Kentucky vs LSU....A Preview

Kentucky vs. Louisiana State

Lwcat
WT Administrator

Kentucky vs LSU…. 1/15/11 Saturday at 4PM-EST/3PM-CST on The SEC Network(Click link for your SEC Network Station)

LSU

Location: Baton Rouge, La.
Enrollment: 25,896
Arena: 13,215

Head Coach: Trent Johnson
Career Record: 197-149 (56.9%) 11 seasons
At LSU-38-28 (57.6%) 2 SEASONS

2009-10 Record: 11-20
2009-10 SEC Record: 2-14
2009-10: Postseason-None

2010-11 Record: 10-7

LSU 87 Northwestern St. 76
Nicholls St. 62 LSU 53
LSU 79 Tennessee-Martin 56
Memphis 70 LSU 61
LSU 78 centenary 36
LSU 80 South Alabama 65
LSU 73 Houston 57
LSU 59 Central Michigan 55
Coastal Carolina 78 LSU 69 (OT)
LSU 78 McNeese St 66 (OT)
Wichita St. 70 LSU 69
North Texas 75 LSU 55
LSU 62 Southern 41
Rice 74 LSU 68
Virginia 64 LSU 50
LSU 62 Auburn 55
LSU 56 Arkansas 53

PPG-67.0
FG%-41.8%
3 PT%-34.9%
FT%-66.0%
RPG-37.7
APG-12.4
TO’s-14.5
SPG-6.6
BPG-3.9

Probable Starting Lineup

Malcome White F 6’9” Jr………………8.9
Eddie Ludwig F 6’9” So………………..3.2
Andre Stringer G 5’9” Fr………………13.4
Matt Derenbecker G 6’7” Fr…………….5.8
Aaron Dotson G 6’4” So………………..7.4

LSU coach Trent Johnson had a great 1st season in Baton Rouge as the Tigers went 13-3 in the SEC and Johnson was SEC coach of the year. However, last season the wheels came off and LSU was 11-20 and 2-14 in the SEC.

The LSU Tigers have had a rough start this season losing a number of games to lesser opponents. In fact, LSU lost 4 of their last 5 games before starting the SEC schedule. However, importantly the Tigers have started the SEC season with a 2-0 record defeating Auburn and Arkansas.

Coach Johnson has changed the lineup trying to find an effective combination. As a result, now the Tigers are starting two sophomores and two freshmen and they have two SEC victories. Another freshman, Ralston Turner, has been the leading scorer but hasn’t played the last two games due to injury. His availability for the UK game is unknown.

Andre Stringer is the 2nd leading scorer at 13.4 and leads in team assists. Aaron Dotson is the leading 3 point shooter hitting 44.4% although both Turner and Stringer take the bulk of perimeter shots with both hitting 35%. Malcolm White, transfer from Ole Miss, is a solid rebounder and leads in blocks. Importantly, the Tigers have 3 starters hitting 75% of their FT’s…..Ludwig, Stringer and Dotson.

The Tigers will be looking for their 3rd SEC win, but overall LSU is not a good shooting team hitting only 41.8% from the field….and defeating UK at Rupp arena will be a big hill to climb for the Tigers.

UK is coming off a home victory over Auburn posting a nice 78-54 win. The Cats were led in scoring by Terrence Jones who broke Lamb’s recent freshman scoring record with a 35 point effort. Jones hit 4-5 from the perimeter and played with great energy. In addition, he added 8 boards, but did miss 4 FT’s. Knight added 13 points with 6 assists while Lamb handed out 7 assists.

The Cats shot a solid 50.0% from the field while hitting 11-26 from the perimeter for
42.3%. Unfortunately, FT shooting was poor with UK hitting only 9-17 for a pitiful 52.9%. Although UK posted a 24 point victory over Auburn, coach Cal was not satisfied with the overall play and strongly feels this young team still needs lots of improvement.

Coach Cal gave some decent minutes to Vargas, Poole and Hood and the three of them failed to score a single point. Hope springs eternal as coach Cal knows he needs more bench help, but thus far no one is stepping up offensively or defensively.

UK will be going for SEC win number two against LSU and should treat the Rupp arena crowd to a 15 point victory. GO CATS!