by Kent Lowe, Sr. Associate Sports Information Director
BATON ROUGE -- LSU men’s basketball coach Trent Johnson and members of the LSU men’s basketball team met with the local media Thursday prior to the team’s departure Monday for the Dick’s Sporting Goods NIT Season Tip-Off semifinals in New York City.
The game is scheduled for 6 p.m. CST Wednesday at Madison Square Garden and matches the Tigers (3-0) after winning the South Region of the NIT and North Region champion Connecticut, which is also 3-0 on the young season. The game will be televised by ESPNU.
Here are some of the comments from Coach Johnson and his players earlier Thursday:
Head Coach Trent Johnson
Opening statement...
“UConn is UConn. I have the utmost respect for Coach (Jim) Calhoun. Obviously, what he’s done there is unbelievable in my mind. A lot of coaches inherit programs with rich traditions or rich history, and a lot of coaches follow a program that’s already in place. He’s taken that thing from the bottom up. It speaks volumes to me, in this business, that a coach like him was inducted into the Hall of Fame a couple years ago and he had about 80 of his former players in attendance there. They are athletic, and probably as quick a team as we’ll face this year in terms of their ability at all five positions to get up and down the floor. “I’ve had some experience against his teams before. In the NIT my last year at Nevada, we played them in the second round at their place. They’re a good challenge for us, and I think the guys are looking forward to it. Our preparation is the same as it’s always been. When you start talking about playing the University of Connecticut, you’re talking about having your mental and physical toughness tested every possession. There won’t be any possessions off. Obviously, they’re 3-0. I’ve watched all three game tapes and knowing coach Calhoun like I know him, I don’t think he’s very pleased with the way they’ve been playing, so we’ll get a maximum effort come next week.”
On if the players will be distracted by their surroundings...
“It’s my job, it’s my responsibility to get them under control. Obviously, there’s a lot of guys that haven’t been to New York, and there’s a lot of guys who haven’t played on ESPN or on a big stage like this. But then again, Bo Spencer and Tasmin Mitchell, Chris Bass and Storm Warren, those guys last year experienced SEC play on the road. I know you guys get tired of hearing this, but it’s competition. Yeah, you enjoy Broadway for a day or whatever it may be, but when the ball goes up and when you’re in practice, it’s competition. It’s not the name on the jersey or anything like that. It’s your ability to compete at a high level. I’m looking forward to go to New York because we have a chance to compete at a high level and play somebody special.”
On if the Connecticut game will serve as a measuring stick for the season...
“Every game we play is a measuring stick. You’re going to take steps forward or you’re going to take steps backwards. For us, every game we’re trying to get better. It’s not going to make our season if it goes badly and it’s not going to make our season if it goes well.”
On the team’s three-point shooting struggles...
“I don’t spend a lot of time really worrying about that. Going into this year, we knew that shooting the three (point shot) wasn’t going to be a strength for our team. I look at Bo because he takes a majority of them and I look at Alex Farrer because he’s not out there. There’s a lot of weight on Bo’s shoulders but he’s taking good shots. I’ve always said that they’re not trying to miss them and as long as they good shot within the frame of what we’re doing, it’s fine. If it doesn’t go down, it doesn’t go down.”
On what holes this year’s recruiting class can fill for next year’s team...
“We’re going to shoot the ball (next season), I can tell you that. Perimeter-wise, I think we have a chance to be pretty good. The thing I like about all four guys is that they’re really quality kids and they’ve got a chance to be really, really good players.”
On if the recruiting class has been completed...
“We’re never done, but I’d like to be able to get somebody like Shaq in there. I think you guys would like that too. No, we’re not done. If there’s a player that’s capable of coming here and helping us, obviously, we’d take him. Recruiting, to me, is year-round. Contrary to what’s on the Internet and what may be said about who we’re recruiting, we’re looking for better players who are quality people and want to get a good education. That’s always going to be every day of the week.”
On the opportunity to play in Madison Square Garden...
“I’m really excited. We’re going to the Mecca of basketball, playing in the Garden. It’s a college basketball player’s dream come true.”
On the University of Connecticut...
“They’re a great basketball team and they’re coached by a Hall of Famer. But, they put their shoes on in the morning just like us. I’ve played all these schools, I guess because I’ve been here longer than everybody else.”
On the anticipation of the trip...
“I’m just ready. I don’t really know what to expect because it’s a first-time trip for me (to Madison Square Garden). I’m just ready to go out there and see what it’s like.”
On handling the distractions of New York City...
“I believe we’ll keep our composure. We’ll be OK. It’s just a great experience, a great blessing, just to be in this position to be able to go to New York.”
On matching up against UConn...
“I’m just going to take the information that my coaches give me and try my best to be prepared.”
On his improvement from last season...
“I have to tip my hat to the upperclassmen because I just took everything from them. I took a lot from Tasmin Mitchell. He always tells me to take my time and let the game come to me. That’s what all my coaches and the rest of my teammates have been telling me so that’s what I’ve been trying to do.”
On handling the transition from his redshirt season...
“Coach (Johnson) gave me the outline of what I had to do and what he wanted from me. I just tried to keep the bench into the game because our offense and our defense need the spark from the bench as well. Coming into the game, it was exciting, but overall I think I’ve played well. There are things I can do defensively to get better, but overall I’m proud to be out there.”
On increasing his level of play in the time between the scrimmage to the ULM game...
“I think that came from the practices we had before the game. We were way more intense defensively and offensively. I felt like I had to make more of an impact towards the team, so I just made myself get more active.”
On getting to play in New York four games into his college career...
“It’s amazing that it’s only been three games and we’re headed to New York. It’s the college experience come true right now.”
On what Madison Square Garden means to him...
“It’s the Mecca of basketball. All the great players have played there. I watch LeBron James every time he plays there in New York and scores 50 points on the Knicks. It’s exciting to have an opportunity to play there.”
