NASHVILLE, Tenn. – The LSU men’s basketball team, coming off a strong 79-61 showing at Florida on Tuesday looks to continue its road success Saturday night when it takes on the Vanderbilt Commodores in the always difficult to play at location, Memorial Gymnasium.
The Tigers, now 14-4, 3-2 in the Southeastern Conference, could receive a significant jolt by sweeping the week on the road with a win at Vanderbilt as LSU would then return home for four-of-the-next-five games in the confines of the Pete Maravich Assembly Center.
Vanderbilt, coming in after a tough 65-57 loss to Kentucky at Rupp Arena on Tuesday, is 11-7 overall and 1-4 in the SEC.
ESPNU will have the television coverage of the game beginning at just after 5 p.m. CT with Mike Morgan and Cory Alexander. The radio broadcast of the game will be available in the Geaux Zone at LSUsports.net and on the affiliates of the LSU Sports Radio Network with Jim Hawthorne, Ricky Blanton and host Kevin Ford.
The game will be on these stations in the following areas: Baton Rouge (WDGL 98.1 FM); Alexandria (KSYL 970 AM); Bogalusa (WBOX 92.9 FM); Ferriday (KFNV 107.1 FM); Houma (KJIN 1490 AM); Jena (KJNA 102.7 FM); Lafayette/Opelousas (KLWB, 103.7 FM); Lake Charles (KXZZ 1580 AM); Leesville (KJAE 93.5 FM); Monroe (KMLB 540 AM); Morgan City (KFRA 1390 AM); Natchitoches (KWLV 1907.1 FM); New Orleans (WWL 870 AM; 105.3 FM); Ruston (KRUS 1490 AM); Shreveport (KWKH 1130 AM); Tallulah (KTJZ 97.5 FM); Tylertown, Mississippi (WFCG 107.3 FM); Ville Platte (KVPI 1050 AM).
On playing in the venerable building in Nashville with the benches on the end, LSU Coach Johnny Jones commented:
“It’s difficult, and it’s different because you (as coach) are sitting on the baseline,” Coach Jones said. “Where you generally have an opportunity to communicate with your team on the sideline, defensive or offensive instructions and communicating with your point guard, they are away from you the whole time. It’s a little bit different with the noise and the sound and your point guard being up at the top and not there in front of you. He’s away from you and doesn’t come by you. You have limited access to your team. It’s different. It’s certainly an advantage for them (Vanderbilt) because they understand how to utilize that arena and that setup. But you have to do it once a year when it is your turn to be there. I’m sure it’s a great home court advantage for them.”
LSU is expected to go with the same starters that it has used the last three games with Josh Gray (9.6 ppg, 4.9 apg) and Keith Hornsby (12.5 ppg, 4.6 rpg) at guards, with Jordan Mickey (15.5 ppg, 10.6 rpg, one of two SEC players with a double double average) and Jarell Martin (16.9 ppg, 8.8 rpg) at forwards and center Darcy Malone (1.3 ppg, 1.2 rpg, looking to start his fourth consecutive game).
Vandy, under Coach Kevin Stallings, has two players averaging in double figures – freshman Riley LaChance (1.3.4 ppg, 3.2 rpg) and Baton Rouge native Damian Jones at 15.7 points per game and 7.2 rebounds.
“After a great outing the other night and finishing off one of our tough conference foes on the road, we look forward to another great challenge on Saturday against a Vanderbilt basketball team who has been in some tight games. They’ve played some tough opponents in our conference leading into our game. They are an excellent offensive basketball team. They have great perimeter shooters. They certainly have a force inside with Damian Jones. We have to make sure we are able to transition in both areas—offense to defense—and make sure that we get to the three-point line again in this game. We are going to try to limit their looks and at the same time try to limit Jones’ effectiveness in the post. We know that we have a challenge in front of us, and we certainly look forward to it.”
After Saturday’s game, LSU will be at home in the Pete Maravich Assembly Center for four of the next five games starting with Wednesday night’s game with South Carolina.
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