re: Xavier too much for LSU, leave BR with 80-70 victory

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Xavier wasn't a great free throw shooting team entering last night (right around 68%)but they shot lights out from the line going 20-24. On the other hand, LSU shot below their season average as they went 12-19 from the stripe. Down the stretch, Xavier made their free throws and this played a large role in determining the outcome.

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Yes. This was basically where I thought the game changed hands. The black ref who was watching the down low 2nd half action when we had the ball was letting them play TOO Much, while the one on Xavier's end called some pretty ticky tack ones. In today's game, whoever goes to the charity stripe the most, usually wins. FWIW, I thought last night would be an OT game, because neither team could put the other away. The FT shooting, however, made me think otherwise.

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For the first time since Utah, LSU got outrebounded (40-27). Raymond was a very big guard, and he had his way on the boards pulling down 9 rebounds.

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Very few Off rebounds. Raymond and Love are studs. CJ just couldn't do much with any of their big men. It just seemed like Xavier was backdooring and backdooring and cutting to the basket every time down the court.

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Temple and Johnson combined for 10 points, and that simply isn't enough production between the two. In order for LSU to be successful, they really need for these two guys to combine for 18-20 points.

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Temple was a HUGE factor. He was throwing the ball away early and ended up only taking 4 shots, despite making his first attempt. He has to be more offensive! He's a 6'6" guard who sometimes plays like Charlie Thompson. CJ, on the other hand, just isn't being offensive enough unless he's 1 foot in front of the goal.

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Despite the loss, it was nice to see LSU take care of the ball. LSU only turned the ball over 11 times against a good defensive team, and Xavier turned it over 17 times. However, this doesn't really matter when you go 9 minutes without putting the ball in the hole.

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Exactly...I look at those 9 minutes as 9 turnovers. Essentially, we had 20. I was, like you, impressed with the ball handling (except for the first 5 min of the game) because you could tell Xavier was solid as can be on the defensive end.

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However, I wish they could get a few more productive minutes out of guys like Graham, Bass, and possibly Farrer.

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Graham - still not sure what to think about him. He doesn't show much identity out there. TBD.

Bass - Still isn't ready for SEC ball. At the beginning of the season, many posters thought Bass was as good or better than Spencer...simply not the case. TJ wanted to give him more minutes, based on how well he speaks of CB, but I think the speed of the game caught up with him. He'll be ready in '10.

Farrer - Really just isn't bringing much to the table on either end. I wish he'd shoot more.

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As of now, I think LSU has a great shot at winning the SEC West and going something like 22-9, 10-6 or possibly 23-8, 11-5 due to the SEC being down.

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Seth Davis said today just before the start of the OSU/MSU game that NO team from the west was going to the dance and that 3 SEC east teams were. I was sort of shocked. He means to say that LSU, with 23 wins, and a 10-6 SEC record, will NOT get in? Whoever wins the west, even if it's Arkansas, gets in! Also, if LSU beats UT on Wed night, I would think the Vols are on an early bubble.

"He means to say that LSU, with 23 wins, and a 10-6 SEC record, will NOT get in? Whoever wins the west, even if it's Arkansas, gets in! Also, if LSU beats UT on Wed night, I would think the Vols are on an early bubble."

It's not written in stone that a team winning an arbitrary division within a conference gets in the tourny. If we win 22 games with a 10-6 SEC record and are only win of note is against Wash St which isn't too great and our RPI is in the 70's I wouldn't think that we would get in. There really is no marquee win in the SEC that would could get to hang our hat on. Before the season started I said that the huge games were Texas A&M, Wash. St, Utah, and Xavier. Well we went 1-3 in those and the team we beat is the least impressive of the 4. That's why a win at Tennessee is almost a must win unless we end up going like 13-3 in conference or go deep in the SEC tourny.

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tiger20

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look, i agree with you that brady gets a bum rap around here but, if you watch that game sat and can't tell that this team plays bball according to legit coaching standards, then you need to reassess your bball knowledge.

Well said

Friends with Fran Fraschella and fwiw, he thinks the SEC get a minimum of 4 teams under ANY scenario. UK, Tenn, Florida with the West Winner in. IMO, LSU must at least tie for the West and make the semis of the tourney to get in...of course, we are a bubble team until we get 22 wins.

22-9 puts us at 10-6 in a major conference and we are in...there is no way the committee doesn't give out 4-6 bids to the SEC...

Arky in trouble, Ole Miss is done, Bama could be done and MSU and Auburn still hanging around in the West....need to steal 3 road wins somewhere...i.e. Auburn, Georgia, Arky or MSU? Bonus @Tn or @ Kent....

we can't be catching Tenn at a better time....they can't shoot a lick, coming off an emotional game at home and if we can handle Chism...I like our chances on Wednesday.