BATON ROUGE – After two wins in its first three Southeastern Conference games, the LSU Tigers began on Monday preparations for a week that includes two prime time home contests.
The Tigers host Ole Miss in the featured Wednesday attraction at 8 p.m. on Wednesday and the hosts Arkansas in the SEC Network primetime game on Saturday at 7:30 p.m. Both games will be available on the Watch ESPN app and broadcast on the affiliates of the LSU Sports Radio Networks. Tickets are available for both games at the LSU Athletic Ticket Office and at LSUtix.net.
Coach Johnny Jones, who will host his month tipoff luncheon at L’Auberge Hotel and Casino on Tuesday, met with the media on Monday and here were some of his comments on his team and the upcoming game:
Opening Statement…
“We are looking forward to another great week in the SEC. We are fortunate to have two really competitive home games against Ole Miss on Wednesday at 8 p.m. and Saturday at 7:30 p.m. against a very tough Arkansas team. Those are the challenges we look forward to. We started off the week really well with a win versus a very tough, sound Kentucky basketball team. Saturday, we had a setback in Gainesville against a team that I thought did a tremendous job of bouncing back from a loss to Tennessee early in the week. They came out and played extremely aggressively and really hard on both ends of the floor. They really competed at a high level. Unfortunately we weren’t able to close the game out and make the necessary plays. We didn’t shoot the ball particularly well. We did a good job on the defensive end of the floor. We won the rebounding war. Unfortunately, we turned the ball over 17 times and gave those guys some easy scoring opportunities in the open floor. That was one of the big differences in the ball game. We have to make sure that we cut down on turnovers, make sure that we manage and get attempts. When we do those types of things, we will be a better team. Consistency is what we are looking for, and that’s what I thought we had in our two big victories against Vanderbilt and Kentucky. We were inconsistent in some areas. Being on the road in a hostile environment is an area that we have to continue to grow.”
On the challenge in adapting on calls during games…
“You have to make sure that guys are able to adjust to how the game is being called, especially if the game is called consistently throughout. It’s difficult if it’s not. That’s one of the things that our guys will have to play to. We want to make sure that they remain aggressive and are playing extremely hard in games and trying to put themselves in position … We had some guys who have had to sit early and guys have come off of the bench and have done a tremendous job in competing in certain areas. We certainly don’t want to be playing through a foul fest in most of our games. That’s not what we like to do. We’d like to be able to get into a regular rotation like we have, and we haven’t been a high foul team throughout the year.”
On the intensity of the game Saturday at Florida…
“From the start of the game, (Florida) came out with a great edge about them in the way and how hard they played and competed. The first couple of plays of the game, they got offensive rebounds, beat us to a couple of loose balls, and that’s a tone setter. We have to make sure that we are the team setting that tone in the beginning of the game and throughout. Teams are going to make their runs; they are going to compete at a certain level. We were able to do that throughout and even compete hard enough to have it at a two or three-point game at the half with those guys sitting, locked-in in the first half. It’s a matter of coming out and understanding regardless of where you are or where you’re playing … it’s something very difficult to do, but great teams are capable of doing it and making sure they last, especially when you have to play on the road like that. Teams are going to come out with a great edge and you have to sustain that and overcome the beginning of those games like that. Generally, the game will settle in. We thought the game settled down for us, but at the same time, they competed at a high level. They only shot 30-something percent from the field. We were out-rebounding them. Those areas were hustle plays and tough plays that we were able to make. Unfortunately, we weren’t able to make enough shots on the offensive end of the floor, turning the ball over. They had a chance to capitalize on the turnovers. That hurt us.”
On his assessment of the first three SEC games…
“Our team played well. If you look at playing at Vanderbilt, a place that is always extremely tough to play and to get out of there with (an eight)-point victory is always good against a quality team. They did a good job on the defensive end of the floor. Coming home and playing against a very tough Kentucky team and being able to play the way that we did for those 40 minutes, we were excited about it. Getting into a game like we did on Saturday on the road, you’re hopeful that you’re able to carry those two over. They’ve (Florida) been beaten. They only had an opportunity to come out one way. They fought to have a chance. They did the best of that. They came out and played very hard. We missed some easy scoring opportunities, some tip-ins. We went in the zone and gave up some easy plays against them because we were in foul trouble. Our team did a good job over the first three games. We would certainly love to be undefeated sitting at 3-0, but 2-1 with the schedule that was presented to us—I think we may have had the toughest schedule in the conference with the way we had to start off at Vanderbilt, who was considered to be the second place team in the league, according to preseason, then, Kentucky picked No. 1 in the country in our conference. I don’t think anyone that played a tougher schedule in those two games and then, going to Florida.”
On Ole Miss’ Stefan Moody…
“(Stefan) Moody is a very explosive guard. Last year, he played more of the two. This year, they are playing him more at the one and starting him off. He has the ball in his hand a lot more. He’s creative, tough off of the balance. He’ll get into the rim and shoot the deep ball, in terms of the three. He’s really dangerous. He’s one of those guys who helps. He’s the leader of their team. As he goes, their team goes.”
On defending Moody well last year…
“When he was playing at the two. We were able to do some things differently that were beneficial to us. Playing him at the point, we will certainly have to look at adjusting and doing some other things differently. We are hopeful that we can maybe keep him off balance and not give him the same looks because he’s an excellent shooter and very explosive.”
On Antonio Blakeney‘s defense…
“Antonio has really improved on the defensive end of the floor. It’s been a big help for us. We are a team that has the ability to do a lot of switching and getting in the ball, screens. We have to make sure that as a team, we continue to improve. Antonio has certainly shown and bought in to what we are trying to do defensively, and that has really helped him.”