Brooks Helps Get Bulldogs Ready for Tigers
March 13, 2024 | Men's Basketball, Joel Coleman
Veteran assistant gives insight on scouting LSU.
NASHVILLE, Tenn. – It likely goes without saying, but Mississippi State isn't taking anything for granted headed into Thursday's noon showdown against LSU at the Southeastern Conference Tournament.
Sure, the Bulldogs dominated the Tigers 87-67 back on Feb. 24 down in Baton Rouge, but the 20-point MSU triumph hasn't slowed down State assistant coach George Brooks' efforts one bit as he's taken charge of the scout for the rematch against the Tigers. The veteran basketball mind knows full well once the ball is tipped Thursday, the past is out the window. It's why he's been leaving no stone unturned in recent days.
"Oh yeah, [LSU] will throw a few wrinkles in this time," Brooks shared shortly after MSU wrapped up its shootaround at Bridgestone Arena Wednesday afternoon. "[To scout them] you've got to really do a good job of watching your game tape with them and [seeing] things they may have not exploited that you have to tighten up so they can't take advantage of it this time.
"And because [the previous meeting] was a couple of weeks ago, you have to still go through other tape with a fine-tooth comb. You have a pretty good feel for their personnel, but personnel could change, too. Because tendencies can change. Guys evolve. And they're a well-coached team so the same mistakes they were making two weeks ago, they won't make this time. Vice versa for us as well."
Put another way, chances are high that round two between State and LSU looks different than round one. Brooks anticipates figurative punches, counterpunches and everything in between.
"The things we had great success with, the plays we ran [last month], they'll really try to hold our guys down and do a good job of trying to take all that away," Brooks said. "Then, second time around, all the kids have a better feel for each other's size, athleticism and strength and what they can get away with in certain situations. Both teams will have a better feel for how to keep guys out of their sweet spots offensively."
By this point, Brooks is likely to know LSU as well as anyone that's not wearing purple and gold. MSU's regular season had barely concluded last weekend when Brooks began scouting the Tigers. Before the country's clocks sprang forward in the wee hours of Sunday morning, Brooks was already neck-deep in preparations for what'll happen in The Music City on Thursday.
"Absolutely got to work Saturday on it," Brooks said. "So, we've been working on it Saturday, Sunday and obviously through this week. You go through it and, with that much time, it gives you a good chance to double-check everything and make sure everything is correct and have a good feel for it."
There are few guarantees for MSU ahead of tip on Thursday. However, there is one. The Bulldogs will be prepared thanks to the tireless work of Brooks and the rest of MSU's coaching staff.