The Colonels men’s basketball team has been hard at work preparing for their regular season opener against Louisiana State Nov. 22 at 8 p.m. in Baton Rouge.
After their 61-58 exhibition loss to Bellhaven last Tuesday in Stopher Gym, the Colonels are ready to take on LSU.
“As a group, they have all made important strides from the Bellhaven game. And that is very important,” Ricky Blanton, head basketball coach, said.
“We have had some real good practices since the Bellhaven game, and that has great value.”
In the loss to Bellhaven, the Colonels had four players who scored in double figures. Senior forward Damien Lennon, sophomore forwards Dominique Gleason and Eric James each scored 11 points a piece. Gleason also led the Colonels with seven rebounds.
The Colonels also received production from junior forward Ernest Porter, who scored 10 points for the Colonels.
Although the Colonels shot 46 percent from the floor, 54 percent from the three-point line and 57 percent from the free throw line, they committed 18 turnovers on the night.
Blanton said the team has been working on improving fundamentally.
“I think what happened is we realized some things that we did good, and we realized some things that we need to improve on,” Blanton said.
“The one thing we have talked about is actually taking our game onto the floor for the actual game.”
The Colonels will now focus on Southeastern Conference opponent LSU, which is a school large in stature but has many ties to Nicholls.
Blanton is an alumnus of LSU, and former head coach Ricky Broussard is a current LSU assistant coach.
“The kids are not only looking forward to play because it is LSU, but because they know Coach Broussard.” Blanton said.
“For us as a whole basketball family, the opportunity to play against LSU is exciting.”
It will also be an intriguing sight because of Blanton’s familiarity to LSU.
“I will be very different because I don’t even know where the visitor’s locker room is,” Blanton said.
“There will be some interesting moments from my standpoint because so much of me is in that building.”
Against LSU, the Colonels will have to face an experienced squad featuring senior forward Ronald Dupree and senior guards Torris Bright and Collis Temple, III.
“I think their experience is valuable. From top to bottom, they have a lot of experience,” Blanton said.
LSU also leads the all-time series over the Colonels 10-0.
After LSU, the Colonels are scheduled to travel to NCAA powerhouses Texas Tech and the University of Mississippi. The Colonels will then take on an improved Southland Conference with McNeese State and Sam Houston the favorites.
Overall, Blanton is looking forward to an exciting season here at Nicholls.
“Come April, I hope we will be able to look back and say that we made phenomenal season from start to finish. And whenever that might be, we have to sit back and appreciate that.