Basketball Opponent Previews: LSU
Throughout any team's season in college basketball, a handful of numbers are significant. Last year, the most significant number in the conference slate of LSU's season was 56. No, 56 wasn't their KenPom ranking. It wasn't K.J. Williams' rebound rate or Justice Hill's assist rate. 56 was actually the number of days between LSU's only two wins in SEC play.
That's right. LSU opened its' 22-23 SEC campaign with a home win against eventual Sweet 16 participant Arkansas on December 28th and then didn't pick up another win until February 22nd when Vanderbilt came to town. While LSU finished at 151 in KenPom, with Matt McMahon's additions to the roster, I'd be surprised if they were that low again.
Despite the loss of Williams, McMahon has put together a roster this season that is much more balanced and doesn't just resemble what he had in his final season at Murray State. Jalen Cook comes in from Tulane after scoring second in the AAC last year. The Tigers will be small in the backcourt with Cook and Santa Clara transfer Carlos Stewart, but they'll be able to play at a pace McMahon likes and one that will be pretty hard to keep up with. LSU also brings back Trae Hannibal, a strong guard who can rebound.
Jordan Wright gives the Tigers more experience and a good rebounder on the wing to go with Sophomore and former Top 50 recruit Tyrell Ward. The first go around for Will Baker at a high major didn't go exactly as planned, but he comes in as an efficient scorer who played on an NCAA Tournament team last year. We'll also see what they can get from athletic forward and Kentucky transfer Daimion Collins.
How Tennessee matches up
While LSU will be better shooting the ball, I'm still not sure it'll be close to good enough to win at Thompson-Boling Arena on February 7th. That matchup is the only time the two teams meet during the regular season. With LSU's advantage being the speed of their guards, that could be a problem for the Tigers as Tennessee's opponents were 279th last year in possession length. Zakai Zeigler should also be able to hound Cook for 90 feet and take him out of rhythm.
Overall, it's going to be a much different LSU team. They have replaced Williams' rebounding in the aggregate while adding better guard play and shooting. I don't think the Tigers will be a top half of the SEC team, but they'll be a much tougher out than they were a year ago.
LSU Tigers F Derek Fountain during SEC Media Days. (Photo by Vasha Hunt of USA Today Sports)
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