South Carolina basketball: scouting report, keys to victory over LSU

They’re all big down the stretch, but Saturday’s South Carolina basketball game has a lot of hype around it.

The Gamecocks (15-10, 6-7 SEC) take on LSU today at 3:30 p.m. in what would be a Quad I opportunity.

It’s Legends Weekend and South Carolina is hosting a top 10 player in GG Jackson on an official visit. With all the fanfare around the game, here’s what to expect from the Tigers.

Scouting LSU

The Tigers don’t have a glossy league record (7-6) but are still considered an NCAA Tournament team by the metrics. They’re No. 16 in both the NET and KenPom with a record of 9-6 in Quad I and II games.

LSU’s notched wins over Kentucky early in league play and also beat Tennessee and Florida. They’ve struggled since and dealt with injuries as well. Missouri transfer Xavier Pinson’s missed big chunks of time and it’s hampered the Tigers.

They’ve only lost twice if Pinson’s played: at Auburn and at home to Mississippi State.

Tari Eason is a potential All-SEC player, averaging 16.8 points and seven rebounds this season, and will be a big test for either Keyshawn Bryant or whoever is playing the four.

Defense is what LSU is hanging its hat on this year, top 15 nationally in most efficiency metrics and second in defensive efficiency. It hasn’t slowed in SEC play with the Tigers second in defensive efficiency and top five in opponent effective field goal percentage and turnover rate.

Offensively it’s been a serious struggle dealing with turnovers and poor shooting but it’s an athletic team with a ton of talent and South Carolina is going to have to bring its A-game offensively to win.

Numbers to know

101.8 and 94.9—Each team’s defensive efficiency numbers in SEC play. The Gamecocks are sixth allowing just 101.8 points per 100 possessions with the Tigers are second allowing a paltry 94.9. Defense is the name of the game today and whichever one plays better will likely win.

20.9 and 23.6—The turnover rates for each team. South Carolina’s gotten better but it’s still not good, turning the ball over on 20.9 percent of possessions. LSU is dead last in the league turning it over on 23.6 percent of possessions. The Gamecocks want to get into the open court and getting some of those turnovers could really help. They’ll need to protect the ball, though.

33.6 and 33.1—Both teams and their offensive rebounding numbers. The Gamecocks are a better offensive rebounding team, fourth in the SEC rebounding 33.6 percent of misses. LSU is still good, sixth rebounding 33.1 percent of misses. South Carolina will not only have to get those second-chance opportunities and steal possession while limiting LSU’s looks.

Gamecocks’ keys to victory

Get out in transition—It’s a key every game and will again be one today. The Gamecocks offensively want to operate quickly and in the open court. There will be opportunities for the taking with LSU’s turnover propensity. They’ll need to convert at the rim, too, if they want to win this game.

You have to knock down open threes—Defensively it’s going to be hard to consistently knock down jump shots in the half-court, but if an open shot comes up then it has to go in the basket. LSU switches everything and because of that, there are ways to attack it with movement. South Carolina has to be good at moving off the ball and if a corner shot comes open guys have to take advantage.

Force LSU to pass the ball and get out of a rhythm—LSU largely relies on one guy going and attacking. It’s worked at times with Eason, Darius Days and Pinson. But because of it, the Tigers are last in the SEC assisting on just 45.8 percent of field goals. South Carolina wants to get into passing lanes and will need to force LSU to pass the ball and get out of a rhythm offensively. That could lead to more transition chances.