Basketball @ SMU Saturday (3pm ESPNU)

Probably the 2nd best team Lsu has played. Advanced analytics say SMU by 4-6 pts.

If I’m reading the NET rankings correctly this is a Quad 1 win opportunity. Could go a long way at the end of the year if we’re on the bubble.

Who had SMU being LSU's best non-conf. game this year? Not me. But that COULD be the case. At minimum, it would be LSU's best non-conf. win (to date) and almost assure them of a 12-1 non-conf. record because the last three opponents LSU will face in the non-conf. schedule suck with a capital "S"! If the line is not out already, expect SMU to be a slight favorite. Probably somewhere in the 1.5 - 3.5 range.

In his introductory press conf. McMahon talked about wanted to be "balanced" on both ends of the floor and how that was a key to success. He's right. The biggest negative of Wade's teams were they were almost always significantly imbalanced. Often being elite offensively and awful defensively...until that flipped in his final season. To his credit, McMahon's LSU teams have been balanced. Unfortunately, that balance was being equally below average (last year) to awful (year 1) on BOTH ends of the floor. Last year LSU was exactly balanced. 99th in both offensive and defensive efficiency. They are balanced again this year. Right now 56 in both offensive efficiency. While that is certainly an improvement from his first two teams, on the whole it's roughly about average among major conf. opponents and well below average in the SEC. LSU is 14th of 16 SEC teams in the KP rankings. For their part, SMU is really imbalanced this season. Thus far they have been a good offensive team...and a pretty bad defensive team.

SMU can score. They shoot the ball pretty well from both inside and outside the arc, as well as the FT line. They have been a great rebounding team (top 12 nationally). They don't turn the ball over a ton and they share the ball pretty well. On defense they don't defend the 3 very well and have a tendency to foul. LSU has been pretty good shooting inside the arc. Not so much outside. They are a decent FT shooting team as long as the right guys are getting to the line. They've been very good at defending the 3 and on the offensive glass. They've also been a good shot blocking team (Collins and Chest leading the way)

IMO, the best thing you can say about LSU this year is the generally have been able to find what they need when they need it. They don't always shoot the 3 well...but have found it at times when they had to have it. They don't rebound well...but they've found it when they needed it. The offense can seemingly flip a switch from shite to great in a half (and has multiple times this year)

I expect it to be like several LSU games this year. It times they will look like the Washington Generals and frustrate the shite out of you. Then, someone will go on a heater and all of a sudden the game is tight or LSU is winning. I like LSU late in a close game. LSU has veteran closers in Cater/Sears with a freshman, Miller, who might be a better closer than both....if he can find a way to hit an open three (the only thing he's been really bad at this year)

I live in Denton so I am going. Whos going

To whatever extent it is relevant LSU is 3-1 against the spread vs. major conf. opponents. SMU is 2-2. That's probably more evidence LSU has been able to be better when they have to.

Wife and I will be there. Just got 2 tickets for cheap.

This is traditionally a game where LSU basketball would trip up because we’ve been gaining momentum and catching the attention of the fan base. I hope this year is different. I believe!

Got my tickets..

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SMU is much better offensively than UCF.

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True, but SMU also gave up 80+ to the 2 teams they've played this year with a pulse