Jay Johnson looks back on Nick Mangione, Kentucky's gamesmanship during Super Regional

Despite being rivals on the field, LSU head coach Jay Johnson and Kentucky Wildcats Nick Mangione share a close relationship off the field. The two skippers’ programs faced off over the weekend, with Johnson’s LSU sweeping Mangione’s Kentucky in their Super Regional matchup.

Following LSU ‘s advancement to the College World Series in Omaha, the Tigers headman took a look back on the series congratulating his colleague on an impressive 2023 campaign.

“First off, he did a phenomenal job with that team this year,“ said Johnson on Mik’d Up with Mikie Mahtook. “I don’t even know who won SEC Coach of the Year, but I don’t think anybody did a better job of coaching their team. I mean, for them to be in a Super Regional and execute all of those types of things was awesome for him.”

Although the two SEC head coaches share a bond outside of the game, within the game, they’re not afraid to partake in a little bit of gamesmanship. And Kentucky’s Mangione tried a little on Sunday in order to get LSU a little off their game.

“But there’s a specific rule, after a delay, you can’t go back out and talk and argue. The review went in their favor. So, Im just went out there guns blazing like, ‘Hey man, you can’t do that.’ We got a guy just carving him up out there, and he’s trying to break his rhythm. We’ve seen that before this year. I was like, ‘Let’s get this game started. I don’t want to play on Monday; I want to get this thing over with and celebrate tonight and get ready for Omaha.;”

Johnson was not particularly annoyed or displeased with Mangione’s attempt to throw off his pitcher’s rhythm. He actually applauded the move and revealed he to has used that tactic, too, this year.

“That’s a good move. We won a game earlier this year where we did the same exact thing. It was against Ole Miss. In the game, Travinski hit the home run. Their closer had to sit down for like 35 minutes. We made three pitching changes in the bottom of the eighth inning. So that’s a good coaching move, but Gavin Guidry is Gavin Guidry. You’re not taking him off track.”

Now that Kentuck is out of the way, LSU now turns their attention to their opening opponent in the College World Series — Tennessee. The two titans of SEC baseball will face on Saturday at 7 p.m. ET at Charles Schwab Field in Omaha.