Not done yet: LSU has four games left to make its best possible impression on the NCAA tournament selection committee, and perhaps sneak into the Southeastern Conference tournament in the process. Following a three-game sweep of Tennessee over the weekend, LSU (33-19, 11-16 in the SEC) still needs help to make the SEC tournament. However, with Tuesday night’s game at New Orleans and a three-game series at Mississippi State still on the schedule, the Tigers could miss the SEC tournament but still finish with as many as 37 wins, which might be enough for an at-large bid to the 64-team NCAA tournament. Were LSU to sweep Mississippi State, the Tigers can sneak into the SEC tournament if Mississippi loses two of three at Arkansas, or if Mississippi sweeps Arkansas. A South Carolina sweep of Alabama or a Tennessee sweep of Auburn also would help LSU make the conference tournament if the Tigers win all three games in Starkville. However, LSU is 2-10 on the road in the SEC this season, and the Bulldogs also will be seeking a berth in the conference tournament. LSU has won seven of its last nine SEC games and nine of 11 games overall. The question now is whether the Tigers’ recent surge is coming a little too late.
Record sales for away game: LSU has sold out its allotment of 37,000 tickets for the Tigers’ 2011 opening football game against Oregon in Arlington, Texas. That’s the most tickets the school has ever sold for an away game, shattering the 31,000 sold for the 2007 Tulane game in the Superdome. The Cowboys Classic game will kick off at 7 p.m. Sept. 3 and will be broadcast nationally on ABC.
