For the first time in over a week, LSU Basketball will be out on the court again to take on Georgia Tech in Atlanta.
This will be the Tigers’ first game since they hosted Ohio on December 1st. It was a game they won 66-51, but LSU had their fair share of sloppy moments, especially on offense.
LSU is off to its first 8-0 start since the 2008-09 season. That team ended up losing to top-seeded UNC in the round of 32.
This LSU team is winning with its defense. After ranking outside the top 100 in KenPom’s defensive efficiency the last couple of years, this LSU team ranks sixth. It’s a unit that has yet to reveal a weakness.
They are first in steal percentage and fourth in block rate. They defend the floor well from inside and outside the arch. The size and speed of the defense allow Will Wade to attack offenses any way he wants.
None of this is to say the offense isn’t worth noting, they just haven’t been as good. LSU ranks 31st in points per game and is even better in the second half.
LSU has been on its best on offense as they have worn teams down and scored in transition. They haven’t operated as cleanly in pure half-court sets and they haven’t found a consistent way to score from deep.
Wade has proven over the last few years he can get his team to score. It’ll be worth watching if they look different on offense after having a 10-day break.
After a decent season last year, Georgia Tech has not looked great. They’ve dropped a couple of games in a row at home and squeaked by Georgia Southern before that. The Yellow Jackets are 5-3 but lack any impressive wins.
Georgia Tech has a good field goal percentage from deep, but they don’t actually shoot a lot of 3-balls. Most of Tech’s offense comes from 2-point field goals, as they don’t shoot free throws well either.
Despite being one of the taller teams on average, they don’t block a ton of shots and are below average when it comes to creating turnovers. That’s good news for LSU.
A final note on the location of this game – despite being played in Atlanta, it is not at Georgia Tech. It will be at State Farm Arena, the home of the Atlanta Hawks.
Now, let’s take a look at the odds and some players to watch
Odds provided by Tipico Sportsbook
Spread: LSU (-7.5)
Total Over/Under: 139.5
Players To Watch
Darius Days (LSU): When Darius Days goes, LSU goes. He is the glue that holds this team together on both ends of the court. He can shoot and play inside and has been instrumental in LSU’s elite play on defense. His ability to step out to the wing gives Wade a lot of ways to deploy his lineup.
Michael Devoe (Georgia Tech): Devoe leads the ACC in points per game, scoring 23.9 a night. He’s a senior who’s started 83 games since arriving at Georgia Tech. The guard is a threat to score from all over the floor, inside and out. He’ll facilitate too, averaging 6.3 assists per 100 possessions.
Prediction
LSU will look a little rusty, but will also have some new kinks on offense geared to improve scoring. LSU will wear down Georgia Tech in the second half, winning 70-60 and moving to 9-0.
How To Watch, Listen and Stream
Date: Saturday, Dec. 11 Location: State Farm Arena in Atlanta, Georgia Time: 5:00 p.m. CT TV: ESPN2 Radio: LSU Radio Network Live Stream: fuboTV (try it free)Visit our free to play game lobby at Daily Ticket, Powered by Tipico Sportsbook