LSU (a 6-½ point underdog) beat Duke Thursday night 62-54 in a sloppily played game. The game featured numerous turnovers and missed shots. LSU and Duke combined for 29 turnovers, and the Tigers shot 39% from the field to the Blue Devils' 28%.

The two biggest keys to the game were the defensive pressure of Garrett Temple on J.J. Redick, arguably the best collegiate basketball player, and the overall defensive presence of Tyrus Thomas. Temple held Redick to 3 for 18 from the field (11 points). The Duke senior came into the game averaging 27 points a game. If Redick managed to get past Temple, Thomas and Glen "Big Baby" Davis were waiting for him in the lane.

Redick, normally calm, cool, and collective, was easily frustrated from the Tigers' defensive pressure throughout the night. This game had to make NBA general managers question Redick's professional ability. He was unable to create space between himself and the defender, which is a main staple for a NBA shooter. LSU was the most athletic team that the Blue Devils have faced all season. If Redick thinks this team was tall, long, lean, and athletic, wait until he gets into the pros where every team has these traits.

The second key to the game, as I mentioned above, was the defensive play of Tyrus Thomas. Thomas played absolutely possessed. He gave new meaning to the term "playing above the rim." He would continually block shots, grab rebounds, and slam dunk, 2-3 feet higher than the rim. Thomas scored 9 points total (4 huge points down the stretch), had 13 big boards, 5 huge blocks, and played a great deal of time with 4 personal fouls. Thomas forced Duke to alter numerous shots. As the game went on, Duke never made adjustments to Thomas. Instead of jump stopping and pump faking, Duke continually drove the lane to Thomas' domain.