CHALK TALK: LSU at Miss. State

Tigers' rugged stretch continues with a tough road test against the surging Bulldogs in Starkville.

CHALK TALK

LSU at No. 18 Mississippi State, 7 p.m. Wednesday (WBXH)

LSU (12-7, 2-3 SEC)

Projected starters

G Anthony Hickey 5-11, 182, Fr. (9.6 ppg, 4 rpg, 4 apg, 43 steals)

G Ralston Turner 6-6, 205, So. (8.9 ppg, 2.6 rpg, 29-82 3pt. FG)

G Andre Stringer 5-9, 175, So. (10.8 ppg, 25-30 FT, 25-68 3-pt. FG)

F Storm Warren 6-7, 230, Sr. (8.4 ppg, 5.6 rpg, 25 steals)

C Justin Hamilton 7-0, 260, Jr. (13.3 ppg, 7.5 rpg, 60-78 FT)

Key reserves

F Malcolm White 6-8, 225, Sr. (4.1ppg, 2.4rpg)

F Johnny O’Bryant 6-8, 262, Fr. (7.9 ppg, 6.2 rpg)

G-F Eddie Ludwig 6-9, 210, Jr. (2.3 ppg, 2.4 rpg)

G John Isaac 6-3, 208, Fr. (3.1 ppg, 1.8 rpg)

Coach: Trent Johnson (61-56, fourth season; 220-177, 13^th season)

Mississippi State (16-4, 3-2 SEC)

Projected starters

G Dee Bost 6-2, 176, Sr. (16.4 ppg, 3.4 rpg, 4.4 apg, 44 steals)

G Rodney Hood 6-8, 204, Fr. (11.5 ppg, 5.1 rpg, 44 assists)

G Brian Bryant 6-3, 168, Sr. (7.2 ppg, 4.8 rpg)

F Arnett Moultrie 6-11, 249, Jr. (16.4 ppg, 11.2 rpg)

F Renardo Sidney 6-10, 285, Jr. (10.5 ppg, 4.9 rpg)

Key reserves

G Jalen Steele 6-3, 194, So. (7.3 ppg, 4.9 rpg, 34-92 3-pt. FG)

F Wendell Lewis 6-8, 253, So. (4.5 ppg, 4.1 rpg, 40-59 FG)

Coach: Rick Stansbury (288-158, 14^th season)

Up next

The Tigers come home to face a No. 1-ranked opponent for the first time in the PMAC since 2002 when Kentucky ventures to Baton Rouge for a 3 p.m. tipoff.

Of note

• LSU leads the series against State 104-95 after splitting a pair of nailbiters last season with the Tigers winning 84-82 in Starkville. The last three games between the two have been separated by a total of four points.
• In their three SEC losses – all on the road – the Tigers have had early turnover problems but have corrected nicely. LSU has coughed the ball up at least 10 times in the first half of each of the three games, 31 in all, but has tightened up with only 11 second-half giveaways.

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  Anthony Hickey

  Hickey is shooting 51.1% overall (23 of 45) from the floor in five SEC games and 47.6% (10 of 21) from 3-point range. He also leads the league with 43 steals.
• Hamilton has accounted for 29.4% of LSU’s scoring in SEC play and 24.7% of the team’s rebounds. His 19 points a game in league games is best in the SEC.
• Since O’Bryant injured his hand in early January and shuffled the Tigers’ rotation, the players who normally come off the bench have produced only 40 points in five SEC games – 8 per contest or 11 points fewer than LSU’s season average off the bench.
• State’s last four wins have all come by four points or fewer.
• The Bulldogs have recorded 14 double-doubles this season, an SEC-best 11 by Moultrie, the only league player averaging a double-double.
• Rebounding is a strength for MSU, which has won the battle on the glass in 16 of 20 games.
• Stansbury’s 17 wins against the Tigers are his second most against any foe. He has beaten Ole Miss 20 times.
• MSU freshman guard Deville Smith won't play against the Tigers as he recovers from a head injury that left with dizzy and with headaches. THe point guard is averaging 5.4 points a game and ranks second on the team with 44 assists.