Keys to the game: How LSU gets resume win vs. SMU in Frisco

LSU takes on SMU on Saturday at 3 p.m. in Frisco, Texas, looking for a massive Quad 1 opportunity as the Tigers further look to build their non-conference resume. Matt McMahon’s team comes in at 8-1 on the year with multiple high major wins already, but after the injury to Jalen Reed, LSU continues to search for a new identity while still getting wins.

Ahead of Saturday’s contest, we dive into the keys to the game and what to watch for in this fascinating matchup.

“Really excited for our team to play SMU in Frisco this weekend,” LSU head coach Matt McMahon said. “SMU is a top 50 team, really well coached, four guards playing at a high level and scoring in double figures, with a 7’2” center from Turkey in the middle. They’re explosive offensively, shoot it well from three, are among the elite in pace of play and offensive rebounding. Defensively they were fantastic in their win over Virginia. It’s a well balanced team and we’ll hae to play really well to come out victorious.”

Containing Boopie Miller

Miller was a problem for LSU last year when he was the starting point guard at Wake Forest, scoring 19 points on 5/11 shooting, with eight assists, eight free throws, and dictating the ace of the game. This year, LSU’s perimeter defense is much better and the interior presence of Corey Chest and Daimion Collins further helps heep teams out of the paint. Miller has struggled from three this year, now 11-of-44 on the season. I assume Jordan Sears will start the game on him, but if he gets going McMahon may need to look for Dji Bailey or Cam Carter to take the assignment. Miller is 22nd in the country in assist rate and is the key to this Mustangs offense.

“Great speed and quickness in the open floor and he really puts a lot of pressure on your defense in transition,” McMahon said. “He’s an excellent playmaker, averaging five and a half assists and he puts a lot of pressure on you with his ability to get in the paint and score as well as creating with others. They have really good shooting around him and that makes him a tough cover. He has a lot of solutions to the game.”

Matching up with Samet Yigitoglu

A 20 year old center from Turkey, Yigitoglu was playing professional basketball for multiple years in Europe and was on the Turkey U20 team in the European Championships. He’s scored at least eight games in every game he’s played in this season and he’s coming off of a game against Virginia here he hasd 16 points on 7-pf-8 shooting with six boards. He is a legit 7-foot-2 and going to be a load for Daimion Collins to handle on the inside. Expect ome Robert Miller on this assignment as well, but keeping him off the glass and out of his spots is going to be crucial.

“Massive size at 7-foot-2 and 265 pounds. He’s really skilled in the post and can score over either shoulder,” McMahon said “He’s also a good passer out of the post and they surround him with really good shooting, so it puts you in tough spots defensively because they make eight threes per game but he’s tough to cover one on one down low. He’s going to be a great challenge for us because he’s an outstanding player.”

LSU has to rebound better

SMU is 10th in the country in offensive rebound percentage, by far the highest ranking team LSU has played this year in that category. LSU itself is 27th in offensive rebound percentage, but on the opposite end of the spectrum, ranks 328th in defensive rebounding percentage, which has been a consistent focus for McMahon this season.

SMU will punish the Tigers if they are not physical on the glass and I am specifically talking about Daimion Collins who has been poor on the boards at just 11.3 DREB%, compared to Corey Chest’ 22.6 and Jalen Reed’s 19.4. Robert Miller has the same issue at 11 percent.Cam Carter and Vyctorius Miller also don’t rebound well. This team has to do better on the glass moving forward.

“We have to get a lot better there,” McMahon said. “Our offensive rebounding has been at a top 25 level in the country, but our defensive rebounding has been below average and that will be put to the test on Saturday. SMU is top 12 in the country in offensive rebound percentage, so we’re trying to be very intentional about it because we need to get better for Saturday and for the size and athleticism we’ll see in SEC play.”

Expectation for LSU vs. SMU

This should be a fast game with two teams that like playing up-tempo. I wrote about the Tigers’ hope to push the ball more with Jalen Reed out and that is exactly what SMU wants to do as well. Fortunately, I think the Tigers’ defense is legitimately good and should present problems for the Mustangs, but the aforementioned points of emphasis are the keys.

Jordan Sears and Cam Carter will have to be aggressive once again. SMU’s defense has been very average this season, down to 103rd in defensive rating on Kenpom. The Tigers have been able to get hot the last two games against Florida State and Florida Gulf Coast, so we’ll need to see more of the same. This is a coin-flip game on paper between two top 60 teams looking for a huge resume win.