Jay Johnson wants to see LSU play 'in character' against Florida during Game 3

LSU head coach Jay Johnson wants the Tigers to play “in character” going into Game 3 against Florida. Following a 24-4 blowout loss, LSU might need a factory reset.

Johnson and crew took Game 1 and essentially had the edge in Sunday’s game. But Florida didn’t go away quietly.

It’s not like Johnson was going to grill his team after Game 2, rather an actual physical reset.

“Get a complete reset,” Johnson said postgame. “I don’t know what our fielding percentage in the NCAA Tournament was going into today, but I’m guessing it was pretty good. We’re not in a place where we’re going to go out and hit a bunch of balls on the concrete and those type of things. We need to get these guys rested, get their bodies underneath you.”

Looking at statistics and wins and losses, Johnson noted how both LSU and Florida were pretty even despite the Game 2 blowout.

“For us it’s playing in character,” Johnson said. “When I look at this record of — Florida’s 54-16; they do a good job and they make it hard for you. We’re 53-17, and if you’re 53-17 you’ve done a heck of a lot more right than wrong.

“So we’re going to stick to how we prepare and roll it out tomorrow and give it everything we have. One game for the national championship. I think Coach O’Sullivan probably feels great about his team as he should with the players they have. I feel great with my team, with the players we have.”

LSU, Florida faceoff in do or die Game 3

Johnson also had a brief meeting with his team after Game 2 compared to other wins and losses. But he was asked if it was brief due to LSU’s blowout at the hands of Florida.

“No, we just chose to do it in the locker room,” Johnson said. “It was a long day out there and not a great day. Wanted to get them out of the sun, get them back to the hotel. There’s a real physical grind of this thing that some of these guys are going through. And so we want to get them hydrated, rested, out of the sun and get a full day and a half to recover.

“For us, playing a day game to a night game is almost the equivalent of an off day because we haven’t had many of those here. And that’s a good thing for our team.”

LSU and Florida play Game 3 at 7:00 p.m. ET Monday night.