Ever since LSU returned home from Memphis last week with a ten-point road victory in its pocket, coach Will Wade has been getting his team in the proper mindset for the Southeastern Conference opener against nationally-ranked Kentucky at the PMAC on Wednesday (7:30 p.m. Central/SEC Network).

It is pretty obvious the message behind Wade’s words has gotten through to his players.

“We can’t make play after play like they do,” freshman point guard Tremont Waters said. “We cannot get into big play after big play like them.”

“We have to play to our strengths,” sophomore wing Skylar Mays said. “We still have to go about our business. We must take the scouting (report) and see where we can be effective.”

“We have to stick with the things we do best,” junior wing Brandon Sampson said. “We are not going to match them big play for big play.”

Wade has stressed to his players that they are not going to beat Kentucky by playing in their manner. Style points do not count. A field goal is a field goal – just worth two points.

“Kentucky is going to make the spectacular play,” Wade said. “We have to go for singles and doubles and not go for grand slams. We can’t match them acrobatic play for acrobatic play. We must do the easy play. It’s still worth two points. Doing simple is better.

“The players must hone in on what they are supposed to do. They must do their job completely and stick with the plan.”

Kentucky, which opened its SEC schedule with a five-point victory at home against Georgia, is ranked just No. 17 in the country by the Associated Press. Five freshmen will be in the Wildcats’ starting lineup. However, this is still a roster loaded with future NBA draft picks.

Waters is the one LSU player who is quite familiar with a handful of Wildcats. Waters has gone against point guard Quade Green since both were in the seventh grade. Post player Nick Richards has played on the same AAU team as Waters.

“Quade is real decisive,” Waters said. “Quade can shoot the ball well off the dribble. I know how he plays and he knows how I play. Outside of Quade, they are all freaks athletically. They all can dunk and score any way they want.

“I have to be more decisive against their length. I cannot make the same passes against them because their guys are long and more athletic than other players. I must make the right reads.”

Neither Mays nor Sampson has had as much contact with these Kentucky players as Waters. Mays did play with starting post player PJ Washington at Findlay Prep in Nevada. Both Mays and Sampson understand the type of player which goes to Kentucky.

“Kentucky is such a prestige school,” Mays said. “They only recruit a certain amount of guys. The fact that PJ got an offer from Kentucky while I was there with him was something. But, you can’t go into the game scared because of what’s on the front of their jerseys.”

Sampson was one of the top players in the country coming out of Baton Rouge Madison Prep High School. But, he was not on coach John Calipari’s wish list.

“Everybody gets dazzled by Kentucky,” Sampson said. “You know they have all the one-and-done players. Everybody wants to get recruited by Kentucky.”

Wade has the challenge of facing Big Blue in his first SEC game as LSU coach. Wade knows all about the Kentucky tradition. He praised Calipari for what he has done during his time with the Wildcats.

“Kentucky is a tremendous team,” Wade said. “Kentucky has a tremendous program. They are the standard-bearer in our conference. It is amazing what (Calipari) has done. He takes a new group of players every year. He gets them to play hard and play as one on defense.

“Calipari doesn’t get enough credit for being as good a coach as he is. People think he is just a recruiter. He gets them to play to their strengths. If you let up for two or three minutes against them it’s over. They’ll go on a 12-point run.”

Wade has the recipe for what LSU must do in order to have the opportunity to win the game during the final six minutes.

“No. 1, we have to rebound,” Wade said. “We just have to keep it manageable. We are not going to outrebound them. We have to keep the difference five or under. We cannot get beat by eight or ten rebounds.

“Kentucky is the best team in transition offense we’ll play this year. We must run great offense. We can’t have live ball turnovers. We cannot have pick 6s. We must take good shots and get back. When you miss a 3-pointer, the ball is going to come out long. It’s like an outlet pass for their fast break.”

Waters acknowledged this game can be a special one for the LSU program.

“Kentucky is a big-name school,” Waters said. “It will be fun. The crowd can really get into it. As a team, we must play like it’s just another basketball game. But, we do have the chance to show the world what our team can do.”