BATON ROUGE – Checking the LSU Basketball Notebook as the Tigers start Monday with the final 10 practices prior to the Nov. 12 opening game with Wofford …
BLAKENEY NAMED TO TOP 100
LSU sophomore Antonio Blakeney, who is a second team pre-season selection on the All-SEC team and is already on the pre-season national list for shooting guards, added another preseason selection when he was selected as one of the top 100 players for the 2016-17 season by College Basketball Talk from NBC Sports.
Blakeney, the Florida sophomore, was one of the hottest players in the Southeastern Conference in the final 11 games of the season, averaging over 18 points a game. He averaged 12 points overall and over 14 points in conference contests.
Markelle Fultz of Washington was the No. 1 player on the list.
On the same website, author Rob Dauster said: “Blakeney is one of the better ball-handlers on this list. He had some impressive moments as a freshman, but with Ben Simmons off to the NBA, Blakeney will be asked to carry a heavier load offensively this year.”
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THE EXHIBITION
The Tigers will play their one public exhibition game on Monday, Nov. 7, at 7 p.m. against Reinhardt University. Admission to the Pete Maravich Assembly Center is free. The game will be broadcast on the LSU Sports Radio Network and simulcast on SECN+.
Reinhardt, an NAIA school in Waleska, Georgia, actually opened its schedule Saturday night, will have played four games by the time they come to Baton Rouge for that exhibition game. The school, established in the mid-1800s, has 19 athletic teams.
The team primarily competes in the Appalachian Athletic Conference (AAC). Last year’s team was 17-14 and averaged 87.4 points a game. Justin Bridges is the leading returning scorer at over 13 points a game.
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ACTIVITIES UPCOMING
The men’s basketball team will be taking part in the “Trick or Treat Down The Row” event Sunday from 3-5 p.m. on West Lakeshore Drive in Baton Rouge. In conjunction with the LSU Panhellenic Council, members of the LSU Athletics community will participate in this year’s event.
Annually, the department has held its Halloween BOOzar event in and around the Pete Maravich Assembly Center, but this year will join forces with LSU Greek Life to provide a fun and safe trick-or-treat atmosphere for parents and kids of all ages Sunday afternoon with the University’s various fraternities and sororities.
Tuesday at Noon will be the first of the “Tipoff Luncheons presented by Hub International” at L’Auberge Casino and Resort featuring Coach Johnny Jones. The luncheon is held at the Bon Temps Buffet and is in its fifth season of popular luncheon events that feature special guests and the latest on LSU Basketball. Coach Jones will be joined by the traditional luncheon opening guest, LSU women’s basketball coach Nikki Fargas.
More details are coming, but this Thursday, the men’s basketball team will take place in the annual student block party from Noon to 1 p.m. at Tower Drive near Free Speech Alley. The women’s basketball team and gymnastics teams will also be on hand and free Kona Ice and popcorn will be available.
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THE OPENER
The Tigers game with Wofford will be a 1 p.m. start in the season opener on Nov. 12 in the Maravich Center. The Terriers were 15-17 last year, but posted an 11-7 record in the Southern Conference. The game will be broadcast on Guaranty Broadcasting affiliate 100.7 FM because of football broadcast commitments and available online on SECN+ and the Watch ESPN app.
Season tickets remain on sale for the 2016-17 season at LSUtix.net and at the LSU Athletics Ticket Office.
For updates on the 2016-17 season follow www.Facebook.com/LSUBasketball and @LSUBasketball on Twitter.