MSG'd! LSU 71 Western Kentucky 60

by Jrlz on Nov 18, 2009 12:47 AM CST Comment 13 comments

MSG of course stands for Madison Square Garden in New York City, and that's where LSU will be playing next Wednesday AND next Friday. Get excited.

Semifinals (on Wednesday, November 25th times TBA):

LSU vs. (13th ranked) UConn

(9th ranked) Duke vs. Arizona State or TCU

Consolation and Championship (on Friday, November 27th times TBA):

Semifinal loser vs. Semifinal loser

Semifinal winner vs. Semifinal winner

All games, even the consolation, will be nationally aired on ESPN or ESPN2. This is big news. LSU is going to play two games in Madison Square Garden in New York City, and they will both be aired on national television over Thanksgiving, when lots of folks will be watching TV with their families.

LSU doesn't need to win in New York for this to be a phenomenal achievement for Trent and his auspicious bunch of Tigers, but it's a chance for LSU to make a BIG statement on a BIG stage.

LSU certainly made a statement tonight. I was not expecting a win. I wasn't. Western Kentucky is a legit team, and LSU didn't look New York bound after the Indiana State game. I figured that this would be the loss to send our thin team down to earth. I was prepping myself to write a defense of Trent and the Tigers for people who don't realize that losing to Western Kentucky isn't as bad as it sounds. I had it in my mind when I checked the halftime score (WKU 30 LSU 29) right before I went onto the stage for my chorus concert.

I opened up ESPN ScoreCenter right afterwards and learned that it was time to reassess these Tigers.

If I may quote myself from the Season Preview:

Storm Warren is a magnificent athlete with wild potential, but his rawness was painfully obvious last year. He could be very dangerous if he's matured as a player, and we'll find out if he has quickly, because he's our starting Power Forward.

Suffice to say, he has. Storm Warren is no longer just a raw athlete with one of the coolest names ever. He's a bona-fide baller with THREE triple-doubles on the season. Tonight's damage: 20 points, 11 rebounds.

Bo Spencer shook off his 0-5 night and hit 4-9 from the 3-point line, including a huge one to break a tie according to the AP recap (I wish I was there). Taz chipped in 12 points and 8 boards, and Dennis Harris contributed 9 points, which apparently included a 3-pointer.

It looks like Harris is already a terrific replacement for the departed Chris Johnson, while Garrett Green will be a massive upgrade over Quintin Thornton as the bench center. Garrett Green matched Harris' 4 rebounds while also adding a steal, but he only scored 1 point.

Let's not get too proud just yet. Taz is having a cold start. He's just 1 for 10 from the 3-point line on the season (last year he sank 52.6% of his deeps) and he hasn't hit one since the season opener. Tonight, we were 5-15 from deep, raising our team average to a still-putrid 21.7% (10-46).

But it's time to get excited. Our boys get to go to New York, where they hopefully will have a great time. And then they go to Madison Square Garden, a world-famous arena, and play with the eyes of the College Basketball world upon them as they attempt to slay a College Basketball giant or two. Well done, Tigers!

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awkwardly realizes nobody will get the Homestar Runner reference in the title

oh weil.

Jrlz rhymes with Charles.

by Jrlz on Nov 18, 2009 12:49 AM CST reply actions 0 recs

Great start to the Season!

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/292729-lsu-over-matched-out-manned-and-dangerous-vs-uconn-in-nit-semi-final

GEAUX TIGERS!!!

by SouthernMan on Nov 18, 2009 1:44 AM CST reply actions 0 recs

If this can be possiable

I love my LSU sports but I am a Die hard UCONN basketball fan( family ties to the program dating back to the late 80’s). So for me I want both programs to do well in this game. I cant say which team I choose to win because it would be like picking which of my kids are my favorite. With UCONN being ranked #13 which would put them in the drivers seat as the favorite going in but this is basketball and a well coached, disciplined and hunger team such as LSU can pull off the upset. I am really excited for both teams and on game night I will watch and cheeer hard for both schools.

"It is What It Is"

by GeauxDee on Nov 18, 2009 2:29 AM CST reply actions 0 recs

How random

My Dad is a UCONN graduate and I am an LSU grad (thought I was the only one with that unique combo). On top of it all, I live in NYC, so I think I can make it to this game. Should be a fun one!

by Monkey Poop Battle on Nov 18, 2009 5:30 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Tough spot

A win for LSU would put the program on the map and could give the Tigers confidence throughout the year, UConn is already on the map and could recover from the loss – Geaux Tigers!!

GEAUX TIGERS!!!

by SouthernMan on Nov 18, 2009 5:28 AM CST reply actions 0 recs

Sorry about stepping on your post yesterday. I didn't see it because I was in the middle of typing when it was posted.

Woot! for the win.

Father. Husband. Lawyer. Nerd.

And The Valley Shook

by Richard Pittman on Nov 18, 2009 5:53 AM CST reply actions 0 recs

Thanks for the basketball coverage.

Great to hear that the Tigers are off to a good start. Hope we can keep it going.

by Displaced Tiger on Nov 18, 2009 8:06 AM CST reply actions 0 recs

Was this game on TV at all?

I looked for it last night but couldn’t find it. Not surprising since it’s tough to get any SEC BB games in Dallas, but I didn’t see it on any of the listings.

CHAD JONES! WOOOO!!!!

by The Bengal on Nov 18, 2009 9:04 AM CST reply actions 0 recs

Yeah! Geaux Tigers!

I will be at these next 2 games with bells on! Will have pictures and whatnot. This will seriously screw up my Thanksgiving cooking schedule, but it’s worth it.

by janepriceestrada on Nov 18, 2009 9:57 AM CST reply actions 0 recs

I was there last night

and this was a very impressive win. Don’t get me wrong, there are moments (even stretches of play) where this team looks how they were supposed to. The youth and inexperience of this team can be put on full display. Garrett Green looks lost offensively to the point where Bo doesn’t seem to trust him with the ball, Tasmin has not found his rythym, and the two freshmen definitely have some growing to do. And we still have the ugly and potentially costly turnovers you expect from a team like this.

But when this team really needed it through these three games, someone always seemed to step up. This is the second straight game where Storm alone has carried us through a poorly executed first half. He seems like a man amongst boys at times. Dennis Harris also played much bigger than his statline. His three pointer came exactly when we needed it. And he later had a momentum-seizing dunk from what seemed like the free throw line over what in my purple and gold memory was the entire WKU team. Bo seems to have asserted himself as the team’s vocal and scoring leader. When it came down to it, he was the one rallying the troops, he was the one taking the shots, and he was the one driving the lane. Against teams of decent caliber, it seems like we will live and die with Bo Spencer, much like we did with Marcus for a majority of last season.

This team has obvious (if raw) talent. They’ve got leadership, they’ve got coaching, and they don’t ever seem to quit. They may very well be one of those fan favorite “played beyond their level and had a special season” kind of squads. My expectations have certainly been raised. And I’m starting to get the feeling that will be common in the Trent Johnson era.

by Nearl on Nov 18, 2009 12:05 PM CST reply actions 0 recs