Will Baker shares LSU's problems come on defense

Normally, you would expect 92 points in an SEC matchup to win you a game. LSU put up its fourth-highest total of the 2023-2024 season but was still on the losing end to Alabama. Even for the best-ranked offense in college basketball per KenPom, Saturday was impressive for the Crimson Tide.

To start the game, LSU was able to keep up with Alabama, and was a close contest. However, with around nine minutes to go in the second half, the Tigers’ defense really began to crumble. Despite a quality scoring day on offense, Will Baker understands the problems for LSU come on the defensive end.

“It was important,” Baker said about a quick start in the first half. “My teammates found me. But at the end of the day, they scored 109 points. So, our problems are defense. We can focus on offense all we want but all of our defensive problems are what is going to hold us back.”

The question originally posed to Baker was about his great opening 20 minutes. In 16 minutes, he finished with 22 points on nine of 12 shooting and three rebounds. Coming out of the halftime locker room, he was not as effective, missing his two shots from the field. Baker’s two points in the second half came from the free-throw line.

But he quickly pivoted to LSU not being able to slow down Alabama. This was not the first time either, with the scoreline being similar on Jan. 27. Alabama scored exactly 109 points in Tuscaloosa too.

Looking at LSU’s numbers throughout the season, KenPom ranks them No. 86 in Adjusted Defense. That’s ninth in the SEC out of 14 teams. Not the type of numbers Baker or head coach Matt McMahon wants.

Some tough games against decent offensive teams are still on the schedule. A trip to Gainesville to face off against Florida is next up while Kentucky will come down to the Bayou on Feb. 21. Both of those teams rank inside the top 15 on KenPom’s Adjusted Offense.

LSU is likely looking on the outside in from an NCAA Tournament perspective but still wants to fight down the stretch of McMahon’s second season in charge. Cleaning up the defensive problems will be key to closing on a strong note.

Baker knows he can enjoy all of the offensive success but at some point, LSU will have to string together some stops.