re: LSU basketball has as good a chance as any to go far this season

How long is Charles Manning out?

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I'll have a better a handle on this team after tonight. So far all they've done is beat bottom-feeders in nail-biters

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If you are going to make an assertion at least have some evidence to back it up.

Right now LSU currently has the 11th best NET SOS (that's the 7th toughest schedule among the top 25 NET ranked teams). They are 2-2 in Q1 wins with Arkansas (NET 32) being on the cusp of a Q1 win.

Now, can you say LSU doesn't have a big "signature" win to date? Perhaps. Though they are responsible for Liberty's (NET #25) only loss this season (by 17 points)

In many, many respects this team is trending almost EXACTLY in the same manner as last years group. Last season LSU lost 2 close OOC games to really good teams where they had a chance to win (FSU, Houston). This year they have lost to 3 (currently) top 100 teams by a total of 6 points (all away from home). The only difference in resume is last year's group beat St. Mary's, while this year's group is still looking for that marquee OOC win (if you don't consider Liberty to be such a win). They'll get that shot on Saturday @ Texas. And just like last season LSU has started SEC play 3-0 on the road, two of them by gutting out close wins.

Now I'm not saying this team is going to go 16-2 and win the SEC. But they've played 17 games already. Couple that with last year's results, and we kind of have an idea who they are. No game is an assured win, but no game is an assured loss either. They are an elite offensive team who struggles on defense. Yet, when the game is tight it seems they are learning to again gut out wins.