BATON ROUGE – LSU Coach Trent Johnson held his weekly Thursday media session as the Tigers wrap up preparation for Saturday’s 12:47 p.m. game with Ole Miss at the Pete Maravich Assembly Center.
The Tigers are 10-8 and 2-1 in the SEC, while Ole Miss is 12-7 overall and 0-4 in the league. It will be “Reunion Saturday” as members of the 1981 and 1986 LSU NCAA Final Four teams will be introduced at halftime as part of a weekend of activities for two of the most famous teams in LSU history.
Tickets for the game are available online at LSUtix.net and at the upper concourse ticket windows on game day at 11 a.m.
Follow LSU basketball on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/LSUBasketball and on Twitter @LSUBasketball and @LSUCoachJohnson.
LSU HEAD COACH TRENT JOHNSON
Opening Statement …
“We have had a couple days off and the energy has been very good. No rust in terms of what we have been working on with a lot of four-on-four and five-on-five. We weren’t, and they weren’t very happy with the way we competed in Lexington, so obviously we addressed that like we always do. Ralston (Turner) is out (for Ole Miss) and Storm (Warren) has not practiced. Ralston will not play. We are playing a very, very good basketball team. Their record means nothing to me and nothing to us as a team. This is a team going into the year that was favored to win the SEC West. Talent-wise they are probably one of the most talented teams in our league. Chris Warren, without question, is one of the better players and better guards in our league, not to mention one of the better guards in the country. He can dictate a game and control a game by himself, so we need to play as well as we have played all year. I know that sounds cliché, but we made some strides in Auburn and against Arkansas, and then we took a step backwards in Kentucky in terms of how we didn’t compete on the backboards and keeping people out of the lane.”
On what the defensive strategy is against Chris Warren …
“Whether we’re in man or in zone we need to pay a lot of attention to him to try and make him work for everything he gets. You’re not going to completely contain a guy like him. Also (Terrance) Henry and Zach (Graham), those are two very good players. Also the transfer (Nick) Williams from Indiana can play. This is a very talented team, but Chris is without question one of the better players in the league so we need to make him work and be aware of where he is all of the time.”
On if he talked to the team about Ole Miss coming out with a lot of energy to get their first SEC win …
“No I haven’t. We really try to consume and concern ourselves with ourselves in terms of our energy and intensity coming into games. This group knows that we’re not talented enough to take a possession off. We know we need to be ready to play regardless of who it is.”
On starting Eddie Ludwig last game …
“Well Eddie gives us some stability in terms of he understands. He’s got a high IQ so he gives us stability in terms of not making mistakes defensively. Then offensively because he can pass from the four spot he gives us an opportunity to make different reads. We’re going to start Garrett (Green) and Malcolm (White) this week just because of Garrett’s overall length and athleticism. It has nothing to do with how he or Eddie’s been playing, I just think we match up with size.”
On if Storm Warren has practiced any …
“He hasn’t practiced. He’s probably going to be like this all year long. It’s (the Achilles) very tender and we will treat it like a game day decision. I thought having an extra two days off might get it under control, and I think it has done that, but when you talk about an Achilles it’s a very delicate situation. Storm’s game is basically rebounding, defending and a lot of energy, and if he has an opportunity to score with his angle to the basket he will. We will just go day-to-day with him.”
On if Storm Warren is a guy who he doesn’t have to worry about missing practice …
“No, I wouldn’t say that. In terms of effort and energy no question I don’t have to worry about that, but in terms of being in a rhythm and understanding his assignments, this game is hard enough to play when you are out there every day. This is not the NBA. Just understand that Kobe Bryant doesn’t have to practice and he can go out and get it done, but he has been playing a long time. This is a different level and we are playing against different teams who quite frankly are more talented than us at certain positions. I don’t worry about his effort, energy or attention to detail from a visual standpoint. In terms of timing, screens, catching the ball with two hands, getting up and down the floor, and getting his first and second wind are all big concerns.”
On if he talks to the team about the 1981 and 1986 Final Four teams …
“All the time. The tradition here at LSU and the tradition anywhere I have ever been. I think you guys have heard me say this before about a sense of entitlement. I think kids don’t really understand how tough it was 10, 15 or 20 years ago. I try to talk to these guys all the time that Rudy Macklin didn’t get to practice in a facility like this. Ricky Blanton didn’t play in a facility like this. Coach (Dale) Brown didn’t have the opportunity to get on a private plane and go recruit. Coach Brown only made $15,000, and the clown that’s coaching now has a little different deal. I just think it’s important for kids to understand that, especially in the sport of basketball. Football there is a helmet-to helmet meeting going on that is going to test your manhood, and in baseball there is high and tight. Basketball is a very pampered sport. When you start talking about tradition, I talk about that all the time.”
On Ricky Blanton and Rudy Macklin coming to LSU from out of state and what they mean to the program …
“It speaks volumes to them as players and people that they were willing to come here and get something started, as opposed to Rudy go to Kentucky. I’m going to address this tomorrow when we speak about how things were different 10 and 20 years ago. The landscape and the recruiting, things have changed. You bring up two guys that are very special, and I am not just saying that because they are on board with what we are doing. Ricky and Rudy are in and they care about this community and care about LSU. They support these players very genuinely. A lot of former players get upset when things are not going well, but not these two. It’s an education process to the players from them, and I feel very fortunate and blessed to have those guys be a part of this now. This thing has been very inconsistent over the years and it would be easy for them to go the other way. One thing I struggle with is eras, you know the ‘Dale Brown era’ and the ‘John Brady era.’ This is LSU, this is about LSU. Don’t support the head coach, support the players and support the school. I am so big on that.”