LSU Hoops vs Missouri - PMAC - TONIGHT 7:00PM - #DEAFDOME

Who: LSU (10-7,1-5) vs #17 Missouri (15-4,4-2)
When: Wednesday, January 30. 7:00pm CST
Where: Pete Maravich Assembly Center (13,215, 47th largest NCAA)

TV: SECN, WBXH (BR), WUPL (Nola)
Radio: 98.1FM, 201XM
Stream: ESPN3.com

LSU comes into this game after just falling short against Kentucky on Saturday. Coach Jones stated, "I thought we played extremely hard in the first half. Unfortunately, down at the half, had to fight an uphill battle there in the second half but I thought we were able to chip away at their lead, thought if we could ever get a lead and force them to have to play from behind, it would help us. But, we were never able to put them in that position in the second half and the credit goes to them."

Missouri travels to LSU after 2 straight home wins against Vanderbilt and South Carolina. Interesting enough, Missouri is 4-0 at home and 0-2 on the road in SEC games. Their 2 road games were against Florida and Ole Miss (both ranked). Missouri also has some good news on the injury front where senior Laurence Bowers is expected to return to the lineup against LSU. He has been out with a right MCL sprain the past 5 games.

There will be two of the most interesting match-ups of the season in this one with Hickey vs Pressey and Oriakhi vs O'Bryant. Pressey came into this season being reguarded as one of the nations best PG's and he has given teams lots of trouble. He averages 7.2 assists per game, but has a very high 3.8 turnovers per game. Hickey leads the nation in steals and looks to capitalize on a less than protective Pressey. Hickey is also 3rd in the SEC in AST/TO ratio at 2.52 assists per turnover. He has 0 turnovers in the past 2 games and only has 8 in SEC play.

Oriakhi is second in the conference in double-doubles with 7 while LSU's O'Bryant is 3rd with 6. O'Bryant has really ramped up his game the past 3 contests with a double-double in each averaging 17 points and 12 rebounds in those contests. Oriakhi is working on 2 straight double-doubles where he averaged 18 points and 11.5 rebounds.



If Laurence Bowers is able to go like expected, the 6'8" 225 senior could be a difference maker. He is a solid scorer and rebounder. The 6'5" winger Brown can also score in bunches. After missing the first 9 games of the season, he has double figure scoring in all but 1 game (9/10). He has scored over 15 in six of those games, including the last 4. He did have 5 turnovers in his last game versus Vanderbilt.

LSU's Charles Carmouche re-entered the starting lineup against Kentucky after he missed two games with tendinitis in his knee, an injury that has plagued him his entire career. Carmouche leads the team in assists and brings senior leadership to a young team. Del Piero continues to start for LSU, but has only logged nine total minutes the past two games. LSU 6th man Shavon Coleman had 11 points in their loss to Kentucky and will play the majority of the minutes at 4, pushing JOB into the 5 spot.



Anthony Hickey has captured the number 1 spot Adjusted SoS spot for the Tigers, but two Missouri players average an even higher total. Bowers and Oriakhi have had special years and look to continue their success. The Tigers will need another productive game out of Johnny O'Bryant. He has been able to stay out of foul trouble in the past three games with only 6 fouls total in the last 108 minutes.

For LSU to prevail, they will need to contiue playing like they did in the second half in Rupp Arena Saturday. Keep the turnover level down and start to make open shots. LSU will need to contain scorers Bowers and Brown. Biggest of all, LSU needs to try and keep close in the rebounding battle. Missouri is second in the NCAA in rebounding at 42.6 per game. It will be a tough game to win, but LSU has hopefully turned the corner and look for a signature win.

Prediction:
LSU 72, Missouri 75