THE DAILY REVEILLE
Sports
MONDAY, MARCH 16, 2009
BASEBALL
Coleman’s complete game locks series win
PAGE 5
Shooting Sorrows Tigers realize shortcomings, get back to work before Big Dance begins Thursday
a postseason team. “About a week before we played Kentucky in Lexington I Think of last weekend as an ex- made the comment to the team that ample of how well from here moving or how poorly the forward everyone upcoming trip to we were going to the NCAA tournaplay would be realment can go for ly good and things LSU’s men’s baswere going to get ketball team. tougher,” said LSU The No. 20 coach Trent JohnTigers (27-6, 14-4) son. “As opposed played two games to overanalyzing Trent Johnson at the Southeastwhat went wrong LSU men’s basketball coach ern Conference ... it just so happens tournament — one win and one that a play here or there cost us a loss — with each result showcasing LSU’s strengths and weaknesses as SHOOTING, see page 13 By David Helman
By Casey Gisclair
Sports Writer
Chief Sports Writer
‘‘
‘Players aren’t trying to miss shots ... It’s just unfortunate that they don’t go down.’
lsureveille.com
LSU baseball coach Paul Mainieri said Thursday he was hesitant to place senior pitcher Louis Coleman into the weekend rotation because he didn’t want to lose Coleman’s ability to close games. But in the second half of Sunday’s doubleheader against Kentucky, Mainieri got the best of both worlds as Coleman started and closed LSU’s 3-1 win and pitched a complete game fourhitter to lock up the series victory for the Tigers. “As one of the leaders on this team, Log on I have times to see where I tell guys a photo ‘You have to do slideshow things this way,’ of the or ‘You have to Tigers’ do things that games way,’” Coleman said. “This was Sunday. my time to backup what I have been preaching.” The complete game win was Coleman’s second outing of the weekend as the LSU senior also pitched 2 2/3 innings to close Friday’s 5-3 win. Mainieri said he told Coleman before the game he only expected him to pitch four or five innings in the game. “Not in my wildest dreams did I think he was going to go seven,” said Mainieri. DOUBLEHEADER, see page 8
CHRIS O’MEARA / The Associated Press
MIKE CARLSON / The Associated Press
[Above left] LSU senior guard Marcus Thornton is fouled by Kentucky junior forward Ramon Harris on Saturday during the Tigers’ 67-58 win against the Wildcats in the quarterfinals of the SEC tournament. [Above right] (from left) LSU senior guards Garrett Temple and Marcus Thornton, senior forward Quintin Thornton and sophomore guard Bo Spencer look on as time runs down during the second half the Tigers’ 67-57 loss to Mississippi State in the semifinals of the SEC tournament.
FOOTBALL
D-line to continue tradition Chavis brings intensity to team By Michael Lambert Sports Contributor
BENJAMIN OLIVER HICKS / The Daily Reveille
LSU rising senior defensive end Rahim Alem works with a blocking dummy during spring training Friday afternoon at the Charles McClendon Practice Facility.
It would take some teams years to rebuild after losing three starting defensive linemen, but D-line University plans to keep up the tradition in 2009. LSU’s football team must replace Kirston Pittman, Ricky Jean-Francois, Tyson Jackson and Marlon Favorite, who started a combined 36 games last season. But the less experienced defensive linemen are ready for their chance. New defensive coordinator John Chavis and new defensive line
coach Brick Haley have brought a NCAA granted Alexander a sixth different style to the Tigers’ defense year of eligibility. in spring practice. “He brings experience,” said “They are turning us loose, Rene Nadeau, college football anaand I love it,” said lyst for ESPN and Al Woods, rising TigerVision. “He’s senior defensive FOOTBALL PREVIEW WEEK been in [Southeasttackle. Conference] Read Tuesday’s edition of The Daily ern Woods said the championships; new schemes allow Reveille as we preview the 2009 he’s been in BCS the linemen to use Championships. LSU wide receivers and the their technique and You can’t replace defensive secondary. athleticism. that.” “I like their inAlexander tensity,” said rising junior defensive said he feels healthy after struggling tackle Drake Nevis. “They want us with an ACL injury last season. to be perfect.” “I am 100 percent full-go,” AlEven though LSU lost four exander said. “Now I just have to regulars, the Tigers return defen- get better each day.” sive tackle Charles Alexander, who started eight games last season. The D-LINE, see page 7