Defense in the second half

Absolutely. They extended outside of the 3-point line and followed their guys, moved around screens or pushed their way through. That's what you have to do.

LSU's Basketball team takes too many breaks on both ends of the floor. Especially on the defensive end. It has been pointed out that in the game vs. Missouri that they came out with more intensity in the second half. Great, but basketball is much faster than any game and intensity has to be there for the entire game. Every minute ! No excuses for not giving 100% the entire game. If you can't go, that's what the bench is for! Take your rest on the bench not on the floor.

They did play with a sense of urgency on defense in the second half. Keep them out of the lane at all costs on dribble penetration in the half court offense and in transition, getting a body on somebody on the defensive end when they shoot and better communication on screens and whether they are switching or not. These are the 3 glaring needed improvements on the defensive end. If they can achieve this, they have a chance to be really good and possibly go deep in the dance. Having Manning back will help tremendously (offensively and defensively), he was hitting his stride on offense when he got hurt.