LSU’s 198.475 Friday against Arkansas was not only the biggest score in the gymnastics program’s history, but also the best score in the country this season.
The Tigers’ effort in their 198.475-196.200 victory over the Razorbacks surpassed two-time reigning NCAA champion Oklahoma’s 198.375 on Friday in a three-team meet with No. 2 California and Arizona State. LSU and OU are two of only six schools this season to have scored 198 or higher, and they are the only prospective Southeastern Conference opponents to have done so twice.
The score moved LSU from fifth to third place in the latest RoadtoNationals.com standings. The Tigers’ season average is 197.590, trailing Oklahoma (198.045) and California (197.700). Utah (197.485) ranks fourth, followed by Kentucky (197.480).
LSU recovered the top spot nationally on the floor with a program record-tying 49.775 on Friday and a season average of 49.540. The Tigers rank second on vault, third on uneven bars, and thirteenth on balancing beam.
LSU coach Jay Clark said as good as his Tigers did Friday, there is more his squad can do.
“We didn’t perform to perfection,” Clark remarked Monday. “We must continue to seek that. We must continue to identify areas for improvement.”
The Tigers (5-2, 2-1 SEC) return to the road Friday to face No. 19 Georgia (5 p.m. CST, SEC Network). The Bulldogs are only 1-4 overall and 0-4 in the SEC this season, but they did have a season-high score in a 197.450-197.300 loss at home to Florida.
Meanwhile, LSU struggled on the road last time out, losing 197.325-197.225 to Missouri.
“It’s about consistency for us,” Clark explained. “We have to be the same (each week), not in terms of score but the quality of performance has to remain the same.”
