re: Game Thread: LSU 71 South Carolina 68 - FINAL

Stringer and Hickey have always had a tough row to hoe with being so small. As the big guys have gotten more and more talented with 6'6" and 6'9" guys having guard skills, it is harder for the little guy to have a place in the game. That said they are both very good players who make the best of what they have got. Shooting three's is something that very few players can do consistently. Some games they drop and some they don't.

As for the freshman, they have not exactly been consistent either. While it was great to see Martin play so well, it is only one game. Can he do it on a consistent basis from now on? Mickey is great and I have said so before the season started when there were doubters. But even he stunk it up the first half. Quarterman has shown some progress but still has a way to go. He was 1 for 5 today and missed a layup and another easy shot. Stringer who you think is a liability was 2 for 4 and it was probably his two three's late in the game that won it for us.

Our liabilities, Stringer and Hickey, had no turnovers. JOB had 6, Coleman and Mickey 4 each, Morgan and Martin2 and Quarterman 1. Cut those in half and we win going away.

The defense continues to be bad. Twice we let a guy drive coast to coast without anyone even attempting to slow them up. Quarterman and Malik Morgan lost their man on defense time and time again. The interior defense was fair and we did win the rebound battle but we were a lot bigger than they were.

The main thing I would question Coach Jones about is why he kept Martin on the bench in the closing minutes when he had been shooting free throws well.