re: Joe Lunardi’s updated bracketology has LSU as an 8 seed after TENN win

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I'm not on the Hyatt train as much as some y'all. I prefer the little things that Wilkinson does that don't show up on the stat sheet. I would love it though if Hyatt proved me wrong about that.

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Hyatt has always been a solid rebounder and defender (at least in terms of getting in good position on defense). It's just that he was billed a 3 point sharpshooter coming into LSU and he has been anything but. Some of the misses were just bad. However, the last two games he's played and shot it with a ton of confidence. He had EIGHT rebounds vs. Tennessee (compare with Watford who only had 4 in more minutes). Wilkinson has done a lot of good things. But he hasn't been a threat at all to score. If Hyatt can give you help with rebounding and defense (something this team DESPERATELY needs) AND provide two 3's per game to really stretch the defense then leave him in. Maybe it is just a coincidence, but LSU has shot over 50% vs two good defensive teams with him in the lineup. We all know this team has to win with offense. If they can shoot 50%+ they will be tough to beat. Moreso if they just play marginal defense that night.

To see the impact of that 5th outside scorer look no further than last Arkansas game. They wanted to play their 7 footer to rebound and block shots inside. They knew he couldn't guard Watford, so they put him on Wilkinson (then Hyatt) figuring they were not going to be involved in the offense. Wilkinson hit a corner 3 when they left him wide open. Later Hyatt did the same and the 7 footer didn't play again. With him out LSU had nearly 50 points in the paint.

If Hyatt wasn't rebounding I'd say go back to Wilkinson. But he's second in total rebounding % among the regular players. More importantly, he's second behind only Days in defensive rebounding %, a area where LSU REALLY struggles. IF he can keep hitting a few open shots he has the potential to be a late season adjustment that really changes the make up of the team.

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Gonzaga is really good. Yes, their league is a joke, but they make it for it in out of conference games.

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Gonzaga has all Americans at every level/position that understand basketball. It's our worst nightmare. Seriously.

Our guys are street ball players who are awesome in their own right but they will need to play 100% team ball and make zero mistakes to compete with Gonzaga.

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I like our chances if we can avoid Bama and Florida

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That's the key. Bama is a really bad matchup for us and Mike White owns Will Wade.

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Gonzaga has all Americans at every level/position that understand basketball. It's our worst nightmare.

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Yet all it takes is 5 minutes of Great Play from LSU vs 5 minutes of Good Play from Gonzaga and this game is very winnable. NC State vs Houston, Villanova vs Georgetown, and many many other teams.

Hell in the 2013 NCAA Tourney No. 1 seed Gonzaga SURVIVED against Southern University winning the first round game 64-58. The game was tied 56-56 with 3 minutes left in the game. So, I think this LSU Team would give Gonzaga fits.

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and Mike White owns Will Wade.

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This gets said a lot; but it’s not as much reality as it is perception.

Overall, White is 4-2 straight up against Wade (2019 SEC tourney doesn’t count since Wade didn’t coach then) and they haven’t played their 2nd game this year, which I think LSU wins if they do and would put record at 4-3.

They have split regular season games the past 2 seasons; and only played once Wade’s first season here, which Florida of course won. But it’s hard to fault Wade on that first one considering that was White’s 3rd year at UF and the comparison of the 2 rosters that year (Florida was a top 10 team at beginning of season and finished reg season ranked in the top 25). Hell, LSU was even leading at halftime of that game, which was in Gainesville.

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Thank you for outing yourself as someone who knows nothing about basketball.

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Holla back in April....."the truth"