Are we a tournament team?

It looks much more doable after the last two games than most thought possible just two weeks ago.

If the tournament started tomorrow, probably not (just on the outside looking in). However, if LSU can get performances similar to what they displayed last night on a consistent basis they likely will be. Winning on the road in college basketball is tough in general. Beating good teams on the road is even tougher. But if you think Kentucky is a top 4-5 SEC team, then that kind of performance is going to give you a few road wins against lesser teams and make you very tough to beat at home.

You almost have to think of the basketball season as two different seasons. (1) non-conf and (2) conference. Given all of the "new" surrounding this team, which was essentially everything, it took some time for the coaches to figure out the best line ups. For instance, it was only about the last 4 games or so of non-conf play that it became clear Fountain and Hayes needed to be starting. You're now seeing the coaches trying to figure out the lineups/rotations in SEC play. Two games in it has become clear Hannibal needs to be playing big minutes. They will continue to run out different rotations to see what works best in the next few games. Give McMahon credit. He's willing to deviate from the initial game plan if necessary.

Not this year. Maybe NIT. McMahon will have LSU in the tournament most years, once he gets a couple of recruiting classes under his belt.

Will have to wait and see. Can't look too far ahead. LSU was a projected as a 2 seed at this point last year.

LSU this season has played up and down to their opponents. But a 1-1 start to this brutal first half of the SEC season is already exceeding expectations. LSU's next two games are both very winnable and LSU needs to split them at worst.

LSU has had A&M's number the past few years as Will Wade was 10-0 vs the Aggies. But, new coach, new roster, and it's NEVER easy on the road in the SEC. Would not be the end of the world if LSU drops this game, but a win keeps LSU firmly in the bubble and might slip the team from 1st 4 out to last 4 in bracketology-wise.

Then LSU cannot afford to lose to Florida at home. Florida has a decent SOS and NET ranking considering their 7-6 record. But they're 0-6 against Quad 1 (0-5) and 2 (0-1) opponents with 6 of 7 wins coming against Quad 4 teams.

eta: Even with the loss, LSU passed the eye test against UK. Still counts as a loss, but the eye test matters, especially as a potential bubble team.

If we continue to shoot 44% on 3’s then yes we are. We have to make 8/10 to beat above average teams which is damn near the entire remaining schedule. Everything else is in place to win 8/9 games.

We're not close to being in the NCAA tournament yet. Our NET is 79. If the season ended now, we are in the NIT. We have to win at least half of our remaining games, avoid bad losses, and hope that a few of the wins are "good ones" to increase our NET rating before the selection day. Time will tell.

Personally, I think we are a mid to high seeded NIT team rather than a low seeded NCAA team. I would give a 20% probability for a NCAA berth, 75% probability for a NIT berth, and 5% probability for no tournament berth (if injuries riddle the team).

I would be disappointed if we did not make the dance

I’d put money on it. KState loss is a wash and they’re looking great. We’ll have a good enough record with a few signature wins.

All the road games will be a serious challenge. I see that Aggies are currently favored v LSU on Saturday, and A&M is certainly not any great shakes this season.

Also the big guns like Tennessee and Auburn will be hard to beat anywhere.