TIGER RAG NEWS SERVICES
The LSU Tigers will try to redeem themselves after their worst loss of the season on Wednesday against Mississippi State in an early game on Saturday at South Carolina.
The tip time has been moved from 5 p.m. to noon (SEC Network+) because of an ice storm expected in South Carolina and North Carolina on Saturday.
Point guard Dedan Thomas is not expected to play as LSU coach Matt McMahon listed him as doubtful in his availability report to the Southeastern Conference office on Friday. Thomas aggravated his foot injury in LSU’s 80-66 loss to Mississippi State on Wednesday, McMahon said before tip-off Saturday on the LSU Radio Network coverage of the game.
Thomas had played his third straight game Wednesday after missing the previous five games because of the foot injury. Senior Rashad King replaced Thomas in the lineup Saturday.
LSU (13-8, 1-7 Southeastern Conference) was never in the game on Wednesday, and State entered that game game having lost five straight, including four of those by an average of 22 points.
South Carolina (11-10, 2-6 SEC), meanwhile, got embarrassed in a 95-48 loss at home to No. 19 Florida.
LSU lost to South Carolina, 78-68, on Jan. 6 in Baton Rouge.
The Tigers hope to improve from the three-point line at South Carolina in the first half as they are 1-of-18 over the first two halves from beyond the arc in their last two games. LSU must also improve on its defense against three-point shooting.
“The focus for us has to be short term,” McMahon said as NCAA Tournament hopes appear lost. “How do we fix our start here tonight? How do we show improvement on defense, from the three-point line? And ultimately, you’ve got to be able to score.”
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