Preview: LSU Basketball vs McNeese St

Who: #19 LSU (0-0) vs McNeese St (0-0)
What: Opening Night College Basketball
When: Friday, November 13th – 8:00pm
Where: PMAC - (13,215, 45th largest in D-I)
How:
***TV: ESPNU
***Radio: 98.1FM
***Stream: ESPN3.com

It's finally here. Friday, November 13th has been a date LSU fans have been looking forward to since October 2013 when LSU received the commitment of 6'10" Aussie point-forward Ben Simmons. Ironic that a day that took so much luck comes to fruition on a date known for just the opposite. It's been since 2009 that a school not named Duke, UNC, Kentucky, or Kansas signed the top player of a class, yet LSU, a team who hadn't been to the NCAA Tournament since 2009 was able to secure his commitment and later signature of a prospect being likened to some of the best basketball players of all time.

Are you excited yet? If you have a pulse, you have to be excited about what LSU will put on the court this Friday. In last Friday's exhibition game, LSU's top three scorers were freshman. Brandon Sampson led all LSU scorers with 19 as LSU put on an offensive clinic. Defensively, LSU kept SW Baptist off balance with a very disruptive 3/4 court press that helped speed up the game and allow LSU's long, athletic group impose their will. Similar should happen Friday, but that doesn't make it any less exciting.

This freshman class may call themselves "The Killer B's" but they are smoother than silk when it comes to their gameplay. Ben Simmons passes and drives to the rim look effortless. Blakeney and Sampson both have smooth jump shots that will find the bottom of the net often.

Even with senior starter, Keith Hornsby, out with injury, LSU brings back talented upper classmen as well. Tim Quarterman is a projected 1st round draft pick this upcoming draft. Jalyn Patterson shocked everyone last season with his calming effect on a team that occasionally struggled turning the ball over. The emergence of Elbert Robinson and Aaron Epps as two trustworthy post players rounds out a squad that is looking for more than just a 20 win season.

It all starts in the PMAC, the house that Pete built, the Deaf Dome, the Killer B's Hive, whatever-you-want-to-call-it on Friday night.

Projected Starting Lineup:

Image Link

McNeese St will have their work cut out for them on Friday night. The Cowboys lost their top three scorers off last seasons 15-16 team that finished middle of the pack in the Southland Conference.

With McNeese State's tallest player being 6'9", there will be occasions when LSU's main ball handler will be taller than anyone on the Cowboy team. Still, McNeese coach Dave Simmons (no relation to Ben) has led the Cowboys since 2006 and will not give up without a fight.

Prediction:

This year I'll be breaking out my predictions by points per possession to give a little more insight.

LSU - 1.25PPP
McNeese St - 0.86PPP
Possessions - 75

LSU 94, McNeese St 65

Tickets:

Tickets are still available and can be purchased at www.LSUTix.net or at the LSU Ticket Office.