Losing KBW was a bigger loss than losing Naz Reid

FACTS

No argument here

Been saying this for years.

Was known by anyone who paid attention.

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Losing KBW was a bigger loss than losing Naz Reid

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Never thought this was even remotely debatable.

KBW was a monster.

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Made up for so many mistakes last year, and was a big reason why we were so successful. In my opinion the second best player on the team last year.

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There's no question LSU would LOVE to still have him. And if you lined him up next to Williams (LSU's best frontcourt defender this year) they without a doubt would be better defensively. But if you compare the numbers from this season and last, you see the loss of KBW may not be all that great. Or at least as great as we think it is.

Opponents are scoring exactly as many ppg this year as they did last year (73). Opponents are making roughly the same amount of FG's per game this season as they did last season (~26)

From the perspective of three point defense, opponents are only making 1 more three per game this season (9) than they did last season (8). Opponents are only getting ~4 more points per game via the three this year (27.7) than they were last season (24.1). This year's 2 point defense is actually better (47%) than last season's (49%)

The argument, which I agree with, is that having a rim protector deters drives to the bucket thus, (ostensibly) making it easier to defend the perimeter. But what the numbers appear to show is that the impact of his loss is about one more made three pointer a game and two less offensive rebounds.

LSU's defense this season doesn't appear to be that much worse than last year's defense. But those extra 1-2 FG's and 3-4 points are HUGE when you play in so many close games. So obviously having him would help. LSU probably would have won 2-3 more of the close games they lost this year. But I think the takeaway is that the source of the defensive woes are FAR greater than simply just not having a "rim protector".

KBW may not have had the stats, but he had the “intangibles”.

Main differences I saw between him and Naz. are:

1. KBW worked hard and was one of the fastest big man I’ve seen getting back down the court. He was often back under the goal before anyone else. He kept in really good shape. Naz was slower and lazier. He came to LSU overweight, but did shed a lot of weight over time.. Basically KBW put in more effort at practice and every game.

2.KBW didn’t mind the physicality of his position, the banging and pushing under the goal. Naz really seemed to shy away from physical contact, especially early on in the season.
I remember getting frustrated about it - “You’ve got the weight and strong body, use it!”.

3. Related to number 2. above, KBW also would take a charge.

NOTE - Why aren’t our current players stepping in to take charges? Barely ever happens. Yeah, you might get called for a foul, but look how many times Skylar gets called for a charge. Sometimes he earns it, but a lot of time he doesn’t. We need to dish that out as well. Refs seem to love calling it and rarely call the new “flop” rule.
Part of good defence.