BATON ROUGE – The LSU Tigers play their first Southeastern Conference home game Wednesday night when they host the Arkansas Razorbacks at 7 p.m. in the Pete Maravich Assembly Center.
The Tigers and Razorbacks both won their conference openers with LSU a 62-55 winner on the road at Auburn, while Arkansas downed Tennessee at Bud Walton Arena in the league opener. LSU is 9-7 overall, while Arkansas is 11-3 with 10 of its 11 victories coming at home.
Tickets for the game are available at www.LSUtix.net and on game night beginning at 5:30 p.m. at the upper concourse ticket windows. Tickets start at $18 for adults and $5 for youth (ages 3-12). LSU students are admitted free of change with their LSU ID.
The game will be regionally televised on the SEC Network (WBXH in Baton Rouge) and broadcast on the affiliates of the LSU Sports Radio Network (WTGE New Country 100.7 FM The Tiger in Baton Rouge) and at www.LSUsports.net/live.
LSU is hoping to continue the success of Saturday when the Tigers held Auburn to six first half points in winning their opening game on the road. But the Razorbacks have had good success this season as the only team in the league with double digit wins at home.
“Arkansas is a much improved team throughout this year from last year,” said LSU Coach Trent Johnson. “One of the things that impressed me the most is defensively because they really cause a lot of problems for you in man-to-man and zone. Their perimeter players are very quick and have a level of toughness that you really appreciate. They are as good a team as there is in our league. They had one game which was very uncharacteristic of them this year and that was at Texas (a 79-49 loss), but Texas is a very good basketball team and caught them at the right time.”
LSU is expected to go with the same lineup as the win over Auburn with Matt Derenbecker again replacing the injured Ralston Turner at one of the guard positions. Turner remains out with a stress reaction in the right foot. Derenbecker scored 15 points in his first collegiate start on Saturday. Joining the freshman from Metairie Park Country Day at guard will be point guard Andre Stringer and sophomore Aaron Dotson.
At the forwards will be junior Malcolm White and sophomore Eddie Ludwig with Garrett Green coming off the bench as he has been to score in double figures four of the past six games, including a career high 18 points against Auburn.
Arkansas is paced by Rotnei Clarks at 14.1 points per game and Delvon Johnson at 10.1 points per game.
“This is a very explosive team, a very talented team and a very well coached team” said Johnson. “John (Pelphrey) has done a very good job with this group.”
When asked about confidence after a win at Auburn, Johnson said: “Well, obviously it should give you some confidence because winning gives you confidence. It is real important for me to get them to understand the word I always use ‘false’ confidence. Auburn is Auburn, now it’s Arkansas. I said this about a month ago, for whatever reason we compete harder and play better on the road. We haven’t played well here at home, so we have to get that answered. Everyone talks about momentum and confidence, but I tend to dwell on just the next practice, the next play and the next possession.”
LSU Basketball can be followed on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/LSUBasketball and on Twitter @LSUBasketball and @LSUCoachJohnson.
Arkansas at LSU 1/12/2011 7:00 PM CT
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