FACTS & STATS: Site: Pete Maravich Assembly Center (14,164) -- Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Television: None. Home Record: Nicholls State 0-0, LSU 0-0. Away Record: Nicholls State 0-2, LSU 0-0. Neutral Record: Nicholls State 0-2, LSU 0-0. Conference Record: Nicholls State 0-0, LSU 0-0. Series Record: LSU leads, 12-0.

GAME NOTES: The seventh-ranked LSU Tigers return many key contributors from last season's Final Four squad, and they open their 2006-07 schedule tonight against the Nicholls State Colonels. Nicholls State has already played four games this season, including three as part of the Basketball Travelers Classic. All four tilts have resulted in defeat for the Colonels, and three have come by 15 or more points. On Tuesday, the squad dropped a 98-83 decision to Pepperdine. As for LSU, it has received its second highest preseason ranking in program history at number five in the opening poll, but it has dropped to seventh without playing a single game. Last season, the Tigers won the SEC Championship and reached the Final Four for the first time in 20 years. Sure, LSU did fall short of its ultimate goal, but coach John Brady returns the SEC Preseason Player of the Year and a confident supporting cast. LSU has won all 12 of its previous meetings with Nicholls State, including a 104-57 romp in last season's matchup.

Adonis Gray is a force at the offensive end for Nicholls State, and he scored a career-high 33 points in the loss to Pepperdine. Although his team lost all three games at the Basketball Travelers Classic, Gray was named to the all- tournament team. Justin Payne also established a career high in the contest with 15 points, the first double-digit scoring effort of his career. Gray has scored 20 points in each of the last three games and is averaging 21.5 ppg to go along with 6.3 rpg. He is shooting 58.2 percent from the floor and could certainly gain some national attention with a strong showing tonight against one of the country's best teams. Aaron Scott is netting 16.5 ppg for Nicholls State, which is being outscored by 20.7 ppg.

Gone from last season's LSU team are Darrel Mitchell and Tyrus Thomas. Mitchell was a sharp-shooting senior, while Thomas was a freakishly athletic freshman who was one of the first players chosen in the most recent NBA Draft. While those two individuals will be missed a great deal, fellow coaches are not about to pity John Brady. After all, he has Glen "Big Baby" Davis back in the fold. The 300-pound forward is the SEC Preseason Player of the Year for good reason, as he posted 18.6 ppg and 9.7 rpg a season ago. Davis could have been a lottery pick, but he decided to return to LSU to continue to dominate in the paint. Tasmin Mitchell will likely emerge as the second scoring option for the Tigers, as he posted 11.4 ppg as a freshman a year ago. Mitchell has the size to contribute on the interior. Garrett Temple is another player who showed some flashes as a rookie and now must assume a greater role for the Tigers.

LSU will be strong once again, as Davis may be the toughest matchup in all of college basketball. The Tigers crushed the Colonels last season, and more of the same should be expected tonight.

Predicted Outcome

LSU 86, Nicholls State 53