Resume Check: Looking ahead to South Carolina basketball's next opponent, the LSU Tigers

South Carolina basketball set a new record last time out, but it wasn’t the good type of record. The Gamecocks are now 0-12 in SEC play. Those 12 losses mark the most consecutive conference defeats ever for USC. The most recent loss came by 21 points to the Florida Gators in Gainesville.

Lamont Paris’ team, to their credit, hasn’t given up or quit playing hard. If those efforts are to be rewarded with a win next time they play, that would mean the Gamecocks managed to pull off a victory on the road against the LSU Tigers this week.

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Resume Check: LSU Tigers

Record: 13-12 (2-10 in SEC)
AP Ranking: N/A
Last Week: Loss to Arkansas 58-70 in Fayetteville; Win over Oklahoma 82-79 in Norman
Previous Meeting: LSU won 64-63 in Columbia during 2023-2024 season

If South Carolina has been the most disappointing team in the SEC, LSU is battling for the No. 2 spot. Competing for the inauspicious honor with the Oklahoma Sooners and Arkansas Razorbacks, LSU has taken a step back from 2023-2024. The Bayou Bengals had their sights set on an NCAA Tournament appearance in year three under head coach Matt McMahon, but barring a miraculous sweep through the SEC Tournament, that won’t happen.

LSU had a respectable run through the non-conference slate, going 11-2 with wins over Kansas State, UCF, and Florida State. However, those three wins lost most of their luster as the Wildcats, Knights, and Seminoles all have struggled mightily since. In SEC play, the Tigers’ only victories have come against fellow disappointing teams Arkansas and Oklahoma.

Coming into Tuesday night’s game against South Carolina, LSU ranks 12th in the conference in points per game and dead last in 3-point shooting percentage. The defense in Baton Rouge hasn’t been any better. The Tigers rank 13th in the SEC in points allowed. Compounding their issues, LSU is 15th in the league in rebounding and 14th in turnover margin.

Transfer senior Cam Carter is the team’s biggest bright spot on offense. The 6’3″ combo guard is 7th in the conference in scoring while shooting over 40% from the arc this season. Former Gamecock transfer portal target Jordan Sears also can score, albeit less efficiently.

6’8″ freshman Corey Chest, 6’10” freshman Robert Miller, and 6’9″ junior Daimion Collins get the majority of LSU’s post minutes. However, the trio only combines to score about 18.5 points and pull down 13.5 rebounds combined. They do, though, block shots well, helping the team rank 5th in the SEC in the statistical category.

Both Trey’Dez Green and Jalen Reed were listed as “out” for LSU’s most recent game against Oklahoma. Reed, a former starter, tore his ACL in December and won’t play again this year. Green, who also plays tight end and wide receiver for the LSU Tigers football team, missed the OU game but hasn’t carved out a spot in the LSU forward rotation, anyway.

The Gamecocks and Tigers will tip off at 9:00 p.m. in the Pete Maravich Assembly Center on Tuesday. SEC Network will broadcast the game, and the ESPN app will stream it.

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