BATON ROUGE – The LSU players, following Coach Jones’ media session on Sunday night, had the opportunity to meet with the local media on Monday in preparation for Thursday night’s NCAA second round game in Pittsburgh against NC State.
The game is scheduled for approximately 8:20 p.m. CT (9:20 p.m. ET) at the CONSOL Energy Center in Pittsburgh and will be televised by TBS nationally and on the affiliates of the LSU Sports Radio Network.
LSU is the 9-seed and NC State is the 8-seed of the East Regional and will play the final game of the four second round games in Pittsburgh on Thursday.
Here are some of the comments from the players at today’s media session:
JUNIOR GUARD KEITH HORNSBY
On facing NC State in the NCAA Tournament Second Round …
“NC State is a great team. I know we won’t take them lightly at all, obviously not. It’s going to be a great game.”
On what he remembers from his first NCAA Tournament in the same arena (with UNC-Asheville) …
“I remember coming out and seeing a packed arena. It’s a huge arena—NBA arena. I wasn’t quite used to being in arenas like that back then, so of course it was a little daunting. That’s what I first remember. It was also a little cold. It’s kind of similar to Bridgestone Arena (in Nashville), which is normally a hockey venue. The court is on top of ice. You feel a little bit of cold when you first walk in there.”
On the physicality of the game during this stage of the season…
“I know NC State has some good, big guys. At this time of year, they are going to play as hard as anybody. It’s going to be a physical game no matter who you play or what the style of play the teams play against. You are fighting for your life, and they are too. It’s all about who gets the scraps at the end of the tunnel in essence. It’s going to be a very hard game, I’m sure, but that’s what it’s all about. It’s going to make it fun.”
SOPHOMORE FORWARD JARELL MARTIN
On hearing the team’s name called on Selection Sunday…
“It means a lot. This is everyone’s dream. It’s a big honor. We are very excited and can’t wait to get it going.”
On his feelings from last season and not getting a tournament bid…
“It was pretty tough. It was a lesson learned for us. It definitely motivated us for this year to have that feeling and not being able to go like last year. We are definitely excited about this year and definitely accomplished one of our goals. We have to go in and be prepared for this moment.”
On the inconsistencies of the team throughout the season…
“We are up-and-down sometimes. We don’t come out with that fire every night. We have to come together as a team and realize at any moment that we can go home. We definitely have to go out and play our best each night.”
SOPHOMORE FORWARD JORDAN MICKEY
On playing a team outside of the SEC…
“I am excited to play a different team outside of our conference. That’s exciting to play against teams that don’t really know who we are. I’m sure they know of us, but they don’t know tendencies and stuff like that.”
On teams getting the ball out of his and Jarell Martin’s hands…
“The team is definitely going to try to get the ball out of my hands. They do all types of things; some teams front, some double from the weak side. It’s something you have to watch for and something you have to make a smart play out of.”
SOPHOMORE GUARD TIM QUARTERMAN
On being selected to play in the NCAA tournament…
“It’s just very exciting as a player. You work during the offseason and put in all of the hard work for this to happen. As a kid, you just grow up dreaming of being in this situation. Now, this dream came true, and we have to take advantage of.”
On facing NC State…
“Everybody’s good in the NCAA tournament. That’s our next opponent. It’s win or go home. We are just trying to lay it out on the line—try to go in there and win. They are a very scrappy team on defense. They have good offensive play. They have good guards. They create shots for each other. They are a good basketball team.”
On keys to victory over NC State…
“We have to keep our turnovers down, have good possessions and close out the game.”