Jay Johnson evaluates LSU postseason hopes, pitching plans entering SEC Tournament

LSU’s season is potentially on the line in its opening-round matchup against Georgia in the SEC Tournament. The Tigers are on the bubble of an NCAA Tournament appearance and will not have another chance to prove themselves if they fall to the Bulldogs.

The pressure is mounting. However, LSU head coach Jay Johnson feels confident about where his team stands heading into the postseason.

“I feel great about where we’re at as far as the NCAA tournament with all the things that we’ve done, in terms of résumé and all that,” Johnson said during the bottom of the third inning. “It’s a great opportunity today. You’re playing No. 5 in the RPI. Georgia has had a great season.”

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Through three innings, LSU has looked excellent. Pitcher Gage Jump has led the way for the Tigers, only allowing three hits and a run while tallying three strikeouts. Jump’s hot start in the SEC Tournament is no accident.

“We’ve been preparing Gage [Jump] for this,” Jay Johnson said. “Four-day resting for about three or four weeks, so he’s ready to go. I like the way he’s throwing the ball and you have to against this lineup. It’s really good.”

The winner between Georgia and LSU will advance to face off against Kentucky on Wednesday at 9:30 a.m. CT. From there, the tournament will become double elimination. It won’t be an easy matchup for either team.

Nick Mingione named 2024 SEC Coach of the Year

On Monday, Kentucky head coach Nick Mingione was named the 2024 SEC Coach of the Year. Mingione also won the honor during his debut campaign with the ‘Cats in 2017.

Mingione led Kentucky to a 39-12 overall record during the regular season and a 22-8 mark in conference play. With a win over Vanderbilt this past weekend, Kentucky secured a share of the SEC regular-season title for only the second time in program history and the first time since 2006.

Kentucky’s 22 wins against conference foes in the regular season were a program record. Altogether, Kentucky boasted a 19-6 record against Quad 1 teams during the regular season, which is five more wins than any other team in the country (Texas A&M and Tennessee each had 14 wins).

Mingione is the first head coach in Kentucky baseball history to win the award twice. John Cohen (2006) and Gary Henderson (2012) were also winners of the award. Arkansas’ Dave Van Horn, Vanderbilt’s Tim Corbin, and Florida’s Kevin O’Sullivan are the only other active SEC head coaches to win the award more than once.