FAYETTEVILLE — Follow along as Mike Anderson reviews the Vanderbilt loss and previews Arkansas' Saturday game at LSU.
Mike Anderson
— I expect LSU to be better than it was earlier this year. Coming off a 7-point loss at Kentucky when it didn't go away. Tigers are young, but everybody's young. They've grown up throughout the season.
— Chance for Hogs to get a bad taste out of their mouth. Started slow and created a hole that they couldn't get out of.
— Attention is getting off to a good start. Do that with defense and creating tempo.
— "Obviously you look at the personnel starting out. Are they bringing that intensity?" Defense creates the offense for them and they haven't come out with energy. Then they get tired. Had some games where the offense was good and they were making shots, but the effort has to be better.
— On the defense: "Inconsistent. It's not connected right now. The last couple ballgames we've allowed people to do what they want to do."
— Thought the first-half defense in the first meeting with LSU was good, then they tried to just outscore them and their transition defense suffered. Vanderbilt was a halfcourt game early and they didn't score, which put pressure on the defense.
— On if the team had grown comfortable coming back: "I don't think they do it purposefully, but they did show they're capable of overcoming deficits. But that wasn't their intent."
— The last 10 minutes should be where they really excel.
— Sometimes they'll try to make an 8-point play when they're down.
— Gave the team a day off.
— The seniors need to take ownership. Was glad to hear Dusty Hannahs' comments after Tuesday's game.
— "We won 17 games and did something right to do that, so we've got to get back in the lab, back in the gym."
— Consistency is the big issue. Moses Kingsley didn't play well at Missouri. Daryl Macon and Anton Beard didn't play well against Vanderbilt. Guard play is big.
— "Sometimes you have setbacks to have great comebacks. That's how I see this."
— Antonio Blakeney has played well lately. LSU has young talent.
— On whether Adrio Bailey could have an expanded role: "I think that's what we need. We need an injection of energy, a spark." Has athleticism and energy. Provides stuff no one else aside from Moses can. Plays with a toughness. "He's earned that right (to play more)."
— Said whether Bailey will start depends on practice the next few days.
— "My job, each and every year, we want to win a championship, we want to get to the tournament. ... This time of the year is when I'm used to our teams really taking off."
— "We're in the hunt. I know that. Big-time. And so we control our own destiny. That, to me, is most important. I've been doing this for quite a few years and so, you won't believe this, but to me, this is the fun time of the year. As a coach, it's a challenge, it's a great opportunity. I know you guys see it probably as the pressure, but to me the pressure for a coach is every day."
— LSU is probably just as talented as anybody. Blakeney put up 31 on Kentucky.
— "We've got to make sure this game is an up-and-down game and we get to their bench."
— Knew Johnny Jones when he was Dale Brown's assistant and Anderson was with Nolan Richardson. When you have the No. 1 draft pick, there's going to be a drop-off. Lost another guy early in the year.
— On if he'd start 5 new guys to try to spark the team: "We'll find out. We've got to get some freshness. We've got to get off to better starts, which I think you do with energy."
— Thought practices had been pretty good. "You practice one way and play another. That's what's been the remarkable thing for me." Vanderbilt hit some shots and the Hogs played on their heels.