Preview: LSU Basketball faces Georgia in midweek SEC clash

Coming off back-to-back wins, LSU Basketball looks to keep the momentum going against SEC bottom feeders Georgia. Wednesday night, the Tigers welcome the Bulldogs for a 6 p.m. CT matchup on the SEC Network.

The Bulldogs enter this game dead last in the SEC at 1-11 in conference play, but Tom Crean’s squad gave LSU problems last season. It took LSU overtime in Baton Rouge to win while beating the Tigers in Athens. LSU struggled defensively in both those games and Wade made that the key point of emphasis going into this matchup.

“We’ve got to guard Georgia better, they scored 91 and 92 on us last year,” Wade said. “They do a lot of the same concepts, they cut, they sink the defense, they try to get their shooters to the corner for three. We have to do a much better job guarding them than we did at any point last year when we played them.”

Obviously, LSU is a completely different team defensively this season that it was last season, but if not prepared, Georgia’s offensive play style can be difficult. Offensively, Georgia is led by sophomore guard Kario Oquendo, who averages 14 PPG and Braelen Bridges who averages 12.6 PPG and leads the team with 5.8 RPG. LSU’s defense does match up well with this Georgia offense. The Bulldogs ranking last in the SEC in offensive rebounds and ninth in three-point percentage, the two areas where LSU has been vulnerable defensively.

LSU Basketball must stay disciplined

The one aspect of Georgia’s game offensively that could give LSU issues is the Bulldogs’ ability to draw fouls and get to the free throw line. Georgia ranks 13th in the country in free throw attempt rate and 11th and foul rate, which can be especially problematic for an aggressive defense like LSU’s. Georgia also leads the SEC in free throw percentage. LSU Basketball will have to stay disciplined on defense and not let Georgia stack up points at the free throw line.

For LSU Basketball, protecting the ball on offense has been a point of improvement from Will Wade and against Georgia, the task should not be as daunting. Georgia ranks last (and by some distance) in the SEC in steals per game. With Xavier Pinson in the lineup for LSU Basketball, controlling the ball should not be a big issue. Defensively, Georgia also struggles, ranking last in the SEC in scoring defense and 329th in the country out of 350 Division I teams. LSU has started to look like its old self again offensive with Pinson back, and against a team gives up 77.1 PPG, this is the perfect opportunity to build that momentum.

On paper, this matchup favors LSU Basketball in just about every category, but results across the SEC have proven any team can be beaten. Georgia’s lone SEC win of the season came against No. 25 Alabama, who beat LSU earlier this season. Little more than a week later, Georgia was a last-second shot away from beating No. 1 Auburn. Will Wade gave Georgia plenty of respect and made it clear his team is not taking the Bulldogs lightly.

“They play extremely hard, they have good concepts, they’re a lot better than their record would show and that’s very worrisome to me.”