By Nick Gray | Basketball beat writer

ngray@kykernel.com

Louisiana State University head coach Johnny Jones was asked on Monday how the weather forecasts for Tuesday will affect his team’s preparation.

It was a different question to ask a coach whose sport is played indoors, but Jones answered the question without a hitch in his voice.

“We’ll practice the same way, getting ready to play a very challenging game,” Jones said at the SEC’s weekly coaches’ teleconference. “Because that game is going to be played inside — if it’s fortunate enough to be played — and we have to make sure that we get ready for that.”

The optimal word  “if”  hinges on Tuesday’s weather.

The ABC’s affiliate in Baton Rouge, La., WBRV, is forecasting ice accumulation and snow showers throughout Tuesday for areas that include LSU’s campus.

Kent Lowe, LSU senior associate sports information director, said Monday afternoon that the Tuesday’s game time will not change, though university and conference officials will monitor the situation.

Earlier Monday, LSU cancelled Tuesday classes  but no athletic events.

“Any postponement announcement would be made by (SEC Commissioner Mike Slive) who would make the final call,” Lowe said.

Craig Pinkerton, the SEC basketball director of communications, told the Kernel that there has been an “open line of communication” between the two schools.

“Depending on the severity of the situation, decisions to modify a scheduled game range from delaying the start time on the same day, which involve the home institution, to postponing a game, which is made by the conference office,” Pinkerton said.

He called the safety of the team, officials and fans the “highest priority.”

Lowe confirmed that ESPN television trucks arrived on Monday afternoon and the game’s producer was traveling on Monday as well. The SEC is trying to get two officials to arrive in Baton Rouge by Tuesday morning, he said.

UK Athletics spokesman John Hayden confirmed that the Cats left Lexington for Baton Rouge on Monday after practice.

Even with weather issues, Tuesday’s game is far from a sellout. A search of tickets on Monday showed several sections in the upper level with rows of seats available.

LSU’s athletic website shows ticket advertisements across the top of the front page.

UK head coach John Calipari followed Jones on Monday’s teleconference and did not show much concern for the weather.

“We’ll practice, we’ll leave and we’ll get down there. Our fans are going to be there,” Calipari said later on Monday at his media availability. “The issue will be getting out of there, not getting down there. So we’re practicing, we’re leaving and we’ll be ready to play. We’re prepared.”

Prepared or not, the fate of Tuesday’s game comes down to the decisions of the SEC and Mother Nature.

Tuesday forecast – Baton Rouge, La.

The National Weather Service has issued a winter weather warning for the Baton Rouge area from 6 a.m. central time on Tuesday until 6 a.m. central time on Wednesday.

Weather for Baton Rouge at 8 p.m. local time: 29 degrees with a wind chill of 20. There is an 80 percent chance of freezing rain and sleet, with winds coming from the north at 9 miles per hour.

Freezing rain and sleet is likely from 6 a.m. local time until 11 p.m. Tuesday, with snow likely to start at 12 a.m. on Wednesday as temperatures drop under 25 degrees, according to the National Weather Service.

Several flights into Baton Rouge have been cancelled on Monday and Tuesday.