What can I say...LSU got slaughtered in 2 games in one week. Does that make us a bad team? No. Do we have some things we absolutely need to work on? Yes. Is this a team that can still make a run in the NCAA Tourney?......ABSOLUTELY.

LSU has played a B game but they have not even played a B+ game. Will we ever see an A or A+ game? Probably not, but what if we do? If that happens this team in capable of beating ANYONE. However, in order for that to happen, guys like Javonte Smart have to not disappear for an entire half. Guys like Darius Days have to not disappear for an entire game. Guys like Cam Thomas have to shoot better than 28% from 3.

Our remaining schedule is not easy. We've got 6 Quad 1 games and 2 Quad 2 games (I believe, I checked a few days ago and I don't want to double check). Negatigers say that means we'll lose a lot more...positigers say we will help our resume. I guess only time will tell.

One gift we will get is Texas Tech at home. Texas Tech comes in ranked 10th in the country at 11-5 on the season and 4-4 in the Big 12. The big 12/SEC challenge has some great great matchups, and this game Kansas/Tenn and Bama/Oklahoma headline. Lets get into Texas Tech shall we....

Offense (National Rank)-
PPG: 75.5 (70th)
ORPG: 10.9 (29th)
APG: 12.8 (193rd)
TOPG: 10.9 (23rd)
FG%: 44.0% (151st)
3P%: 33.2% (183rd)
2P%: 49.2% (200th)
FT%: 71.8% (131st)
FTA Per Game: 24.6 (9th)
Fouls Drawn: 21.8 (9th)
Offensive Efficiency: 1.066 (44th)

Defense-
PPG: 61.7 (14th)
DRPG: 22.8 (236th)
SPG: 7.4 (81st)
BPG: 4.3 (49th)
FG%: 40.6% (54th)
3P%: 34% (194th)
2P%: 44.5% (31st)
Opponent Turnovers Per Game: 17.6 (12th)
Fouls Per Game: 17.5 (164th)
Defensive Efficiency: .871 (12th)

What Do The Stats Say:
Offense-

Offensively, They're a pretty simple team: Get rebounds, Get Free Throws, Don't Turn The Ball Over. To be honest, their field goal percentage is nothing to write home about. They don't share the ball great. They don't shoot great. However, they are elite at taking care of the ball, and they crash the boards like animals.

Their PG is Mac McClung. In HS, McClung went viral for doing insane dunks during games. He was only a 3-star and went to Georgetown, but most who really saw the kid thought he could have gone anywhere. He was only around 5'11 coming out but hit a mini-growth spurt and is now listed at 6'2 (I still think that's generous, but he's definitely grown). He's a very good shooter and elite athlete.

Terrence Shannon Jr is their second best player and some consider him a first round talent. He's 6'6, prototypical NBA 2-guard body. However, he is an extremely average shooter. Takes less than 3 3-pointers a game and makes less than 1. What he struggles with shooting, he makes up with athleticism. A great athlete and hard worker.

From there, Texas Tech will play lots of "long" players. This isn't a team that will throw out 7-footers like Kentucky. In fact, Texas Tech won't play a single player over 6'8. They have athletes and strong guys similar to Darius Days.

Defense-

Defensively, by the statistics they're one of the best in the country. They aren't great at defending the 3, but everything else they're pretty damn good at.

However, they do have some weaknesses. As good as their offensive rebounding is, their defensive rebounding is as bad. They do for a good bit of misses, but because of their size can give up some rebounds. Sound familiar?

They do a good job at getting steals, but an absolutely exceptional job of pressuring the ball and creating turnovers. They're 12th in the country, that is absolutely ELITE!

Overall:

What I love about basketball is MATCHUPS. Some teams simply matchup horribly against others. For instance, against Kentucky, LSU from a physical athletic standpoint are outmatched. There are ways around that but you're at a bit of a disadvantage. In this game, these two teams matchup amazingly. This (on paper) looks to be one hell of a game. Texas Tech is coming off of an 88-87 loss against West Virginia and I think this game will be similar. It's going to be uptempo and fast, really good players taking each other on.

This is a game where Javonte Smart should relish in the role vs Mac McClung. Trendon Watford should be UNGUARDABLE. They start 4 guards. Although two of them are 6'6, FroTren should eat. Darius Days, despite his height, is basically the EXACT same size as their best big man. The difference? Days hits 3's. Cam Thomas vs Terrence Shannon is a potential lottery pick matchup. Who wins?

This should be an extremely enjoyable game. I think we got our teeth kicked in, got a little lackadaisical, and I honestly expect us to play our best game of the season today/tomrrow (depending on when you read this). Again, you can't measure heart or tenacity on paper, but LSU looks to matchup so well. This game, although OOC and would not hurt at all, could be a catapult if we won for the rest of the season.

I've got some P&G glasses on, but I've seen our players when they have that fire. When Javonte Smart WANTS to drop 30 points no one can stop him. He puts Scotlandville and that team on his back. This will be probably his most difficult test with a PG and I have to think the guy comes out blazing.

PSA- For those that don't know, I'm VERY critical of Smart. I think he has all the talent in the world and gives about 1% effort most nights and sleepwalks through games. When he's locked in though, LSU vs the world. Tomorrow night...Vonte is locked in.

LSU- 84
TTU- 79

#BOOTUP!

This post was edited on 1/30/21 at 1:31 pm