re: LSU Hoops (5-2) @ #16 West Virginia (7-0) - Thurs 6:00 - ESPN2

LSU's last road win vs a ranked opponent: 71-68 OT win vs West Virginia in 2005... We gone repeat history.

edit: checked that stat and looks like we beat Tennessee in '06-'07 in OT also. We are 0-10 on the road vs ranked opponents since.

I'll be there. Can't wait to see the Tigers win.

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Honestly, I don't think this is really a bad matchup for LSU. UMass wanted to press more, but stopped once they realized very quickly that LSU was able to beat the press with ease. Gray is good enough to beat the press on his own. Quarterman is another PG out there at 6'6". Hornsby isn't afraid to get to the basket when he has a lane, and Martin is clearly at his best when he is attacking the rim. Depth is clearly an issue. However, as long as LSU doesn't get out of control I don't think they have a tough time beating press.

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That's exactly it. I think LSU can beat WVU's press, but with 6/7 bodies they will definitely get tired.

I like the match-up as well. Vegas has us at -10 now...ouch...

I could definitely see it being a close game then in the last 5 minutes WVU just pulls away and blows us out. Kinda like Ole Miss in overtime last year. A game we should have won but blew it then we didn't stand a chance in OT and lost by double digits.

I was just about to point this out SoS

Definitely would play the over. Wouldn't touch the line though. Patterson and Bridgewater will HAVE to give us minutes in the teens to be successful.

On the flip side, I think our guys are in terrific shape. They have what, a week off after this? I don't care if they all play 35 minutes because they can get a breather. It's not the nba where they are playing 100 games, they are just playing 30ish

Does anyone know if WVU is a big team? If not Bridge could play really valuable minutes. And is their any word on if Epps is still out?

They only have 3 guys that are over 6'8 I believe, they rely on athleticism and grinding.

Also, I'm thinking about going to a thrift store and buying a couch to burn after we win. Thoughts?

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On the flip side, I think our guys are in terrific shape. They have what, a week off after this? I don't care if they all play 35 minutes because they can get a breather. It's not the nba where they are playing 100 games, they are just playing 30ish

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I think the short rest, thin bench problems, are a bit overrated (not just for LSU, but every college team). Remember, these guys are 18-21 year old well conditioned athletes. Think back to when you were that age. I by no means was an elite athlete, but it wasn't uncommon to play 3-4 hours worth of pick-up games two or three days in a row. Those games didn't include media time outs every 4 minutes and half-times long enough for a full "Quick Change" performance. Some how we managed to survive and wake up to do it again the next day.

LSU will need it's bench to an extent, but I don't think Mickey, Martin, Gray, Hornsby, and Quarterman won't be able to easily play 35+ minutes if need be.

This is a NCAA selection committee win right here!
LSU needs this one bad to offset the poor performance while they were on vacation last week.