The LSU Tigers (SEC, 8-0)
The Tigers are 8-0 this season, and have obliterated pretty much everyone they’ve played. They had a decently close game with Jackson St. for a while and Nichols St. really came out and pushed LSU around for a while before they were able to pull away a little bit late. Don’t get too caught up in their record though, according to www.kenpom.com the Tigers are 344th out of all 344 teams in current strength of schedule. This will also be their first game played outside of the Maravich center.
The Coach:
Trent Johnson (Boise State class of ’78) is in his first year with the Tigers after a successful four year reign at Stanford including a run to the sweet 16 in 2008. Trent Johnson is one of my favorite coaches that I’ve seen coach in person. He’s really intense (he got thrown out of the game against Marquette in Anaheim last season,) but he also seems like a generally good guy that goes about things the right way. He’s on the NABC committee of “recruiting and access” as well, so it seems like he truly cares about the athletes he brings into wherever he’s coaching. A big change from chipmunk cheeks Brady. Before this is read you should keep in mind that he’s definitely sandbagging quite a bit in case we beat them Saturday, but I thought you guys would like to hear what he said about us in his weekly press media day.
The Players
The Tigers have used the same starting lineup for every game and haven’t really substituted that often. After the starting 5 there is an almost ten minute dropoff in playing time down to the next guy. So with that said, we’ll focus mostly on the starters. One interesting note on a player that is not a starter, freshman Storm Warren originally committed to Baylor.
#5 Marcus Thornton – The 6’4 senior guard is leading the Tigers with 17.3 ppg and has 50 more shots than the next highest player on the team Bo Spencer. He’s a 35% 3pt shooter and is averaging close to 5 rebounds a game. He comes from Tara H.S. in Baton Rouge by way of Kilgore J.C.
#1 Tasmin Mitchell – Tasmin Olajuwon Mitchell is averaging 12.8 ppg and is second on the team in steals, blocks, and rebounds. His godfather is LSU associate head coach Butch Pierre but he chose LSU because “it’s close to home, the environment, coaches, fans, and education.” He went to Denham Springs high school and was the 2005 “Mr. Louisiana Basketball.” He didn’t play most of last season because of a stress fracture in his shin. He was granted a medical redshirt though so he still has another whole year of eligibility after this season.
#11 Bo Spencer – The 6’1 sophomore guard has been making it rain this season. He’s a blistering 51.6% from behind the arc and 50% from the field. He leads the team in minutes played. He comes from Glen Oaks HS in Baton Rouge.
#21 Chris Johnson – The 6’11 senior center is averaging an impressive 3 blocks per game to go with his 9.5 points. Chris comes from Montross, Virginia. Johnson isn’t just a dunker, he can step out and hit jump shots. Last year he even hit 15 3’s.
#14 Garrett Temple –The 6’6 senior guard has 34 assists to 16 turnovers and is shooting 39% from outside the arc this season. He also leads the team with 19 steals. I would expect Temple to be guarding Josh Carter to start the game. Temple is a solid defender. As a freshman he drew the task in the sweet 16 of guarding JJ Redick, so he’s got big game experience. Temple also comes from Baton Rouge. I posted this last year, but as an interesting note, Temples father Collis was the first black player in LSU history. I hope CC97 reads this because Garrett Temple’s younger sister is named Colleen Noelle Temple.
The Tigers are 8-0 this season, and have obliterated pretty much everyone they’ve played. They had a decently close game with Jackson St. for a while and Nichols St. really came out and pushed LSU around for a while before they were able to pull away a little bit late. Don’t get too caught up in their record though, according to www.kenpom.com the Tigers are 344th out of all 344 teams in current strength of schedule. This will also be their first game played outside of the Maravich center.
The Coach:
Trent Johnson (Boise State class of ’78) is in his first year with the Tigers after a successful four year reign at Stanford including a run to the sweet 16 in 2008. Trent Johnson is one of my favorite coaches that I’ve seen coach in person. He’s really intense (he got thrown out of the game against Marquette in Anaheim last season,) but he also seems like a generally good guy that goes about things the right way. He’s on the NABC committee of “recruiting and access” as well, so it seems like he truly cares about the athletes he brings into wherever he’s coaching. A big change from chipmunk cheeks Brady. Before this is read you should keep in mind that he’s definitely sandbagging quite a bit in case we beat them Saturday, but I thought you guys would like to hear what he said about us in his weekly press media day.
quote:
I’m a little surprised, quite frankly, that this basketball team isn’t ranked. I don’t know who is voting, but they’re 9-1, and they beat an Arizona team that I’m very familiar with that has four special players. Then, they went on the road and beat Alabama, who is for the most part picked to win the SEC West. Alabama is probably as talented as anybody in our league just from what I’ve seen off tape.
The Players
The Tigers have used the same starting lineup for every game and haven’t really substituted that often. After the starting 5 there is an almost ten minute dropoff in playing time down to the next guy. So with that said, we’ll focus mostly on the starters. One interesting note on a player that is not a starter, freshman Storm Warren originally committed to Baylor.
#5 Marcus Thornton – The 6’4 senior guard is leading the Tigers with 17.3 ppg and has 50 more shots than the next highest player on the team Bo Spencer. He’s a 35% 3pt shooter and is averaging close to 5 rebounds a game. He comes from Tara H.S. in Baton Rouge by way of Kilgore J.C.
#1 Tasmin Mitchell – Tasmin Olajuwon Mitchell is averaging 12.8 ppg and is second on the team in steals, blocks, and rebounds. His godfather is LSU associate head coach Butch Pierre but he chose LSU because “it’s close to home, the environment, coaches, fans, and education.” He went to Denham Springs high school and was the 2005 “Mr. Louisiana Basketball.” He didn’t play most of last season because of a stress fracture in his shin. He was granted a medical redshirt though so he still has another whole year of eligibility after this season.
#11 Bo Spencer – The 6’1 sophomore guard has been making it rain this season. He’s a blistering 51.6% from behind the arc and 50% from the field. He leads the team in minutes played. He comes from Glen Oaks HS in Baton Rouge.
#21 Chris Johnson – The 6’11 senior center is averaging an impressive 3 blocks per game to go with his 9.5 points. Chris comes from Montross, Virginia. Johnson isn’t just a dunker, he can step out and hit jump shots. Last year he even hit 15 3’s.
#14 Garrett Temple –The 6’6 senior guard has 34 assists to 16 turnovers and is shooting 39% from outside the arc this season. He also leads the team with 19 steals. I would expect Temple to be guarding Josh Carter to start the game. Temple is a solid defender. As a freshman he drew the task in the sweet 16 of guarding JJ Redick, so he’s got big game experience. Temple also comes from Baton Rouge. I posted this last year, but as an interesting note, Temples father Collis was the first black player in LSU history. I hope CC97 reads this because Garrett Temple’s younger sister is named Colleen Noelle Temple.
