Stan Heath Press Conference - LSU
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – Arkansas travels to Baton Rouge to face LSU on Saturday at 2:05 p.m. in a game televised by Lincoln Financial Sports. The game was originally scheduled for noon, but was moved to the second slot in the LFS double-header. The Razorbacks are 15-8 overall and tied for second in the SEC’s Western Division at 4-5. LSU is 13-10 overall and 2-7. Following is a partial transcript of head coach Stan Heath’s press conference.
“This is a very important game. Every one of them is important. LSU has had some tough games and down the stretch they haven’t been able to pull them out. They are a very dangerous and talented team.
“I look at Glen Davis as a power forward, but he is certainly a force. At his position, wherever that is, he’s somewhere in the top five (nationally).
With any great player, their value depends on the guys surrounding him. As for the MVPs in the league, he’s in my top three. He obviously needs a lot of (defensive) attention.
“Garrett Temple is doing a heck of a job converting from a two guard to the one. Tasmin Mitchell is a tough matchup. He can play inside or outside. He’s great on the offensive boards. Terry Martin is a good three-point threat. When he shoots well, it opens up the court for everybody else.”
Steven Hill (thigh injury):
“Steven is questionable. He got treated this morning. He’s responding well, but he will not practice today. We will know more on Friday. That will be the day we’ll know something. It would be nice to have him. He’s playing well for us on both offense and defense.
“I have faith and confidence. Steven is a tough kid. If he can play, he will.”
Charles Thomas (missed the Kentucky game but played against Auburn):
“With Charles, it’s a full range of motion we’re trying to get to. He was about 90 percent. He is valuable to us. His presence alone was big. I think he’ll be 90 to 95 percent for the LSU game.”
The bench:
“I think our guys are ready. If Cyrus needs to give us five to 10 minutes, I think he can do it. Michael Washington can do it. We have played four guys (inside) consistently in every game except the last one.”
Recent games at LSU (close losses at the end):
“It seems like each game was right there in our grasp and we couldn’t close it out. Those were heartbreakers, but that was last season. You have to move on. You can’t carry those around with you. Those games probably sit a little longer with the coaches than the players because we have to break it down and analyze it.”
Gary Ervin (18 second-half points in the Auburn win):
“He was a huge spark in the second half. He made timely shots from the three and the two. We needed someone to get us going and I was really pleased he sparked us.”
SEC Western Division standings:
“Ole Miss, Mississippi State and Auburn have everybody back. LSU lost Tyrus Thomas and Darrel Mitchell. We lost Ronnie Brewer, Jonathon Modica and Eric Ferguson. The gap between all those teams closed.”
