WASHINGTON (Press Release) – The LSU men’s basketball team went through a 90-minute workout at the Capital One Arena in downtown Washington Thursday morning and went through the normal media obligations as preparations begin to wind down for Friday’s NCAA Regional Semifinal contest with Michigan State.
The Tigers and Spartans are set to play at 7:09 p.m. ET (6:09 p.m. Baton Rouge time) at the home of the Washington Wizards, Stanley Cup Champion Capitals and the Mystics. The game will be televised by CBS (Jim Nantz, Grant Hill, Bill Raftery, Tracy Wolfson) and broadcast on the affiliates of the LSU Sports Radio Network (Eagle 98.1 FM in Baton Rouge, the flagship).
The Tigers are seeded third in the region, while Michigan State is the two seed in the East Region. The winner of the LSU-Michigan State game will play the winner of No. 1 Duke versus No. 4 Virginia Tech. That game follows LSU-Michigan State as seeding held in the East region.
LSU went through a spirited workout as strength and conditioning Coach Greg Goldin put them through their paces to get the team ready for practice before assistants Greg Heiar and Bill Armstrong split the team into perimeters and forwards for some shooting and rebounding drills on each end of the court.
The Tigers then got down to full court work on transition and then the scouting report with redshirts Aundre Hyatt and Courtese Cooper, players Marshall Graves and Will Reese and manager Cory Vinson and graduate assistant LeBrent Walker playing roles of Michigan State players. The Tigers worked on various plays in the half court before working LSU plays against the scout team defense.
Michigan State is led by Big 10 Player of the Year Cassius Winston (18.9 points per game, 7.5 assist per game). Nick Ward is averaging 13.7 points per game for Michigan State. The Spartans are 30-6 and are coming in off a 70-50 win over Minnesota to reach a 14th Sweet 16 in the last 22 years and eighth time in the last 12.
This is the 22nd straight NCAA tournament appearance for Michigan State under Coach Tom Izzo.
The Tigers are expected to stick with their lineup as of late for Interim Coach Tony Benford of guards Skylar mays (13.6 ppg, 2.1 apg), Marlon Taylor (6.7 ppg, 3.6 rpg) and Tremont Waters (15.0 ppg, 5.9 apg) and forwards Naz Reid (13.7 ppg, 7.2 rpg) and Kavell Bigby-Williams (7.8 ppg, 6.7 rpg) with Javonte Smart, Darius Days and Emmitt Williams the main reinforcements off the bench.
LSU is 28-6 and is making its tenth Sweet 16 appearance, its first since 2006. LSU advanced with wins over Yale (79-74) and Maryland (69-67).
