SB Nation - Bo Spencer

Washington State 72, LSU 70 (OT)

Nuss — Wed, 23 Dec 2009 18:10:56 -0000

Final - 12.22.2009	1	2	Total
LSU Tigers	30	32	70
Washington St. Cougars	36	26	72

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As the game wound down to its final moments in regulation with the Cougs trailing by two, I just kept thinking about how small the margin is in college basketball. With only ~30 games, there are so precious few opportunities to make statements, and the result of each game is magnified beyond what it probably should be.

If the Cougs lose last night -- which they were on the verge of doing without yet another in a string of spectacular plays by Reggie Moore -- we're talking about a team that can't seem to figure out a way to beat anyone good. It's a team that still has a considerable amount of growing up to do with more than a third of the season gone, and trepidation sets in until conference play starts a week from tomorrow.

But this is what it is, and instead of moping we get to entertain thoughts of grandeur after the Cougs came back for a rousing, 72-70 overtime win over LSU. Instead, we get to talk about how tough they were, how much they've matured, how their potential in Pac-10 play is so great ... all because Bo Spencer's final 3-point heave fell short of the rim.

Is it ideal? No way. But for as much as we like to take a big picture approach to where the team is heading and try to avoid results-based analysis, the reality is that with only 30 games, results matter. A lot. And last night was a huge one. When March rolls around, if this team is in any kind of postseason conversation, this will be a game people point to in favor of WSU.

LSU is only ranked No. 139 by kenpom.com. That's going to change -- dramatically -- when all is said and done. That's a good team that, like the Cougs, is quickly getting better. They've got an absolute beast in Tasmin Mitchell (more on him in a second) and Bo Spencer is really good. They crash the offensive glass with relentless abandon and are disciplined. After the game, Trent Johnson and Ken Bone spent a lot of time shining sunshine you know where, but this time it felt legitimate -- that's a well-coached squad the Cougars just beat.

The Tigers certainly aren't a great offensive team, but the defensive job the Cougars did on them last night was simply phenomenal, especially considering where this team was just a few weeks ago. Early on, it appeared as if Mitchell was going to dominate this game. He was flat-out abusing Abe Lodwick in the post, getting to the rim, drawing fouls, picking up offensive rebounds. Bone reached for Nikola Koprivica early -- before the 16 minute mark -- and from there, everything changed.

The Cougs threw the book at LSU in order to neutralize Mitchell. They played standard man-to-man. They played 2-3 zone. Bone said they even played some triangle-and-two. And it worked: The result was a 95.7 efficiency for the Tigers on 40.0 effective field goal percentage as Mitchell struggled to find a groove. The former was the fourth-lowest of the year allowed by WSU; the latter, the lowest. Without a doubt, this was the best all-around defensive effort of the year for these young Cougs, as the Tigers rarely got an open look. Even the 3s LSU did hit were contested, as breakdowns were minimal.

Johnson lamented after the game that Mitchell didn't get any free throws in such a physical game. While I agree that it was a little odd, I also think it reflected both Mitchell's lack of aggression to the rim and the amazing job both Koprivica and the rest of the Cougar defense did in throwing different looks at him. At times, he looked like he was thinking rather than playing, and at other times he looked like he just didn't want to work hard anymore for a quality shot -- as exemplified by that weak fade-away jumper in overtime.

If you wanted defense, people ... you got it. And that's as exciting as anything else that happened last night as we evaluate this team going forward.

The offense? Well, let's just say it wasn't the prettiest thing in the world, as Bone said after the game that LSU did a great job of making the Cougs look ugly at times. The Tigers played tough, physical defense on them, and they deserve a lot of credit for it. But what's most important is that it was good enough.

Good enough for a huge win to savor for the next week.

Player(s) of the game

Can't go with just one guy here ...

Klay Thompson. With 15:15 left in the game, the Cougs led 44-36. Just over three minutes later, that lead was whittled to two. Klay had eight points, and had been a virtual non-factor -- something I wasn't all that concerned about up until that point, because he had, for the most part, made good decisions that allowed his teammates to score. Jo-Jo texted me and said this was the point at which Klay had to take over. I had a similar sentiment as the Gonzaga game was slipping away; we all know how that one turned out.

Not last night. As if on cue, Thompson hit a 3, had a steal, hit a runner in the lane, got to the rim for a layup, hit a pair of free throws and then found DeAngelo Casto on a pick and roll for an easy bucket. In a span of 4:09 -- at a critical juncture in the game -- Klay had nine points, a steal and an assist. He also would hit another jumper to break a tie at the 6:05 mark and another 3 to regain the lead with 3:50 to go. Quite simply, without Klay's offensive outburst in the second half, we don't win this game.

Reggie Moore. Jo-Jo -- who has been away serving Uncle Sam for the past few months and has only seen the last two games -- also asked me if Moore has the best freshman in the Pac-10. I think that question has been unquestionably answered. Moore played all 45 minutes last night and committed just two turnovers. He did only have four assists (after piling up 22 the last two games), but it was the last one that made all the difference.

With the Cougs down by two with under 20 seconds to go in regulation -- and coming off a forced-and-missed 3-point attempt by Klay on the previous possession -- Moore did exactly what I absolutely was hoping he would do. Knowing that the Tigers would be looking straight to Klay, Moore drove the lane, drawing approximately three defenders right to him. Moore left his feet, but he somehow found DeAngelo Casto under the hoop for the game-tying basket with six seconds to go. Spectacular.

As someone said on the postgame thread, this team now has two clear weapons for teams to contend with down the stretch of games. I can't even begin to describe to you how enormous that is.

Unsung hero

Nik Koprivica. This one was so easy. I asked Bone after the game if it was possible to overstate the impact Koprivica had on this game with his defense on Mitchell. The answer was a flat, "No." For as important as Klay's scoring outburst was, Nik's job on Mitchell was equally important. He was an absolute warrior in the post against a guy who is taller, stronger and more athletic than him, yet somehow he was able to more or less keep the ball out of Mitchell's hands. When Mitchell did get the ball, Nik played sound defense, cutting off the baseline and forcing Mitchell back to the WSU help. He also did as good a job as could be expected boxing out a guy who will be first-team all-SEC come March.

That Nik chipped in 11 points, six rebounds and two assists -- against just one turnover, his first in the past four games -- was just icing on the cake. The redemption story continues.

It was over when ...

Spencer's desperation 3 with a few seconds left fell short of the rim and the Cougs were able to keep the ball out of the hands of LSU in the ensuing scrum -- not a moment before that.

Stat of the game

Prior to last night, the Cougs' two lowest offensive efficiencies came against Kansas State (91.5) and Gonzaga (95.7). Against the Tigers, WSU posted an offensive efficiency of 98.1. And won.

Early Round Ball Season Round Up

Year2 — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 17:25:53 -0000

More photos » by Wade Payne - AP

Tennessee's Scotty Hopson.

Browse more photos »

LAST NIGHT

As we mentioned in Sprints this morning, points were raining down in Knoxville as No. 11 Tennessee set a school scoring record in its 124-49 pummeling of UNC-Asheville. Scotty Hopson led the Vols with 25 points. Rocky Top Talk has a wrap up of the romp.

Meanwhile in Baton Rouge, a Tiger set a career high as Bo Spencer's 28 points led LSU to a 71-60 win over Western Kentucky. Storm Warren also had a great night with 20 points and 11 rebounds, his third straight double-double. And the Valley Shook has game coverage and a look ahead at LSU's upcoming games in Madison Square Garden.

Staying in the SEC West, Alabama picked up the first win of the Anthony Grant era with an 86-69 laugher over Jackson State. Four Tide ballers went into double figures, with freshman Tony Mitchell setting the standard with 23 and Mikhail Torrance distributing eight assists with his 13 points.

It was not as nice a night in Athens for new coach Mark Fox as Georgia fell to 1-1 on the season with a 60-57 loss to Wofford. Trey Thompkins registered a double-double for the Bulldogs with 14 points and a manly 16 rebounds, while Travis Leslie led the team with 17 points.

It was an even rougher night in Papa John City for John Pelphrey's Arkansas squad as they were overmatched and overpowered by No. 22 Louisville, 96-66. Marshawn Powell got a double-double with 15 points and 11 boards, and Rotnei Clarke paced the Hogs with 16 points. Arkansas Expats says it was about what they expected, but the goal of finding a way into the NIT is still on the table.

MONDAY

The No. 5 Kentucky Wildcats needed a last-second jumper from freshman John Wall to pull out a 72-70 squeaker over Miami University. Wall had 19 points on the game, and both Patrick Patterson (17 and 10) and DeMarcus Cousins (10 and 10) put up double-doubles for the Cats. A Sea of Blue of course has an excellent wrap up of the night's action.

Ole Miss had no such trouble in putting away Alabama State to the tune of 90-53. Four Rebels broke into double digits in scoring. Terrico White had the most points with 19, but Eniel Polynice had the best line of the night with 17 points, eight rebounds, and seven assists. Polynice was one of three Ole Miss players with eight or more boards. Red Cup Rebellion had some quick thoughts about the game.

Also hitting the 90 point mark was South Carolina, as the Gamecocks blew out Georgia Southern 90-66. Dominque Archie was the man of the night for Carolina, scoring 18 points and grabbing 10 rebounds, while stud Devan Downey chipped in 14 points and a team-high six assists. The Gamecocks put the game away by scoring the final five points of the first half and opening the second half with a 16-0 run, a combined 21 unanswered points.

Not to be outdone, the Vanderbilt Commodores went for 95 while holding Lipscomb to just 73 in their season opener. Star center A.J. Ogilvy came off the bench for the 'Dores thanks to a concussion sustained in practice last month, but that didn't stop him from scoring 13 points and leading the team with nine boards and three blocks. Jeffery Taylor led the way with 20 points.

On the other end of the spectrum, LSU eeked out a 55-45 win over Indiana State in the first round of the Dick's Sporting Goods NIT Tipoff. Despite the low scoring output, three Tigers went into double digits. And the Valley Shook was impressed by the defense, but was decidedly underwhelmed by LSU's shooting.

Still in the West, Auburn ended up with a disappointing 73-62 loss to the MVC's Missouri State. You can't blame the Tigers' Lucas Hargrove, who put up 24 points and tied for the team lead with six rebounds. Unfortunately the effort was in vain as his only teammate to break into double digits was DeWayne Reed with 12. Auburn got a paltry five points off the bench in the game.

SUNDAY

The Florida Gators got off to a rousing start with a 74-46 start over in-state foe Stetson. The 46 that the Hatters scored is the lowest point total any opponent has scored in the Billy Donovan era. The Gators nearly snapped a streak though, waiting until the final minute of the game to make a three point shot to extend the school's record of 579 games with at least one trey made. Chandler Parsons, author of the one made three, led the team with 14 points, Alex Tyus put in 12 while snaring 13 rebounds, and hyped freshman Kenny Boynton scored 12 though only on 5-11 shooting. Alligator Army hopes for a return to toughness out of the team.

SEC Tournament: Kentucky Wildcats vs. LSU

Ken Howlett — Fri, 13 Mar 2009 13:02:23 -0000

Reversal of Fortune

The Kentucky Wildcats (20-12, 9-8) experienced a trend reversal in yesterday's opening round 71-58 victory over the Ole Miss Rebels: It's the first time all year that UK has won a game in which they were outscored from the three-point line. Ole Miss notched five made threes, while UK wasn't "feelin' it" from long distance, going only 1-10.

The victory also halted UK's unpleasant four game losing streak, keeping alive their slim hopes for a bid to the NCAA Tournament.

How did they win? They won with defense, an aspect of their game that has been a dismal failure of late. But yesterday, UK held Ole Miss to only 20 points, and 31.8% field goal shooting in the second half, after allowing the Rebels to make 14-26 shots (53.8%) in the opening stanza. UK also took care of the basketball, committing only 10 turnovers to Mississippi's 18, which resulted in another reversal of fortune: UK outscored their opponent by 16 points in the points off turnovers category.

Continuing UK's reversal of fortune (Claus von Bulow would be proud): The 'Cats placed four players in double figures, with Jodie Meeks leading the way with 25 points, followed by Patrick Patterson's 15 (and 14 boards). Perry Stevenson must have eaten his Wheaties for breakfast because he showed signs of life with 13 points and eights rebounds (4 offensive), and late-comer Darius Miller chipped in with 12 points on 5-9 shooting.

And finally, what has been UK's undoing all season, offensive rebounding, was a strength yesterday. The 'Cats grabbed six more offensive boards than the Rebels, allowing UK to outscore Ole Miss by five in second chance points.

In order for UK to continue their improbable run toward the SEC Championship game, they must once again execute defensively and play smartly. Because today against the SEC Regular season champion, the #16 ranked LSU Tigers (25-6, 13-3), they will be facing an experienced-laden team that isn't prone to making the same mistakes as the depleted Ole Miss Rebels.

LSU Tigers

On February 28, LSU invaded Rupp Arena and came away with a hard-earned 73-70 victory: LSU junior forward Tasmin Mitchell nailed a three-pointer with 9.8 seconds remaining to seal the victory for the Tigers.

UK head coach Billy Gillispie said this after the loss --

"We're just not a mature enough team to beat a team that is smart and mature like LSU is."

Have the 'Cats grown-up? They certainly took a positive step toward maturity yesterday.

Gillispie placed the blame for the earlier LSU loss squarely on his own shoulders. Saying that his decision to take out Ramon Harris at the 10:54 mark of the second half with UK up 54-44, cost the Wildcats the game. Gillispie noted after the game that Harris "looked like he was having a heart attack," which is why he removed the junior G/F from the game. Gillispie also stated that he was worried that Harris may have been suffering some type of after-effect related to his head injury suffered earlier in the year.

Regardless, UK went from up 10, to up only two points in Harris' four-and-a-half minute absence (he re-entered the game at the 6:35 mark), but more importantly newly minted Conference Player of the Year Marcus Thornton caught fire, scoring 15 late points (19 total second half points), carrying the Tigers to victory.

Kentucky also "accomplished" a rarity in the first LSU game: They lost despite shooting 60.7% in the second half (17-28). Meeks and Patterson were a combined 13-21 from the field (61.9%) in the second half, and accounted for 29 UK points. But it wasn't enough to overcome a 15-9 LSU advantage in second chance points, as well as a Tiger win in the points off turnovers battle (18-15).

But, the primary reason for the Tiger victory was once again a lack of perimeter defense by Kentucky -- LSU made 9-20 three-point shots (45.0%), dwarfing UK's 3-14 effort from beyond the arc (21.4%), and off-setting UK's huge advantage in points in the paint (46-24).

LSU Personnel -- Conference Games Only

Marcus Thornton: 6-4, 205 lb senior guard -- Thornton averages 22.7 points, 6.0 rebounds, 2.3 assists, and 1.6 steals per game. He's shooting 46.5% from the field, 38.5% from beyond the arc (37-96), and 78.9% from the free throw line.

In the first game -- Thornton scored 23 points on 8-23 shooting (2-7 threes), grabbed nine rebounds, dished out four assists and committed two turnovers.

Tasmin Mitchell: 6-7, 235 lb junior forward -- He's averaging 18.4 points, 8.1 rebounds (2.9 offensive), 2.0 assists and 1.8 steals per game. He shoots 53.9% from the field, 58.3% from the three-point line (7-12), and 73.6% from the free throw line.

In the first game -- Mitchell scored 21 points on 9-13 shooting (1-2 threes), gathered eight rebounds, had two assists, FIVE steals, three turnovers, and hit the previously-mentioned game-winning three-pointer.

Bo Spencer: 6-1, 185 lb sophomore guard -- Spencer is averaging 11.1 points, 2.6 assists, and 2.5 rebounds per game. He makes 40.3% of his shots, 40.3% of his three-point tries (25-62), and 81.5% of his free throws.

In the first game -- He scored 16 points, making 6-12 shots (4-7 threes). He dished out three assists, had two steals and two turnovers.

Garrett Temple: 6-6, 195 lb senior guard -- Temple averages 7.7 points, 4.9 rebounds, 3.9 assists, and 1.1 steals per game. He's shooting 35.8% from the floor, 29.8% from beyond the arc (14-47), and 81.4% from the charity stripe.

In the first game -- Temple scored one point, had one rebound, one assist, three blocks and one turnover.

Chris Johnson: 6-11, 210 lb senior center -- Johnson is averaging 7.8 points, 7.7 rebounds (2.7 offensive), and 3.4 blocks per game. He's shooting 49.5% from the field, and 87.5% from the free throw line (14-16).

In the first game -- In 14 minutes of action Johnson scored two points (1-3 shooting), had four rebounds, one assist, one turnover, and was generally abused by Patrick Patterson.

Terry Martin: 6-6, 210 lb senior guard -- Martin is averaging 4.7 points, and 2.7 rebounds per game. He makes 34.6% of his shots, 27.3% of his threes (9-33), and 66.7% of his free throws.

In the first game -- In 18 minutes he scored eight points on 3-4 shooting (2-3 threes), nabbed one rebound, dished out one assist, had one steal, one block and one turnover.

CliffsNotes Analysis

This is Patrick Patterson's day!

The big fella dominated the paint in the earlier LSU game, scoring 28 points on 12-17 shooting. He also grabbed nine rebounds. LSU simply has no answer for UK's big man. Feeding the post early and often should be a large part of Billy Gillispie's game-plan -- Let Patterson carry UK on his substantial shoulders, and with Perry Stevenson's renewed interest the 'Cats have a dual-threat post presence for the first time in several weeks.

Conference Coach of the Year Trent Johnson will once again pressure Jodie Meeks with Tasmin Mitchell, Marcus Thornton and Garrett Temple so UK will have to run some offensive sets to get their star guard some open looks (Meeks was 10-22 from the field, but only 1-9 from behind the arc in the first game).

I suspect that Ramon Harris will take on Marcus Thornton once again. UK's lock-down defender did an exceptional job on LSU's scoring machine in the first match-up. A repeat performance for the "Alaskan Assassin" will go a long way in helping UK secure their second victory in a row.

Michael Porter must take care of the ball as he did yesterday against Ole Miss -- He committed only one turnover, and had three assists. LSU isn't known for pressuring the ball, so Porter will have the opportunity to run the offense relatively hassle-free.

But most importantly, Kentucky's defense must show up as it did yesterday. When UK plays frenetic, active defense, they usually win. Today's game should be no different.

Thanks for reading, and Go 'Cats, beat the Tigers!

LSU 73, Kentucky 70: Postmortem

Truzenzuzex — Sun, 01 Mar 2009 01:04:36 -0000

Another day, another frustrating loss for Kentucky. I said this was the biggest game of the year for the 'Cats, and it was. It was a great college basketball game by both teams, incredible intensity and tenacious defense -- the kind of game you expect to see at the end of February, but not the kind of results the Cats have historically expected.

Congratulations to the LSU Tigers. They were the best team today -- barely. But the stat that counts the most is the final score, and when you are on the long end of that at Rupp Arena, you have a lot to be proud of. LSU's maturity was very much evident in today's game, and it wound up being the edge they needed to pull out a hard fought win. Well done, Tigers, and congrats to all the LSU fans out there. Your team did you proud.

For Kentucky, this was a big improvement from the South Carolina game in every way but the one that matters most -- the final score. This was also a tale of two halves -- a first half which looked very much like the Kentucky we have seen all to often lately, and the second half, which was a Jodie Meeks three or a challenged Marcus Thornton three and missed free throw away from a big win. You hate to lose games after getting a decent lead, but LSU is such a mature and experienced team that they have no quit or panic in them, and that was all they needed to fight back for a victory.

Some observations:

I predicted that Garrett Temple could not guard Meeks. I was both right and wrong. For about 20 minutes, he gave Meeks fits, but then Jodie used his quickness to put Temple in foul trouble, limiting him to only 25 minutes. Meeks was a missed free throw away from his average.
I was also concerned about Thornton, and that proved to be right. But I was wrong about him also. He did not do all his damage from the perimeter, as I have seen most times this year. In the end, he took UK to the hole and did a ton of damage.
Tasmin Mitchell was simply all-world. He was almost singularly responsible for defeating the cats. 21 points and 8 rebounds.
The adjustment Gillispie made at half was to go with Galloway at the point guard, and it paid off in spades. I have been very critical of Porter starting and playing all these minutes, and I wonder if Gillispie hasn't finally just gotten fed up with the limitations Porter has. I have never seen Porter look more tentative, and he managed one assist and two turnovers in only seventeen minutes.
Patrick Patterson was back to his old self, and got the job done. He did everything he possibly could.
Perry Stevenson once again disappeared after the first half. I can't explain it. He played reasonably well in the first half, and then simply vanished like Frodo putting on the Ring of Power. I have no idea what's happening there.
Darius Miller once again came up huge on both sides of the ball. Watching his confidence and ability grow is just a wonderful thing for this aging Kentucky fan. I just love what he is doing.
DeAndre Liggins did not play much today, because he got lazy defensively. End of story.
Josh Harrelson gave us some help, but vanished after four minutes and never got back in the game.
I think Gillispie just stuck with the lineup in the second half because it was playing so well, but he really should have gotten them more rest. I don't get the lack of substitution that seems to be a Gillispie hallmark in the second half of games. But, at least I saw something new and different that actually worked, and it gives me hope.
Gillispie's game plan was the same one as it has been all year. The problem is, when Meeks or Patterson aren't 100%, it just doesn't work. I suppose there is just not much to be done about it. We either win or lose with Meeks and Patterson.
Ramon Harris just didn't have much of an impact, except for one huge rebound and stick-back. But other than that, he was not a factor at all.
Bo Spencer killed us in the first half, but we contained him for the most part in the second half.
Great job by Kevin Galloway. He brought energy and defense and really was the difference in the second half. I am excited that he is finally emerging as a player on this team, and he was a big factor in this game, even though his stat line isn't very impressive with only 3 points, 2 assists and one rebound.
We shot 54% for the game. And lost. Seems impossible, doesn't it? But only 69% from the line, which turned out to be the difference.
A.J. Stewart blew an assignment in the end that resulted in an open look for Mitchell. Mitchell made it. Ouch.

This was a tough loss, and I am bitterly disappointed. But that disappointment is tempered with the hope that Gillispie may finally be learning and changing his maddening ways in a manner that may give us a chance to win some games at the end of the season.

As I said in my last postmortem, I have no real hopes for this season. They basically breathed their last breath with the embarrassing loss to South Carolina. But we all knew this team would have some difficulties coming in, and assuming Patterson and Meeks stay around another year, help is on the way. I know it seems kind of weak to already be looking toward next year with so much of this season left, but I have come to the realization that we just aren't a particularly good team this year, and we just don't have enough offense to do much damage in the post season. As the JAG prosecutor played by Kevin Bacon said in A Few Good Men, "Those are the facts ... and they are undisputed."

Kentucky Wildcats vs. LSU: Gameday Breakdown

Ken Howlett — Sat, 28 Feb 2009 12:10:03 -0000

If heat shrinks, then UK head honcho Billy Gillispie must stand 5'5" about right now. "Honey, We Shrunk the Coach" is the next Rick Moranis masterpiece headed to movie theater's across the Commonwealth. It's only February, but the Craft Center must feel like a sauna in the Sahara, with no oasis in sight.

If ever a win was needed, this is the game. After UK's uninspiring 77-59 embarrassment of an effort in Columbia, South Carolina Wednesday night, the 'Cats are in search of some mojo for the stretch run (which will hopefully reside in Rupp Arena about 4:00 o'clock this afternoon). If UK, after standing 5-0 in the SEC and 16-4 overall in early January, was then to miss the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 1988, illicit calls of gloom, despair and agony on me (my apologies to Grandpa Jones and his "homey's") will be heard from Boyd to Ballard County.

The arrival of the SEC's best team, though, provides Gillispie and the 'Cats with a most opportunistic shot at redemption. For beating #18 LSU (24-4, 12-1) would go a long way in extinguishing the fanning flames aflutter in the Bluegrass. The players, the coaches, the fans need a victory ... conference games get no bigger than this.

I've probably written too much already, so it's on to the Fightin' Tigers of LSU:

LSU Personnel

Marcus Thornton: 6'4" 205 lb senior guard -- Overall Thornton averages 20.9 points (2nd in the SEC), 5.4 rebounds, 2.1 assists and 1.7 steals per game (6th in the SEC). He shoots 48.9% from the field (7th in the SEC), 40.8% from the three-point line (62-152), and 75.5% from the free throw line (7th in SEC).

In league play he averages 23.0 points, 6.0 rebounds, and 2.2 assists per game. He shoots 49.0% from the field, 42.7% from the three-point line, and 80.2% from the charity stripe. In his last four games Thornton is averaging 26.8 points per contest, while making 31-62 shots and 12-30 threes (40.0%). He's also made 22 of his last 24 free throw attempts, and 33 free throws in his last four games. Last year versus UK (a 67-63 Wildcat win) Thornton played 36 minutes scored nine points on 4-14 shooting. He also had one assists and one steal.

Tasmin Mitchell: 6'7 235 lb junior forward -- On the year Mitchell is averaging 16.6 points, (8th in the SEC) 7.3 rebounds (9th in the SEC), 2.6 offensive rebounds, 1.9 assists per game, and 1.5 steals per game (8th in the SEC). He makes 54.5% of his field goal attempts (5th in the SEC), 56.3% of his threes (9-16), and 72.8% of his free throws (9th in the SEC).

In SEC play Mitchell is averages 19.4 points, 8.3 rebounds (3.0 off. reb), 2.0 assists, and 1.7 steals per game. He makes a very solid 56.4% of is field goal tries, 66.7% of his threes (6-9), and 72.2% of his free throw attempts. The '05 McDonald's All-America scored 41 points against Mississippi State on February 11. He's scored over 20 points eight times on the year. Mitchell has recorded 16 career double-doubles, and he has scored in double figures in 17 consecutive games. Mitchell did not play against UK last year; he missed all but three games due to a knee injury.

Garrett Temple: 6'6" 190 lb senior guard -- On the season, LSU's defensive dynamo, averages 7.4 points, 4.6 rebounds, 4.2 assists (5th in the SEC), and 1.9 steals per game (4th in SEC). He makes 38.2% of his shots, 32.9% of his threes (24-73), and 85.1% of his free throws. Temple sports 117 assists to only 58 turnovers, a 2.02 assist/turnover ratio, good for second in the SEC.

In conference play, Temple averages 8.5 points, 5.3 rebounds, 4.4 assists (2.2 turnovers), and 1.2 steals per game. He shoots 37.9% from the field, 33.3% from beyond the arc, and 91.2% from the free throw line (31-34). Over his last three games, Temple is averaging 16.5 points per game. He's made 12-21 field goals and 6-10 threes in that span. He's dished out 6+ assists in nine games this year. Temple has 461 career assists, and 103 career blocks. Last year versus UK, Temple played 38 minutes, scoring eight points on 2-6 shooting (2-5 three-pointers). He also recorded five rebounds, three steals, and two assists.

Bo Spencer: 6'1" 185 lb sophomore guard -- For the year Spencer averages 11.6 points, 2.9 rebounds, and 2.7 assists per game. He shoots 44.2% from the floor, 41.1% from the three-point line (44-107), and 84.4% from the free throw line.

In SEC play Spencer is averaging 10.6 points, 2.9 assists, and 2.8 rebounds per game. He's making 41.8% of his shots, 37.5% of his threes (18-48), and 81.0% of his free throws. Spencer recently missed two games due to an ankle injury. Since going 5-6 from beyond the arc versus Arkansas on January 31, Spencer has made only 4-17 trey attempts (23.5%).

Chris Johnson: 6'11" 210 lb senior center -- On the season the big man averages 8.4 points, 7.6 rebounds (7th in the SEC), 2.3 offensive rebounds, 2.9 blocks (2nd in the SEC), and 1.3 assists per game, in 26.0 minutes per contest. He shoots 45.8% from the field, and 75.4% from the free throw line.

In SEC play Johnson averages 8.7 points, 8.2 rebounds (2.7 off. reb), 3.8 blocks, and 1.7 assists per game (he averages 28.4 minutes per game in league play). He makes 51.5 % of his shots, and 91.7% from the free throw line (11-12). Johnson recorded seven blocks versus Arkansas on January 31. He's recorded six blocks in two games -- versus Ole Miss on February 14, and versus Arkansas on February 18. Versus Tennessee he grabbed 14 rebounds (seven offensive). He's recorded four double-doubles, and he's nabbed double-digit rebounds in eight games. He's made 19 of his last 35 shots (54.3%) over a span of four games. Johnson has 161 career blocks. Last year versus Kentucky, Johnson played 32 minutes, scored four points, grabbed four rebounds and had one block.

Terry Martin: 6'6" 210 lb senior guard -- On the year Martin averages 4.7 points, 2.3 rebounds, and one assist per game. He shoots 34.8% from the field, 32.1% from behind the arc (17-53), and 66.7% from the charity stripe. He averages 15.8 minutes per game.

In conference play Martin averages 4.6 points, 2.5 rebounds, and 1.1 assists per game. He makes 32.3% of his shots, 22.2% of his threes (6-27), and 66.7% of his free throws. Last year versus UK, Martin played 21 minutes, and scored 12 points on 5-10 shooting (2-4 threes). He also dished out one assist.

LSU Team Statistics -- Overall (SEC rank in parenthesis)

LSU Opponent

Points Per Game -- 77.0 (4) 65.1 (3)

Field Goal% -- 46.0 (3) 39.8 (3)

3-Point% -- 37.9 (2) 32.1 (5)

Free Throw% -- 72.3 (3) 69.4 (10)

Rebound Margin -- +6.6 (1)

Off. Reb. Per Game -- 13.6 (3) 11.4 (6)

Off. Rebound% -- 38.5 (1) 30.4 (2)

Def. Reb. Per Game -- 26.2 (3) 21.7 (3)

Def. Rebound% -- 69.6 (2) 61.5 (1)

Assists Per Game -- 15.9 (4) 8.7 (1)

Steals Per Game -- 8.0 (4) 6.3 (4)

Turnovers Per Game -- 12.4 (11) 13.6 (3)

Blocks Per Game -- 6.2 (3) 2.8 (1)

LSU Team Statistics -- Conference Games Only (SEC rank in parenthesis)

LSU Opponents

Points Per Game -- 78.8 (1) 67.9 (2)

Field Goal% -- 46.7 (2) 39.5 (2)

3-Point% -- 36.3 (5) 30.2 (1)

Free Throw% -- 74.1 (2) 67.5 (4)

Rebound Margin -- +5.1 (1)

Off. Reb. Per Game -- 12.8 (4) 12.1 (6)

Off. Rebound% -- 36.2 (3) 30.0 (2)

Def. Reb. Per Game -- 28.2 (1) 22.6 (4)

Def. Rebound% -- 70.0 (2) 63.8 (3)

Assists Per Game -- 16.2 (1) 9.7 (2)

Steals Per Game -- 7.3 (6) 6.3 (2)

Turnovers Per Game -- 13.0 (8) 12.5 (2)

Blocks Per Game -- 6.5 (4) 3.1 (1)

Tiger Tidbits

LSU has won nine straight games, and 12 straight SEC games ... It's their longest SEC win streak since winning 17 in a row in 1981 ... Versus Florida Tuesday night, Thornton and Temple combined for 53 points on 15-25 shooting (9-15 threes) ... In their last two games (Florida and Auburn) LSU has allowed 37.5% three-point shooting (15-40) ... Auburn is the only SEC team to shoot over 45.0% versus LSU ... LSU has recorded 12 steals twice in league play, versus South Carolina and Alabama ... Since scoring 59 points in their SEC opener versus Alabama, LSU has scored at least 70 points in every game ... The Tigers have scored at least 79 points in nine SEC games ... LSU has shot over 40.0% from beyond the arc five times in SEC play ... LSU grabbed 20 offensive rebounds versus Arkansas (Arkansas had only 22 defensive rebounds) ... In defeating Ole Miss, LSU blocked 11 Rebel shots, they blocked 16 shots versus Alcorn State ... Versus Troy in November, LSU dished out 28 assists to only six turnovers ... LSU has recorded only five turnovers in two games -- versus SE Louisiana, and Mississippi ... Both Tasmin Mitchell and Marcus Thornton have scored over 1,000 points in their careers ... LSU, with the win over Florida Tuesday, clinched their fourth West Division title since 2000.

The Trent Johnson File

New Tiger head coach Trent Johnson played his college ball at Boise State where he finished in the top 10 in career scoring and rebounding. He played in the 1976 NCAA Tournament after Boise won the Big Sky Conference.

Johnson's first college coaching job was as an assistant at Utah in 1986. His first head coaching job was from '99-'04 at Nevada where he posted a 79-74 record, and took the Wolfpack to the Sweet 16. He followed up that success with a four year stint at Stanford, where he posted an 80-47 mark.

Johnson has done a right nice job in his first year in Baton Rouge. And although many picked the Tigers to win the West, he and South Carolina's Darren Horn have to be running neck-in-neck for SEC Coach of the Year honors.

CliffsNotes Analysis

Patrick Patterson had some success last year versus LSU big man Chris Johnson. Patterson was 7-10 from the field, good for 14 points. After Wednesday nights block-fest, courtesy of South Carolina, he MUST remember to double paint-plant his defender, and utilize the ball fake.

Billy Gillispie stated after the South Carolina game that he was sick and tired of Patterson having no help in the paint -- That's being "called out" fellas. With LSU's affinity for rebounding, UK MUST hit the boards smarter and harder than they have recently, or another loss is in the offing.

UK once again faces two ball-hawking guards in Thornton and Temple. Michael Porter and DeAndre Liggins MUST do a better job of taking care of the rock if UK has any hopes of pulling out a win -- No more words are needed.

Jodie Meeks will be tailed from tip to horn by defenders as big or bigger then him, and nearly as quick. Some creativity MUST be utilized in helping Meeks get some open looks -- Some fast-break opportunities would be nice.

Kentucky MUST come out ready to play, unlike Wednesday night. They'll have a home crowd, and motivation aplenty ... this is the time to deliver.

This game is the definition of "MUST win."

Thanks for reading, and Go 'Cats!

UK @ Arkansas: Razorback Breakdown

Ken Howlett — Sat, 14 Feb 2009 11:24:42 -0000

UK enters Saturday's 1 o'clock tilt with the Arkansas Razorbacks (13-9, 1-8) needing a win if the 'Cats harbor any hopes of securing the all-important first or second place spot in the SEC East. All-important because because the top-two finishers in the Division get a first-round bye in the SEC Tournament. And with UK, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Florida all sitting at 6-3 in the league, it stands to reason that the race for East supremacy will come down to the final weekend of the regular season. It's close folks.

Adding additional urgency to the 'Cats predicament are the three remaining road games against an always tough Vanderbilt, nouveau riche South Carolina, and revenge-minded Florida. Couple those tough tests with home games against the leagues best team, LSU, and Tennessee, the 'Cats game today is as must-win as they come.

Hog head man John Pelphrey bit the proverbial bullet and indefinitely suspended his starting point guard, and second leading scorer Courtney Fortson (13.9 points per game in SEC play). No reason for the suspension has been given, but Pelphrey's statement regarding the situation read like he has grown quite bored with the freshman's behavior. Possibly off-setting Pelphrey's loss of Fortson is UK's apparent loss (at least for this game) of Patrick Patterson. The Kentucky big man sprained his ankle in Tuesday's Wildcat victory over Florida, and is listed as day-to-day.

What's up with the 'Backs?

One doesn't have to dig deep to discover why the Hogs started the season 12-1, and have followed up that fine beginning by going a woeful 1-8 in SEC play. It all begins with a comparison of the Hogs out of conference statistics, compared to their SEC numbers:

Arkansas - Pre-Conference Arkansas - SEC

Points -- 81.5 67.3

Field Goal% -- 46.7 41.9

3-pt% -- 37.9 28.7

FT% -- 65.6 63.8

Rebounds -- +7.7 -2.9

Off. Reb. % -- 41.2 33.8

Assists -- 15.0 11.1

Turnovers -- 14.0 13.7

Steals -- 7.4 7.4

Blocks -- 3.6 2.7

Ark. Opp's - Pre-Conference Ark. Opp's - SEC

Points -- 68.3 76.8

Field Goal% -- 41.3 45.3

3-pt% -- 33.1 38.6

Free Throw% -- 61.2 71.6

Rebounds -- -7.7 +2.9

Off. Reb.% -- 28.6 36.2

Assists -- 15.9 16.0

Turnovers -- 15.6 13.3

Steals -- 5.7 6.0

Blocks -- 4.5 4.7

Additionally, Arkansas has not held an SEC opponent to under 70 points. Aggravating their inability to defend: The Hogs have scored over 70 points in only three of their nine SEC games.

The Razorbacks have lost their eight league games by an average of 11.8 points. They have also lost three SEC home games: Mississippi St. (70-56), Auburn (73-51), and Tennessee (74-72).

Arkansas Game-Gems

For a closer look at how and why the Hogs have come up short in league play, here's a few items of interest from each of Arkansas's SEC contests:

(H) vs. Mississippi State - 70-56 loss -- MSU made 11 of 27 three-point attempts (40.7%), while Arkansas made only 3 of 22 (13.6%). Bulldog guards Dee Bost, Barry Stewart, and Phil Turner combined to make 8 of 16 three-point shots. The Hogs were down only two at the half, but shot only 32.1% in the second half. The loss ruined a double-double by Arkansas forward Michael Washington (18 points and 15 rebounds).
(A) vs. Ole Miss - 74-65 loss -- Ole Miss made seven of 17 threes (41.2%), and Arkansas made only 3 of 15 (20.0%). Five Rebels recorded at least three assists, and as a team they dished out 20 dimes on 24 made baskets; an incredible 83.0% assist rate.
(A) vs. Florida - 80-65 loss -- Nick Calathes had his way with the 'Backs (sound familiar?). The Gator guard scored 28 points (6-10 three-pointers), and had nine assists. As a team UFA made 11-30 three-pointers (36.7%), and Arkansas made only two of 14 (14.3%). Florida was up only three at halftime, but shot 55.2% in the second half. Michael Washington had another strong game, scoring 21 points and grabbing eight rebounds. Courtney Fortson had eight turnovers.
(H) vs. Auburn - 73-51 loss -- Arkansas shot only 30.2% for the game, and an anemic 20.6% in the second half. The Hogs three starting guards (Fortson, Rotnei Clarke and Stefan Welsh) combined to shoot 12 of 39 from the field (30.8%). Auburn made 10 of 25 three-point tries (40.0%). Auburn's Korvotney Barber recorded a double-double with 15 points and 18 rebounds.
(H) vs. Alabama - 89-80 win -- Arkansas made nine of 21 three-point attempts, with Rotnei Clarke going 6 of 10 from beyond the arc. Michael Washington had another good game, making seven of 10 shots, and scoring 17 points.
(A) vs. LSU - 79-69 loss -- Tiger freshman guard Bo Spencer made five of six three-pointers and scored 21 points. As a team LSU made eight of 16 threes.
(H) vs. Tennessee - 74-72 loss -- Heart-breaker. UT point guard Bobby Maze drilled a jumper with five seconds remaining to win the game for the Vols. Arkansas got off two shots in the final five seconds.
(H) vs. Mississippi State - 86-77 loss -- Once again MSU's guards had their way with the Razorbacks; Bost, Stewart, and Turner scored 63 of the Bulldog's 86 points. Arkansas did make 12 of 25 three-pointers (48.0%), but the MSU 'Back-killer trio of guards made 16 of 29 treys (55.2%).
(A) vs. Auburn - 75-62 loss -- The Razorbacks were up 39-31 at halftime, but shot only 26.7% in the second half. Auburn outscored Arkansas 44-23 in the second stanza. Arkansas actually found themselves leading 60-59 with only 6:36 left in the game, but scored only three points the rest of the way.

Not shooting well, and barely defending is a coach-killing combination: In SEC play Arkansas averages taking 20.9 three-point attempts per game. They make only 28.7% of those shots, while their opponents are taking an average of 23.3 treys per game, and making the trifectas at a 38.6% rate.

Razorback Personnel (stats are from SEC games only)

Courtney Fortson: 5'11" 180 lb, freshman guard -- I'm including Fortson's numbers so we know what the Hogs are missing. In SEC play Fortson was averaging 13.9 points, 5.5 assists, and 4.6 rebounds per game. The former UK target was shooting 41.0% from the field, and 18.2% from three-point range (6-33). Over the last four games Fortson was averaging 16.5 points, and 6.8 assists per game. He scored in double-figures in 19 of 22 games.

In pre-conference play Fortson averaged 15.1 points, 7.1 assists, and 5.8 rebounds per game. He shot 45.1% from the field, and 37.8% from beyond the arc.

Michael Washington: 6'9" 239 lb junior forward/center -- Washington is averaging 14.8 points, 8.9 rebounds per game. He's shooting 52.0% from the field, and 58.1% from the free throw line. Washington has recorded nine double-doubles this season, six came against solid competition: Texas, Oklahoma, Mississippi State, Florida, LSU and Tennessee. Washington scored three points versus UK last year.

In pre-conference play Washington averaged 17.8 points, and 10.3 rebounds per game. He made 60.4% of his shots, and 61.6% of his free throws.

Marcus Britt: 6'3" 198 lb sophomore guard -- Britt will more than likely take over the point guard duties from Fortson for the Razorbacks. He averages 2.8 points, .6 assists, and 1.4 rebounds per game. He makes 40.0% of his shots (1-5 from the three-point line). Britt has made all eight of his free throws. Britt has one double-digit scoring game to his credit; versus Northwestern State (15 points). He delivered a season high six assists against Florida A&M.

In pre-conference play Britt averaged 4.0 points, 1.2 assists, and 1.9 rebounds per game. He shot 50.0% from the field, and 50.0% from beyond the arc.

Stefan Welsh: 6'3" 185 lb junior guard -- Welsh averages 10.7 points, 2.0 assists and 2.8 rebounds per game. He makes 35.4% of his field gaol attempts, and 33.3% of his threes (19-57). Welsh has four double-digit scoring games to his credit. He's averaging 16.7 points per game in his last three outings. Welsh scored five points last year versus UK.

In pre-conference games Welsh averaged 14.0 points, 3.8 rebounds, and 2.4 assists per game. He shot 41.4% from the field and 34.3% from beyond the arc.

Rotnei Clarke: 6'0" 184 lb freshman guard -- The former apple of Billy Gillispie's eyes is averaging 9.2 points, 1.7 rebounds, and 1.0 assist per game. Clarke shoots 38.5% from the field, and 31.7% from the three-point line (19-60). Clarke poured in 26 points in the Razorback victory over Alabama, and he's been in double-figures in five SEC games. But, alas, he's been shut-out in three SEC contests. Clarke has only taken four free throws in nine SEC games (he's 4-4).

In pre-conference games Clarke averaged 12.2 points, 2.2 rebounds, and 1.0 assist per game. H made 40.5% of his field goal tries, and 42.5% of his threes.

Jason Henry: 6'6" 189 lb freshman swing -- Henry is averaging 7.3 points, and 5.0 rebounds per game. He makes 40.4% of his shots, and 33.3% of his three-point attempts (7-21). Henry has posted four double-digit scoring games in SEC play. His best game to date is a 19 point, eight rebound performance against Ole Miss.

In pre-conference play Henry averaged only 7.8 minutes per game. He averaged 3.8 points, and 1.5 rebounds per game. He shot 38.6%, and 31.6% from the three-point line.

Michael Sanchez: 6'8" 236 lb redshirt freshman forward -- Another one-time UK target, Sanchez is averaging 4.9 points, and 2.9 rebounds per game. He's shooting 39.4% from the field, and 58.1% from the free throw line. His best game came against Alabama, when he scored 13 points and grabbed five rebounds.

In pre-conference play Sanchez averaged 6.9 points, and 6.5 rebounds per game. He shot 47.5% from the field, and 74.4% from the free throw line.

CliffsNotes Analysis

Gary Ervin, Sonny Weems, Patrick Beverly, Steven Hill, Charles Thomas, Darian Townes, and Vincent Hunter all played for Arkansas last year in their game with Kentucky. Of this years Razorbacks, only Michael Washington and Stefan Welsh have played a single minute against UK -- a total of 33 in last years 63-58 Wildcat win.

John Pelphrey's squad is young, so young in fact that ...

... I look for UK to attack. I look for UK to be aggressive. I look for UK to exploit the Razorback defensive deficiencies: Perimeter and transition defense. Patrick Patterson's absence, if he in fact does not play, should not change Billy Gillispie's game-plan. UK will still want to get Jodie Meeks some early transition looks, and when in the half-court, set some actual screens that attain the desired result ... a moderately open shot. UK's supporting cast of characters will hopefully take a cue from Tuesday nights triumph over the Gators and play with confidence, desire, and intensity. Yeah, I'm talking about you, Kevin Galloway, Michael Porter, and Josh Harrellson.

Courtney Fortson's absence causes John Pelphrey a much deeper dilemma than the one Billy Gillispie faces. The freshman guard has been Pelphrey's point since day one; he averaged 32 minutes per game in SEC play. He struggled shooting the ball once league competition started, but he was the undeniable leader of the offense.

As noted, taking over for Fortson at the point will probably be Marcus Britt. Britt, averaging 16.7 minutes per game in SEC play, should be the recipient of the three P's -- Pressure, pressure, pressure. Arkansas has been having a hard time scoring, so taking the newly anointed point guard out of his comfort zone will go a long way toward securing victory for the 'Cats. Remember guys; make Britt go where he doesn't want to go.

Losing this game is unacceptable ... at least to the Selection Committee.

Tidbits

For those who care: UK has won eight straight over Arkansas, three straight in Fayetteville ... UK's last loss to the Razorbacks came in February of '01 ... Arkansas has an RPI of 109, UK's sits at 61 ... Some teams currently in front of UK in the RPI -- Virginia Commonwealth (60), George Mason (59), Tulsa (58), Western Kentucky (57), Creighton (55), Arizona (51), Cincinnati (50), San Diego State (49), Davidson (46), Virginia Tech (45), Temple (40), Oklahoma State (39), UAB (35), and Siena (29) ... Tennessee has the SEC's highest RPI at 23, mostly due to their #3 rated schedule ... Former Ole Miss and Arizona State head coach Rob Evans is on John Pelphrey's staff.

Thanks for reading, and Go 'Cats, beat the Hogs!

Tennessee Volunteers vs. LSU Tigers: game preview

Joel — Wed, 28 Jan 2009 12:00:11 -0000

The 15-4 (3-1) LSU Tigers travel to Knoxville tonight to take on the 12-6 (3-1) Tennessee Volunteers. The Vols seek to recapture some of that Thompson-Boling magic against the well-rounded and tough Tigers.

Observations from the stats

Something's got to give, Groundhog Day edition. For the third game in a row, the Vols's highly-ranked scoring offense (81.2 PPG) runs into a brick wall scoring defense. The Tigers ranked 55th in the nation and are holding their opponents to 62.1 PPG. To make matters worse, LSU has the offense (59th in scoring) to go along with a great defense, thus putting them at 22nd in the nation in scoring margin.

Unlike Memphis, these guys can score from the perimeter. The Tigers hit 46.1% from the field and 38.6% from three-point range. Our defense has improved over the past several games, but honk if you don't think we're in for another long night against another guard.

And that, and that, and that, too? But wait, there's more! LSU also has better numbers in rebounds of all things. And assist-to-turnover ratio. And blocks, steals, turnovers, and turnover margin. Deep breath, y'all. This could very well be our fourth loss at home in five games.

LSU players to watch

Um, all of them? Four of five starters anyway. Marcus Thornton, Tasmin Mitchell, Chris Johnson, and Garrett Temple are all nationally ranked in some important category. With that many guys serving as key contributors, it's better to just bust out a chart:

	PTS	REB	AST	TO	STL	BLK	FG%	FT%	3P%
Marcus Thornton	18.9	4.8	2.1	1.6	1.6	0.4	.483	.693	.398
Tasmin Mitchell	15.5	6.3	1.5	1.9	1.4	0.7	.549	.753	.429
Chris Johnson	7.8	7.6	1.4	1.3	0.5	2.3	.419	.714	.250
Garrett Temple	7.0	4.6	4.2	1.9	2.3	0.7	.389	.829	.326

Other Stuff

KenPom's prediction: Tennessee wins, 79-73, and has a 72% chance of winning. Hmm. Okay, well that's more like it.

Bullets!

Absent from that player chart above for LSU is Bo Spencer, who LSU lists as a "scoring guard." Well, who isn't?
The Tigers went almost eight minutes in the second half without scoring in a loss to Xavier on Saturday.
This is Trent Johnson's first year as the Tigers' head coach. He is not John Brady.
Marcus Thornton was last week's SEC Player of the Week. Against Mississipi State and Xavier, Thornton averaged 30.5 points on 55.5 percent shooting from the field
and 53.3 percent shooting from three-point range. Somebody guard this guy. Make that somebodies.

And on to the stats:

KEY STATS COMPARISON
Category	Rank	Actual	Rank	Actual
Scoring Offense	11	81.2	59	75.7
Scoring Defense	300	74.3	55	62.1
Scoring Margin	81	6.9	22	13.6
Field-Goal Percentage	102	45.3	66	46.1
Field-Goal Percentage Defense	182	43.3	45	39.7
Three-Point Field Goals Per Game	172	6.2	198	5.9
Three-Point Field-Goal Percentage	263	30.0	31	38.6
Three Pt FG Defense	257	0.358	87	0.323
Free-Throw Percentage	143	69.3	86	71.4
Rebound Margin	30	6.4	16	7.5
Assists Per Game	18	16.4	38	15.8
Assist Turnover Ratio	56	1.13	15	1.31
Blocked Shots Per Game	99	3.9	14	5.9
Steals Per Game	176	6.7	45	8.4
Turnovers Per Game	197	14.5	23	12.1
Turnover Margin	140	0.6	64	2.3
Personal Fouls Per Game	282	20.4	97	17.4

Well that doesn't look encouraging at all.

PLAYERS TO WATCH
Category	Player	Rank	Actual	Player	Rank	Actual
Points PG	Tyler Smith	81	17.7	Marcus Thornton	45	18.9
FG%				Tasmin Mitchell	40	54.9
3-Point FG PG
3-Point FG%
FT %
Rebounds PG	Wayne Chism	52	8.7
Assists PG
Blocks PG				Chris Johnson	36	2.3
Steals PG				Garrett Temple	31	2.3
Assist-TO Ratio	Bobby Maze	81	1.97	Garrett Temple	52	2.14

How good is LSU? Who knows?

Nuss — Fri, 26 Dec 2008 23:00:07 -0000

Normally, I'd write this sort of a preview for the game thread, but given the complete and utter lack of other things to talk about -- and the important nature of tomorrow's game -- I thought I'd throw you all a bone and give us something to talk about so that CougarsRock can quit going through withdrawals.

We all believe this to be a big game for the Cougs for some obvious reasons, chief among them that it represents our final chance to get a nice win to bolster our potential Tournament resume before the conference schedule starts. But how nice of a win it actually would be is highly debatable at the moment.

Of course, a win on the road against a power-conference opponent is always worth some NCAA Tournament committee brownie points, but the truth is that we really have no idea how good LSU really is. The Tigers haven't just played a soft nonconference schedule to build their 9-1 record; they've played the weakest nonconference schedule in the country -- No. 344 out of 344 Division I basketball teams, according to Ken Pomeroy, as the Tigers have played just two teams rated above 220 by Pomeroy (No. 133 Cal-State Fullerton and No. 83 Texas A&M).

Seriously, even Jim Boeheim shakes his head at how bad the Tigers' first 10 opponents have been.

Because the opposition has been so weak, it's tough to get much of a statistical read on LSU. However, the Tigers are ranked No. 69 by Pomeroy despite their record, and their adjusted offensive and defensive efficiency numbers are not nearly as good as their raw numbers, indicating that LSU probably isn't as strong as the record might suggest.

So what, if anything, can we learn from the Tigers' early results? Well, much like the Cougars, its pretty obvious that they've just physically overwhelmed their opponents. Teams have been unable to get into the lane against the Tigers, thanks in large part to 6-foot-11 shot blocker extraordinaire Chris Johnson, who is 18th nationally in block percentage. In fact, LSU is fifth nationally as a team in both block percentage and 2-point field goal percentage allowed. They've done a good job beating who they should beat.

Our two best shots to try and evaluate the Tigers come from their two most quality opponents. But we won't learn much from the Fullerton matchup because the Tigers like to run and the Titans really, really like to run, resulting in a 75-possession game that was absolutely nothing like what we'll see tomorrow. So let's focus in on Texas A&M.

First of all, the Aggies slowed the game down -- not necessarily to the degree the Cougs will, but slower than what LSU would prefer. They also destroyed the Tigers inside, getting Johnson and versatile forward Tasmin Mitchell into foul trouble. Because the Tigers are not at all a deep team, any kind of foul trouble really starts to spell doom for them. Additionally, it makes a lot of sense to attack LSU this way if you can, because the Tigers' three guards, who see the bulk of the minutes on the floor, are long and rangy on the perimeter.

In fact, this makes me start to wonder if starting Caleb Forrest against Idaho wasn't meant to prepare for this game. There could be some real weakensses in LSU's interior for WSU's big men to exploit, in particular Aron Baynes. Yes, Johnson is a good shot blocker, but he's only 205 pounds. And the last time Baynes played a talented shot blocker who couldn't matchup with his girth, he threw Jarvis Varnado on the barbie and ate him to the tune of 17 points on 8-of-10 shooting.

The Texas A&M game is also the closest the Tigers have come to facing a team with even remotely the defensive prowess of WSU, but that's not saying much -- the Aggies' adjusted defesive efficiency ranks No. 127, while the Cougs' ranks No. 2. So while we should be a little bit concerned about the ability of guards Marcus Thornton (17.3 ppg) and Bo Spencer (11.2 ppg) to go crazy from the outside -- the Tigers shoot 39.2 percent from 3-point range, 33rd nationally -- it's safe to say that the Tigers simply won't get the open looks on the perimeter they've become accustomed to. Mitchell, a talented frontcourt player coming off a major knee injury last year, also won't have the physical advantage around the basket he's enjoyed in the first 10 games.

Of course, Trent Johnson knows all of this about the WSU defense, having coached against Bennett teams for the past four years at Stanford. But how many times have we seen a team think they know what they're in for against the Cougs, only to say after the game that while they knew the defense was good, they didn't know it was that good? It's one thing for Johnson to know it; it's something else for him to get his team to believe it. Here's to betting his team won't truly believe it until Johnson asks them, "Now do you believe me?" at halftime.

The bottom line is that we just don't know what we're getting ourselves into tomorrow, and likely won't know just what a win -- or a loss -- means until later in the year.