The LSU men’s basketball team is a three-seed in the East Regional of the NCAA Tournament and the Tigers will play the Yale Bulldogs on Thursday in Jacksonville. For the third time in the last five years, Yale won the Ivy League Tournament and they are led by junior guard Miye Oni, who is averaging 18 points a game.
“He’s an NBA prospect, about 6-6, a scoring wing, really good player, they have four guys who average double figures, another kid who averages almost nine a game, they play up-tempo, they really push the ball,” said Benford.
2015 was the last time LSU was in the NCAA Tournament. They only have one player on the roster who has been in the Big Dance and that’s Kavell Bigby-Williams, who formerly played at Oregon. Benford says it’s a great thrill to play in the NCAA Tourney.
“I’ve been fortunate to play in it and experience it as a coach through my career, all of our coaches have, like I said Kavell is the only who’s been here, so our guys are excited, they’re excited to have the chance to represent our university in the NCAA tournament,” said Benford.
It doesn’t appear suspended head coach Will Wade will return to the team before they leave for Jacksonville on Tuesday. Benford says he spoke with Wade after the brackets were released.
“We may talk to coach again, but we’ll prepare, Coach Heiar, Coach Armstrong, we are all co-coaches, we’re doing this together and we are locked in on Yale and our guys will be prepared to play on Thursday,” said Benford.
Tip time is set for 11:40 AM on Thursday.
