Mizzou Tigers men’s basketball at LSU: Prediction, time, TV, lineups
The details
When: 7:30 p.m. Central time Saturday
Where: Pete Maravich Assembly Center, Baton Rouge, Louisiana
TV: SEC Network
Radio: KMBZ (98.1 FM)
Betting line: LSU by 13
About LSU (19-9, 7-8 SEC): LSU created buzz around the country when it went 12-0 to start the season. But the team’s nonconference schedule didn’t feature any real competition, and things began to shift once SEC action got underway. Though head coach Will Wade’s team managed to split series with Kentucky and Tennessee, the team has also lost games to opponents towards the bottom of the league, such as Mississippi, Vanderbilt and South Carolina — and, consequently finds itself in seventh place. ... Though he missed some time with injury, former Missouri guard Xavier Pinson has become a key player for this LSU squad, currently averaging 10.7 points, 4.6 assists and 2.7 rebounds per game. KenPom ranks LSU No. 17.
About Missouri (10-18, 4-11 SEC): Missouri has dropped four games in a row and is on the verge of losing five consecutive contests for the first time under head coach Cuonzo Martin. Mizzou’s offense has come to a standstill in recent games, with the team averaging 55.8 points per game over its last four, shooting under 41% from the field in each. Missouri’s three-point shooting is back to being one of the very worst in the country as well; The team’s percentage of 27.8% from beyond the arc ranks 354th among 358 Division I teams, according to KenPom. KenPom ranks Missouri No. 145.
Projected lineups
P | No. | LSU | Ht. | Yr. | PPG |
G | 1 | Xavier Pinson | 6-2 | Sr. | 10.4 |
G | 5 | Mwani Wilkinson | 6-5 | So. | 3.9 |
F | 0 | Brandon Murray | 6-5 | Fr. | 9.9 |
F | 4 | Darius Days | 6-7 | Sr. | 13.2 |
C | 15 | Efton Reid | 7-0 | Fr. | 6.6 |
P | No. | Missouri | Ht. | Yr. | PPG |
G | 5 | Jarron Coleman | 6-5 | R-Jr. | 9.2 |
G | 4 | Javon Pickett | 6-5 | Sr. | 10.5 |
F | 12 | DaJuan Gordon | 6-3 | Jr. | 8.6 |
F | 23 | Trevon Brazile | 6-9 | Fr. | 5.7 |
F | 24 | Kobe Brown | 6-8 | Jr. | 12.4 |
Prediction
There are three games left in the regular season for Mizzou; Saturday’s game is undoubtedly the toughest matchup.
Missouri has struggled against every good defense it’s faced this year, losing each of its 13 games against opponents that rank top-60 in the country in defensive efficiency.
With that said, LSU’s defense is likely to give Missouri lots of trouble. The unit ranks fourth in the country in adjusted defensive efficiency (87.9), according to KenPom, and is holding opponents to 62.2 points per game.
LSU’s defense also ranks first in the nation in steals (11.1 per game), fourth in three-point defense (28%), sixth in turnovers forced (18.0 per game) and ninth in defensive field-goal percentage (38.35%).
It’s also worth noting how good LSU has been on its home court this season. The team is 13-2 at Pete Maravich Assembly Center where it returns this Saturday after playing two straight games on the road.
KenPom gives Mizzou a 8% chance of winning and the ESPN BPI has the odds at 2.8%.
LSU 77, Missouri 54
