The LSU Basketball program is getting disrespected early in the season. Heading into Saturday’s game against Georgia Tech, the Tigers are a perfect 8-0. Coming off two wins at the Emerald Coast Classic and a win over Ohio, Will Wade has the program in a position to be successful in 2021-22.
LSU Basketball is Being Disrespected
LSU has yet to defeat a top-25 team, but the program has quality wins. Reeling in wins over Belmont, Penn State and Wake Forest over the past two weeks have put the Tigers in a prime position to be ranked. Still, despite being 8-0, the Tigers remain unranked in the latest AP Poll. While the team is playing at a high level, Wade hasn’t necessarily been pleased with every performance.
Offense Leading the Way
This season, Senior forward Darius Days is leading the team in scoring at just over 16 points per game. Days decided to return to Baton Rouge for his final season after testing the waters of the NBA Draft. His return gave the team an immediate momentum boost in the front court. Sophomore forward Tari Eason has been off to a hot start, as he is averaging 13.9 points and 8.3 rebounds per game while shooting 43 percent from the floor. The injury to Adam Miller took a toll on the program before the season began. However, LSU has seen guys step up into big roles so far.
Efton Reid, the Tigers’ freshman center, has put on a show in the first seven games. LSU is allowing 54 points per game through the first month of the season. Defensively, the Tigers are tough to score against.
Opening December with a Victory
On Wednesday, the LSU Basketball program took down Ohio 66-51 inside the Pete Maravich Assembly Center. Eason led LSU with 20 points on 6-of-9 shooting and 8-of-9 at the free-throw line. Days scores 12 on 4-of-10 shooting but recorded 13 rebounds. The Tigers defeated a very good Bobcats team that entered that game with a 5-1 record.
Heading into December, the Tigers travel to Atlanta for a big match-up against the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets on Saturday in the Holiday Hoopsgiving tournament. Then, the Tigers face Northwestern State, Louisiana Tech and Lipscomb to close out non-conference play.
What LSU Must Do Moving Forward
If LSU is going to be competitive in a stacked SEC conference, getting off to better starts and being a two-half team instead of a second-half team is the key. Too many times this season, LSU has struggled in the first half with mid-major programs. Wade has expressed his frustration with the rough starts. The Tigers have the talent to compete in the SEC and be a top-25 team come next week. The main key for LSU moving forward is to get out to early leads and eliminate the opposing team from getting hot beyond the arc. In the paint, LSU is a solid defensive team. On offense, the Tigers’ backcourt has helped lead the way. As the season rolls on, it will be interesting to see if the program can keep the momentum in its favor.
