LSU (15-9,6-7) vs Bama (18-8,10-3) - PMAC - SAT 12:30 - SECN

Who: LSU Tigers (15-9,6-7) vs Alabama Crimson Tide (18-8,10-3)
When: Saturday February 23 - 12:30pm
Where: Baton Rouge - Pete Maravich Assembly Center (13,215 - 47th NCAA)
How:
TV: SECN (My54-Nola, TBD-BR)
Radio: 200XM, 113Sirius, 98.1FM
Stream: ESPN3.com

Promo: Bring ticket to LSU's Saturday night baseball game to the PMAC ticket office and receive a $5 basketball ticket.


LSU enters the game playing good ball, even though they fell to Tennessee on Tuesday night 82-72. Alabama is also playing ball and finding ways to win. They have won their last four and six of their last seven. Wednesday night, Alabama's Rodney Cooper went for 20 points and 10 rebounds. He also added 3 steals against a struggling Mississippi State club. For LSU, Johnny O'Bryant looked dominant in a 24 point, 8 rebound game against Tennessee.

In these two teams first meeting, Johnny O'Bryant showed many why he will be in high consideration for All-SEC honors. In that game, he went for 22 points and 11 rebounds. Alabama had four players score in double figures in that game. Uncharacteristically, LSU only had three steals in the teams first meeting (all by Hickey). While LSU has vastly improved their half-court offense, it will be imperative to force more turnovers this time around.



LSU only played Andrew Del Piero for 6 minutes in the first meeting, but I think there is still a good reason to play him. Moussa Gueye will need to guard Del Piero leaving LSU's star, Johnny O'Bryant with a 3" and 50 pound advantage on Tide undersized forward Rodney Cooper. In their first meeting Alabama outrebounded LSU by two. Nick Jacobs (6'8" 265 So) came into the game and scored 15 points in the first meeting, so he may receive more playing time than his usual 19 minutes.

In the end, Alabama only has three players who are taller than 6'6"; Devonta Pollard (6'8" 200 Fr), Nick Jacobs (6'8" 265 So), and Moussa Gueye (7'0" 255 Jr). Pollards thin frame does not bode well for guarding O'Bryant.

The two Trevor's are Alabama's most consistent scorers, averaging 14.5 and 11.9 respectively. Both shoot over 38% from deep and have positive assist to turnover ratio's. It will be key for LSU to make sure and stay on these two all game.



Johnny O'Bryant has moved within 0.60 of Charles Carmouche for the team Adjusted SoS lead. He has had three straight 50+ Adjusted performances and 40+ Unadjusted. Carmouche only played three minutes against Tennessee. Coach Jones cited discipline as the reason he was benched saying Charles, " didn't respond well to criticsm." Jones has made it very clear that if you are not all-aboard, he has no problem sitting you down (see Anthony Hickey suspensions). Coach Jones did say that Carmouche will be available Saturday, but may not start.

While Anthony Hickey has been somewhat quiet recently he did pass up Coach Johnny Jones on LSU's all-time steals list (14th) against Tennessee. "I'd have taken him out earlier if I'd have known that." Hickey still leads the NCAA in steals per game at 3.2, but has fallen off some, averaging only 2.4 stl/gm over the past five games. He has at least 1 steal in every game this year.



Saturday SEC Schedule:

Alabama @ LSU - 12:30 - SECN
Vandy @ Miss St - 12:30 - SECN
South Carolina @ UGA - 1:00 - CBSS
Tenn @ aTm - 3:00 - SECN
Auburn @ Ole Miss - 4:00 - FSN
Arkansas @ Florida - 6:00 - ESPNU
Missouri @ Kentucky - 8:00 - ESPN


While the loss to Tennessee put LSU in a hole, there is still a log jam between 3rd and 10th in the SEC. LSU wants to get to 6th or 7th in the SEC so they get would not have to face Florida until the Championship. As the standings currently stand, LSU is in the 10th seed. While this wouldn't be bad for the tournament bracketing, LSU would obviously like to finish strong enough to get to 6th or 7th. Alabama sits in second and only one game out of first place.

If Texas A&M is able to beat Tennessee at home, it would be very good for an LSU team who would like to pass up Tennessee. Auburn beating a declining Ole Miss and Florida beating Arkansas would also be beneficial for the Tigers. A bonus would be if UGA dropped the ball against South Carolina at home.

I personally think Alabama's record does not reflect the capability of their team. Similar to LSU, they lack post depth. They are 281st in points, 290th in rebounding and 200th in assists. They have scored over 70 in only 1 SEC game (75-43 over Miss St). LSU probably should have won their first meeting if it wasn't for some very questionable calls. This one looks to be all Tigers.

Prediction:
LSU 67, Alabama 61