Pivotal Player: Torris Bright
By Andy Katz
ESPN.com
Stromile Swift and Jabari Smith get the necessary recognition at
LSU, but if Torris Bright isn't on at the point then the Tigers will have
trouble advancing in the tournament.
|  | | Torris Bright (bottom) never quits on the court. |
Bright's play at the point (10 ppg., 4.5 apg, 3.7 rpg) has been the
reason the Tigers are a threat to reach the Final Four. If it weren't for
Bright's ability to get by opposing point guards and feed Swift and Smith,
then the Tigers wouldn't have had a SEC West title.
Bright, an unknown freshman, came into a situation where he had to
be a factor immediately. The question mark on last year's team was guard
play and the Tigers could ill afford another season wasted without a player to get the forwards the ball in the right place.
He's as much a scorer as a playmaker, but the Tigers need him to be
a defensive stopper after round one. Southeast Missouri State won't be able to
handle the inside game of LSU, making Bright's production immaterial. But he
will have to be an offensive threat in the likely matchup with Texas in the
second round.
Bright can beat Ivan Wagner or William Clay off the dribble
and get into the interior of Texas' defense. If he does that, Chris Mihm and
Gabe Muoneke would have to come off Swift and Smith and help out on Bright.
If they do that, then that leaves both of LSU's all-SEC forwards a chance to
flush a dunk or convert a layup after a pass from Bright.
If Bright gets a chance to face Arizona next week, he'll be prepared
for Jason Gardner. He already beat ESPN.com's freshman of the year once this
season in Baton Rouge. He won't be intimidated in this second meeting.
Bright has a chance to make a bigger name for himself in this tournament.
All of the focus will be on Swift and Smith but his play at the point will
make or break the Tigers over the next two weeks. |
