. Thornton has moved into second place behind Jodie Meeks of Kentucky in the SEC scoring standings.
Arkansas is expected to have Courtney Fortson, the freshman point guard, back on the team after sitting out the Kentucky game on an indefinite suspension. Fortson, who had nine assists in the first LSU game, averaged 14.6 points per game and 5.3 rebounds this season to lead the Razorbacks.
Following this game, LSU will come home for two consecutive games starting Saturday at 7 p.m. against Auburn and at 8 p.m. Tuesday night for a nationally-televised game with Florida. Tickets for both games are on sale at LSUsports.net and there are special $5 tickets available for the LSU-Florida Fat Tuesday game.