LSU (17-10,8-8) @ Texas A&M (17-12,7-9) - WED 7pm - SECN

Who: LSU Tigers (17-10,8-8) @ Texas A&M Aggies (17-12, 7-9)
When: Wednesday, March 6, 2013 - 7:00pm
Where: College Station, TX - Reed Arena (12,989 - 50th NCAA)
How:
TV: SECN ( SEE AFFILIATES HERE)
Radio: 98.1FM, 200XM, 92Sirius
Stream: ESPN3.com

LSU still has work to do and things to prove. The Tigers were able to beat the Aggies in their first meeting 58-54. In that game, Coleman scored 17 and Johnny O'Bryant had 14 points and 10 rebounds. Hickey had a career high 8 steals as LSU used their press to come back from a double digit A&M lead. Texas A&M was lead by guard, Fabyon Harris, who scored 19 points. LSU forced 24 turnovers and had a season high 19 steals.

LSU's offense has started to click. After a slow start in SEC play, LSU has scored over 70 points in 4 of their last 5 games. The change has been in large part due to Tiger senior Charles Carmouche's increased play. He has scored over 20 points in four of LSU's last five. In those games he has shot a blistering 60.7% from three (17/28). The one game where he didn't score 20 was the Tennessee game where he only played 3 minutes before being sat by Coach Jones for disciplinary reasons.

Texas A&M's Elston Turner has been on a similar run. In his last five games he has scored 28, 25, 38, 21, and 14. LSU will use Carmouche, who has been LSU's most consistent defender, to try and slow down Turner. The matchup will be the one of the most interesting wing matchups of the season. With both playing so well lately, the player who performs best could easily put their team ahead.



Texas A&M have two post players who LSU cannot lose track of. Kourtney Roberson and Ray Turner can both have big games if too much attention is given to Elson Turner. Both players are 6'9" 230 pounds. They will be given the tough task of manning up LSU's Johnny O'Bryant. Texas A&M has a 12-5 home record, so beating the Aggies will be no small task for LSU, however, a win will put LSU in great shape for SEC Tournament seeding.



THIS WEEKS SEC GAMES:

Tuesday
Arkansas @ Missouri - 6:00 (ESPN)
Alabama @ Ole Miss - 8:00 (ESPNU)

Wednesday
Miss St @ S Carolina - 6:00 (ESPN3)
LSU @ Texas A&M - 7:00 (SECN)
Vandy @ Florida - 7:00 (SECN)
Tenn @ Auburn - 8:00 (CSS)

Thursday
Kentucky @ UGA - 6:00 (ESPN2)

It's pretty easy to see the two Tuesday games are big time bracket busting games for LSU. If Alabama and Arkansas win, LSU controls their destiny for the coveted 6 seed. The 6 seed gets a first round bye, guaranteed to play a bottom 4 team in second round, and stays away from Florida until the Championship game. LSU fans should also be rooting for Florida to win against Vandy and Auburn to beat Tennessee. LSU fans are also looking for UGA to lose at least one of their final two (Kentucky and Alabama) but if they lose both, it would be best.

LSU has been playing very good ball and go into Texas A&M confident, but winning on the road is always tough. I'd look for LSU Coach Johnny Jones to stay out of the full court press as long as possible. However, if the Aggies take a big lead, he will go into the press that was so successful against Texas A&M in their first meeting.

Prediction:
LSU 66, Texas A&M 63


Wednesday update: Deciphering the SEC Tournament seeding HERE