re: Hoops: LSU 80, Ole Miss 76 - FINAL (LSU improves to 13-4 overall, 5-0 in the SEC)

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I have been a proponent for LSU in every game this year making the argument for a W. But this is almost an impossible ask for Wade and LSU. I know these guys are 18-19-20 but you simply cannot win without ANY bench.

I never like to bet on anything that I haven't seen before, so this NEW LSU Bench Mob is going to have to show me something first. This is the season for OM if they want to even compete in the SEC they are 0-3 and not nearly as bad as Vandy!

There are 0 guaranteed wins on our schedule with this Bench and no matter how we play, this will catch up sooner or later. These next 6 games including a Roadie to Texas, 3-3 would be OK and 4-2 would be awesome!!!

I just think this is a HORRIBLE spot for LSU on Saturday for LSU and I hope the Fab 5 can deliver a Win, but I just don't see it Can't imagine LSU is favored, but if they are, I might change my opinion, but I think OM will be a 2 point favorite!

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It's not as if this has been an incredibly deep team all year. Even prior to Manning's injury LSU was only playing an 8 man rotation (sometimes 7). Wade has already said that Taylor is good to go tomorrow (though for how long we don't know). This just means that Hyatt is going to have to play significantly more minutes than he has been playing. And though this may come as a surprise, he's been a better rebounder than Manning (%-wise).

There is no question that losing Manning hurts and that Wade is going to have to manipulate the rotation because of it. But this isn't the NBA. There are no back to back nights. Is it ideal to only have about a 7 man rotation? Of course not. But there have been good teams who had short benches. And there aren't any real "juggarnauts" on the schedule until you go to Auburn. Hell, just go back to last season when Waters went out. in the final 4 games of the season Smart & Mays played nearly 40 minutes per game and LSU won all 4.

Again, it's not ideal. But I don't think it's quite the death knell you've made it out to be. Particularly against a conf. that doesn't appear to have a ton of great teams. And the VAST majority of the production was coming from the 5 starters anyway (even before Manning went down)