BATON ROUGE – Coach Johnny Jones met with the media on Tuesday afternoon to offer an update on the LSU men’s basketball team as they continue to move toward a Nov. 7 exhibition game and the season opener on Nov. 12.
The team has less than 15 practices remaining prior to opening day and the first of three straight home games in seven days to open the 2016-17 campaign.
Season tickets are on sale at the LSU Athletic Ticket Office and online at LSUtix.net.
Here are some of Coach Jones’ comments prior to Tuesday’s practice:
HEAD COACH JOHNNY JONES
Opening statement…
“We had an opportunity to get back and reflect on media day being picked 12th and its kind of unfamiliar territory for us. We hope the people who had the privilege of having votes, we can hopefully prove them wrong … We hope our play this year is significantly better than where we were picked; it’s certainly motivation for our guys. Glad that Antonio (Blakeney) was picked 2nd team All-SEC and we hope his performance is better than that and that he’ll allow his team to play at a certain level.
“We’re excited about the eight players that have made an NBA roster. It may be the most from LSU at one time of any year. Tim (Quarterman) was the last guy to get a spot, and we’re excited for him to land with the Portland Trailblazers. Unfortunately Keith Hornsby was released late and we’re hopeful that he’ll catch on with the Dallas developmental league team. Josh Gray signed on with the Spurs developmental team, the (Austin Spurs). We’re really excited about those guys and it’s continued proof of the excitement that we have around our players and our program and I think that’s one of the things that’s allowed us to have one of the top tier teams only second to one team in the league over the past two seasons. We’ve had consistency in putting guys into the league and where we’ve ended up in the league. I think Kentucky is the only team that has finished consistently above us and I think that’s a direct correlation to the guys we’ve had in the program and that’s exciting for us.”
On the point guard spot with Skylar Mays and Jalyn Patterson …
“Both of those guys have been going back and forth. We’ve mixed our lineups in practice so they can get used to playing with each other, which will certainly happen in games. We’ll have different combinations on the floor periodically. I don’t put a lot of weight into who’s with what teams right now. It’s just the play of those guys and how they’re able to execute with whatever group they’re with. We’re excited that both of them have done a great job in whatever position they’ve been put in. Skylar’s going to continue to improve and grow and Jalyn after his injury and having a little bit of a setback and days off has had really positive play. It’s new for him because we usually have him on the wing. He’s been at more of a two-spot during his time here especially last year with Tim (Quarterman and Josh Gray) at the one. He’s at more of what he feels is more of a natural position now.”
On the team’s reaction to being picked to finish 12th in the SEC (intense practice after media days) …
“Yeah I think I shared with them prior to leaving for media day what they would possibly be projected and how they would be perceived because of what we lost last year and only returning two starters from last year’s team and the bulk of the scoring and rebounding that we lost. That would be the perception. The only way you clean that up is not by talking about it but by being about it in playing and we have to make sure we do those things. When it came out it resonated and hit home with them and we were able to address that when we returned. It affected Antonio and (Brandon) Samp (Sampson) who were both at media days along with other players from other programs. Those guys know who’s recruited and who’s returning from other teams and the try to measure themselves against that. It was a very spirited practice that next day.”
On Duop Reath‘s presence for the team…
“I think Duop has a chance to really impact our team in a positive way. I think some of the attributes that he brings to the team is something we were missing last year; shot-blocking, a post defender, the ability to run the floor, energy, a defensive post guy and the ability to step out and shoot the ball on the perimeter. He has all of those things working for him. We are hopeful that early on as we start to play that his confidence will not only remain where they are but to continue to grow. Coming from Sudan to Australia to get here and play at Lee Junior College and make that transition from Lee to here has been really good for him and he’s really remained focused. We’re really excited about the prospects of what he brings to our team and our program in a lot of areas both on and off the floor.”
On Brandon Sampson‘s first year …
“I think he put too much of an emphasis on starting coming out of high school, which most kids do. They’re stars when they’re seniors in high school and people are telling them and giving them direction on what program they should go to and how they could impact teams sooner. He came here knowing he had to challenge for a spot with guys like Blakeney and Keith Hornsby. When he comes in he sees the physical presence of those guys and the experience they have and they may have been a little ahead of him at that time and I thought that might have discouraged him somewhat. It affected him in a sense where it as tougher for him to fight through and he put too much of an emphasis on that. But as the year progressed he was able to work through it and I think he’s had a tremendous summer. That’s why I think he will impact our team really well this year.”