LSU goes to 3-0 on its Trip to Italy with an 88-59 victory over a local team in Rome, Selezione Basket Roma. Here’s a recap of Saturday for the Tiger basketball team and coaches:
Day 4: Saturday, May 21, 2011
The Tigers were back on the court Saturday for a 7:00pm tip-off versus Selezione Basket Roma, a local team to the city of Rome.
“We continue to look at different combinations on the floor,” said Coach Trent Johnson following the game, “and we improved defensively. After playing three games in three nights with four 12 minute quarters, I wasn’t surprised by our lack of perimeter shooting. We want to be consistent at both ends of the floor every time we play, no matter where or when we play, and we’re taking steps in that direction.”
LSU had an early first quarter lead of 23-19. After holding Basket Roma to just ten points in the second quarter, the Tigers went into the half with a 43-29 lead. The defensive intensity remained during the third quarter as Basket Roma scored just 13 points. Four Tigers had double-digit rebounds on their way to an 88-59 victory.
Earlier in the day, the team walked through a guided tour of the Colosseum and the Roman Forum. The Colosseum, despite having fallen into ruins, remains both an imposing and a beautiful structure. In its prime during Imperial Rome, the Colosseum held 55,000 spectators, which is about 60% of what Tiger Stadium accommodates. The Roman Forum was once the main marketplace, business district, and civic center of Rome, but now only remnants remain.
After the historical tour, the team visited a local school where elementary age children were participating in various activities (basketball, book fair, ping-pong, soccer, chess) as part of an all day event sponsored by the Federazione Italiana Pallacanestro.
The team departs Rome Sunday morning for the city of Florence. On Monday, the team will depart Florence for the city of Varese where they will face their next opponents.
Scoring
16 – Hamilton
12 – Warren, Ludwig
11 – Green
10 – White, Stringer
9 – Bass
5 – Del Piero
3 – Turner
Rebounds
13 – Warren, Green
12 – Turner
10 – Hamilton
7 – Ludwig
6 – Derenbecker
4 – Del Piero
3 – White, Stringer
2 – Bass, Courtney
Assists
4 – Bass, Ludwig, Turner
1 – Stringer, Courtney, Derenbecker, Hamilton