LSU Hoops vs UC Santa Barbara - 7PM PMAC TONIGHT - Season Opener!

LSU Basketball vs UC Santa Barbara 7PM PMAC

TV: None
Radio: 98.1 FM
Internet: Live video of an LSU's Men's Basketball home game at the Pete Maravich Assembly Center (Regional Blackouts Apply). Geaux Zone members can also watch live in the LSUsports Mobile for iPad app!

LSU starts off their season with a team that is not to be under estimated. UC Santa Barbara plays in the Big West Conference where they will be fighting for their automatic NCAA bid with the likes of Long beach St, Pacific and UC Irvine. The Gaucho’s defeated La Verne in their only exhibition game 74-50 using an 18 point run to end the first half.

On a team dominated by freshman (9 of their 17 players on roster), it is sophomore Alan Williams, the 6’7” 240lb Center, that the Tiger’s need to look out for. Last season, Williams broke the freshman school record for blocks and 3rd (freshman) in school history in rebounds. It will be great to see Johnny go up against a big guy featured in scoring.

Like LSU, in their exhibition game, they were plagued with turnovers having 18, but were able to overcome it with good shooting (54% from the field). They dominated the paint 38-12, bench points 36-6, and rebounds 41-20. If LSU wants to win this game, they will need to defend the paint and box out. They will play a lot of bodies and will not easily wear down in Coach Jones‘ fast paced offense.

The Gaucho’s come into LSU confident LINK in their abilities as well as their chances in this game. Tiger fans should not take this team lightly. They will play hard. They won 20 games last season and although they lost 3 starters, look to bring a very quality opponent to the PMAC tonight.

The Tigers had to feel good about their 2nd half on Monday in their exhibition game and look forward to cleaning up some mistakes made in that game. They beat Arkansas-Monticello 82-66 after scoring 51 in the second half. They hit 50% three pointers (9-18) and 79% from the free throw stripe (15-19) for the game. They also look forward to fixing the major issue, turnovers. While this team will have some turnovers with their fast paced style, they should be able to decrease the turnovers with starting point guard Anthony Hickey back in the lineup after being held out for undisclosed reasons on Monday.

“ I wanted to make sure that we sent that message loud and clear, and that it won't be tolerated. So I think the message was sent [Monday] and look forward to them being back on the floor with us on Friday. It's just about them taking care of their business" Jones said after the game Monday. Tiger fans will also get their first taste of Shane Hammink, the 6’7” European SF/PF that should add some much needed height to the Tiger lineup.

Projected Starting lineups:

LSU
1. #1 Anthony Hickey (5’11” 178 sophomore)
2. #10 Andre Stringer (5’10” 182 junior)
3. #0 Charles Carmouche (6’4” 187 senior)
4. #13 Eddie Ludwig (6’9” 209 senior)
5. #2 Johnny O’Bryant III (6’9” 256 sophomore)

UC Santa Barbara
1. #0 Dalante Dunklin (6’0” 186 freshman)
2. #10 Kyle Boswell (6’2” 180 sophomore)
3. #24 Michael Bryson (6’4” 201 freshman)
4. #12 Lewis Thomas (6’7” 210 sophomore)
5. #15 Alan Williams (6’7” 240 sophomore)

Keys to the game:
Rebound battle
Points in the Paint
Turnovers

*Win those and the game will be the Tigers.

Prediction:

LSU 75, UCSB 63

Season Prediction (will update each game):
16-13, (7-11)