NCAA TOURNAMENT

Latest March Madness News, Brackets, Analysis and Updates

Mark Saltz, The Associated PressPoint guard Bo Spencer scored 21 points in his season debut, but coach Trent Johnson expects him to pass and set up teammates more than lead the team in scoring.

BATON ROUGE -- All you instant Bo Spencer fans out there, don't get used to it. Spencer debuted as LSU's starting point guard with 21 points against Jackson State on Saturday at the Pete Maravich Assembly Center, and it's not that he can't do again. It's just that it was a little off script.

Kevin Durant -- one and done.

D.J. Augustin -- two and through.

For Texas, not a problem.

Mark Saltz, The Associated PressBo Spencer, right, scored a career-high 21 points to help LSU to victory in Coach Trent Johnson's first game.

BATON ROUGE -- LSU got the Trent Johnson era under way successfully Saturday, and maybe the Bo Spencer era, too. Seldom used as a freshman point guard last year, Spencer took charge with a career-high 21 points to help LSU past Jackson State 79-65 in the season opener for both teams at the Pete Maravich Assembly Center.

Tulane fans looking for solace at Fogelman Arena on Saturday night after what they saw in the Superdome in the afternoon were rewarded with a 68-62 season-opening basketball victory against McNeese State.

BATON ROUGE - Point guard Bo Spencer scored a career-high 21 points as LSU gave first-year men's basketball Coach Trent Johnson a 79-65 victory in his debut against Jackson State Saturday.

Tasmin Mitchell and Chris Johnson added 17 points each for the Tigers who outscored the visitors 40-26 in the second half. Johnson and Terry Martin had seven rebounds each for LSU.

Spencer, a sophomore, connected on seven of 12 shots from the field, three of five from 3-point range in 34 minutes.

Michael DeMocker, The Times-PicayuneRoinson Louisme said he considered leaving Tulane after Hurricane Katrina, but decided to stay, and he begins his senior season tonight against McNeese State.

At the darkest time of his collegiate career, Tulane's Robinson Louisme had a vision. In College Station, Texas, with the rest of the Green Wave in the fall of 2005 after Hurricane Katrina chased them from New Orleans, coming off an unproductive freshman year and playing for a new coach who was more demanding than anyone he had seen,

Michael DeMocker / The Times-PicayuneReturning point guard Kevin Sims averaged 12.2 points per game last season, and may play a larger role as Tulane tries to become more of a perimeter team.

Tulane's men's basketball team might not be rebuilding, but there could be several new players getting signficant playing time. There will be some returnees, like Kevin Sims and Robinson Louisme, who will be counted on as well.

But, losing David Gomez, the team's clear leader, was a blow to the team. And, there could be two or three freshmen getting significant playing time for the Green Wave.

Getting an exhibition game against Loyola behind them, Tulane opens against McNeese State at Fogelman Arena on Saturday.

Chris Granger, The Times-PicayuneGarrett Temple and Tasmin Mitchell are seniors who played key roles on LSU's last Final Four team.

BATON ROUGE - It might be a new day for the LSU basketball team, but one thing that remains the sam is that Garrett Temple and Tasmin Mitchell will play key roles for the Tigers' success.

With that knowledge, new LSU basketball coach Trent Johnson discusses the upcoming season and what his expectations are.

LSU opens its season Saturday against Jackson State.