• By GARY LANEY
• Advocate sportswriter
• Published: Feb 18, 2009 - UPDATED: 6:25 a.m.

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When Ole Miss frustrated LSU with its 2-3 zone defense in the Tigers’ 73-66 win Saturday, it became apparent fairly quickly what was missed the most with Bo Spencer out of the Tigers’ lineup.

With Spencer’s 42.6 percent 3-point shooting accuracy (43 of 101 for the season) out of action, the Rebels zone was able to tighten up significantly.

“We missed the ball movement and the threat that (Spencer) was shooting (43) percent from the field,” said coach Trent Johnson, who added that he expects more zone defense today from Arkansas. “Also, the threat that you have to stretch out and guard him, which opens up paths and lanes for Tasmin (Mitchell) and guys like Chris (Johnson). Now, when you take Bo out of the equation, with (the percentages) of Garrett (Temple) shooting the ball and Terry Martin shooting the ball are what they are, so teams are a little more reluctant to run at them and more reluctant to sag off on Tasmin or Marcus Thornton.”

Temple is a career 27.2 percent 3-point shooter and that average has suffered lately as he comes into today’s game with Arkansas on a 3-for-21 slump from 3-point range. Martin is shooting a career-best 34.8 percent from 3-point range, but he’s just 16-for-46 on the season.

The shooting options deeper on the bench aren’t particularly enticing either. Freshman Chris Bass, who has logged 222 minutes as Spencer’s backup, has made just seven field goals all year as he takes on the role of passer. And while Alex Farrer has played better lately, he is just 6-for-21 from 3-point range this season and hasn’t hit one since the Grambling State game Dec. 13.

Trent Johnson also noted the Tigers just aren’t used to not having Spencer in the mix.

“When you lose a guy like Bo that has been running your team so far and Garrett has been playing at the off-guard and Marcus has been playing his position and you put a new body in there, it takes you out of your rhythm,” Johnson said. “Your continuity is gone. Basketball, offensively, is a game of rhythm, of continuity. Terry Martin understands his role. Alex (Farrer) understands his role. Those five guys are so used to playing with each other that it was just different, but Garrett did a good job.”

An honor for Mitchell

Mitchell didn’t win the SEC Player of the Week honor despite a 41-point game against Mississippi State. But he did win a Player of the Week honor on Tuesday, getting the state Player of the Week award from the Louisiana Sports Writers Association.

Mitchell and women’s star Allison Hightower gave LSU a sweep of the men’s and women’s awards.

More youth

Ole Miss was rated as the least experienced team in the nation by a Web site the tracked the playing history of player on all Division I rosters. LSU will again have a decisive experience advantage today.

Arkansas will start three freshmen … that is, if point guard Courtney Fortson, suspended for the Razorbacks’ last game against Kentucky, returns to the lineup. Also in the lineup are guard Rotnei Clarke and forward Michael Sanchez. They’ll likely be joined by juniors Stefan Welsh and Michael Washington.