Preview: LSU vs Georgia TUESDAY 8pm PMAC/ESPN

Georgia comes into the contest 11-6 overall and 4-3 in the SEC. In the SEC, they have wins against Mizzou x2, Arkansas, and Tennessee. However, UGA is just 1-3 away from the friendly confines of Stegeman Coliseum. In their most recent game, UGA pulled off an overtime victory against Arkansas at home.

Projected Lineups:
Georgia:
F Yante Maten 6'8 240 16.2ppg 7.9rpg 1.8bpg
F Houston Kessler/Mike Edwards Both are 6'8-6'9 225. Average 3ppg 2.5rpg
G Kenny Gaines 6'3 205 13.1ppg 41% from 3
G Charles Mann 6'5 215 9.9ppg 3.6rpg 2.8apg
G J.J. Frazier 5'10 155 15.7ppg 4.2apg 4.9rpg
Key Reserves:
Kenny Paul Geno 6'6 210 3.1ppg 2.9rpg

LSU:
F Craig Victor
F Ben Simmons
G Keith Hornsby
G Jalyn Patterson
G Josh Gray

Offensively:
Stats:
PPG: 69.9 (254th nationally)
FG%: 43.4% (180th nationally)
3p%: 37% (71st nationally)
FT%: 68.4% (218th nationally)
APG: 13.4 (184th nationally)
Turnovers per game: 14 (274th nationally)
Offensive Efficiency: .987 (219th nationally)
Offensive Rebounds per game: 9.0 (192nd nationally)

Georgia is a very average offense. They slow the game down and play lockdown defense which causes the game to move at a slower pace. They have 4 players in Mann, Frazier, Gaines, and Maten that can hurt you. Mann and Gaines are SR's and seem like they've been there for decades, and Frazier is a JR. They have one of the most experienced backcourts in the SEC. Maten is a big bodied big man who has some skill offensively, and is their only true low post threat.

With that said, outside of "The Big 4", it gets quite bleak for the Bulldogs. No one else on the roster averages over 4 points per game. If they have their way, Georgia wants those 4 players to play 30+ minutes.

Frazier can really facilitate the offense and average nearly 16, 5, and 4 which is outstanding for a PG. He and Gaines shoot over 40% from 3, but other than that there aren't many 3-point threats. Charles Mann is 10/23 on the year, so although he shoots at a high clip, he does not take very many shots at all. Georgia only has 2 other players that have shot other player that have even attempted more than 20 3's.

Defensively:
Stats:
PPG: 66.9% (71st nationally)
FG%: 37.9% (9th nationally)
RPG: 38.3 (95th natinoally)
SPG: 5.5 (237th nationally)
BPG: 5.3 (25th nationally)
Turnovers forced: 11.6 (275th nationally)
Offensive Rebounds Allowed: 9.9 (241st nationally)
Defensive Efficiency: .946 (55th nationally)

Georgia is a strange defensive team. They get very little turnovers, but have one of the best FG% defenses in the country. That means they won't take chances for easy steals, they would rather sink their feet in and make you earn it. However, with only one true post player, they're susceptible to offensive rebounds. So although they play excellent defense, they allow some easy points which is why their defensive efficiency isn't as high as it should be. Also, Maten averages 1.8blks a game, but they are one of the best shot blocking teams in the country. They have 4 other players that average at least .5 blks a contest.

Keys to the Game:

1.) Ben Simmons: Really going out on a limb here. However, UGA truly has no one to guard him. I think Fox may throw some zone in there, do a lot of switching, throw multiple people at him because no one can match up with Ben. We say that a lot, but some teams have talented tweener players such as Jalen Jones or Finney-Smith, but there is a gigantic mismatch here. It was so refreshing to see Ben take over the game early against Bama, and hopefully he stays in that mindset.

2.) Guarding the Big 4. This is a game where scouting is of the utmost importance. The LSU players have to understand who is able to score and who is not for UGA. We would much rather leave Kenny Paul Jeno open rather than Kenny Gaines.

3.) Foul Trouble. This can be said for both teams. Maten is a very good low post player and a very good FT shooter. Because of this, it is important that Victor play smart on defense and Ben and Victor attack on offense. Both LSU and UGA have gaping holes in their frontline depth. Whichever team can force the opponent to the bench, has a substantial advantage.

4.) Tim Quarterman. It was beautiful to watch TQ play like he's capable of playing on Saturday. When he plays like that, LSU is virtually unbeatable no matter how well the opponent is playing.

5) Do not look ahead. I think everybody here knows the game coming up on Saturday. #1 team, POY candidate vs POY candidate, huge opportunity for a statement win...but you cannot overlook Georgia. Georgia is a remarkably average team, but they aren't bad. If they lose, they will make the other team beat them. They will hand LSU nothing. The players must maintain focus.

Prediction:

Every year it feels like LSU is on the bubble. Right when we have a good victory, we somehow slip up and go back to the outside looking in. This is a huge opportunity for the Tigers to keep that momentum from Saturday going and force a HUGE college basketball showdown this upcoming Saturday. If we lose, we will go back to very squarely on the bubble and outside looking in, and we will possibly need a couple of key wins.

With all of that said, I expect a very good turnout tomorrow night and for LSU to play decent. I don't think they play A+, but I think they give a solid B performance and win.

LSU - 77
UGA- 68