The LSU men’s basketball team didn’t lose complete possession of first place in the Southeastern Conference against South Carolina on Wednesday night, now sharing it with the Gamecocks and No. 22 Kentucky.
But the Tigers (15-9, 8-3 SEC) didn’t help their bubble predicament either, currently residing in NCAA Tournament limbo along with a few other SEC teams. Fortunately for them, the Tigers’ opportune week didn’t stop and start with South Carolina, hosting No. 15 Texas A&M at noon Saturday in the PMAC.
LSU senior guard Keith Hornsby believes this weekend presents a must-win situation.
“I think we need to win this game against Texas A&M,” Hornsby said. “Hopefully, we come out and play with that mindset. I hope we do.”
Entering the game with a Ratings Percentage Index of 74 according to ESPN, LSU left Columbia, South Carolina with their RPI unchanged. The Gamecocks (21-3, 8-3 SEC) hold a 13-0 record in Colonial Life Arena, which made the Tigers’ trip to Columbia, South Carolina even more difficult than it already was.
But LSU, a No. 9-seed in ESPN analyst Joe Lunardi’s latest Bracketology, showed some recurring flaws with poor free throw shooting, late turnovers and missed defensive assignments. In the 11-point loss, the Tigers knocked down 11 less free throws than the Gamecocks, which shot 36 freebies compared to LSU’s 28 attempts.
“It’s not like we’ve been a great free throw shooting team, but it’s never been like a reason why we’ve lost other than, maybe, in the beginning of the year,” Hornsby said. “So, we just have to do it more, but nothing can compare to in-game free throws. It was a tough environment, but that doesn’t mean you can’t make them. We’re perfectly capable.”
LSU committed 12 turnovers, resulting in 16 points for South Carolina.
On top of the team struggles, freshman point guard Tim Quarterman labored through a subpar outing commanding the LSU offense, recording three turnovers and shooting 2-of-7 from the field, including an 0-for-5 clip from three-point territory.
Even in a game where LSU scored 83 points, freshman forward Ben Simmons thought the Tigers got away from what was giving them offensive success in the second half, including throwing up untimely shots from the perimeter.
“We just have to know what to go to when it’s working,” Simmons said. “If I score in the post a few times, just keep going to it until they’re stopping me. We have to somebody who is running the point well and being consistent and knowing what we need to get into.”
Simmons was peeved by his own free throw shooting, finishing the night with a 4-of-9 clip from the line. The point-forward, though, didn’t mince words about the ball needing to be in his hands or other hot hands, especially when it’s preached to other players by coach Johnny Jones
during timeouts late in games.
“It’s said, but sometimes it might not get through to some people,” Simmons said. “It’s huge, but we got to fix it now before it’s too late.”
But that doesn’t just include Simmons taking the ball up the floor on every late possession, he said.
“Not even just dribbling up,” Simmons said. “Just running a play for me or whatever it is, throwing it to me in the post or find me when I’m open … I feel like I need to takeover a little bit more.”
While the Tigers are still trying to establish their identity, Texas A&M (18-6, 7-4 SEC) has lost their last three games and four of their last five. Ironically, the Aggies last win came against No. 14 Iowa State in Big 12/SEC Challenge but have lost their last two by a combined four points.
Against Texas A&M’s freshman center Tyler Davis, LSU will adapt its game plan, allowing sophomore forward Craig Victor II to square up with Davis one-on-one instead of fronting the post. In the Tigers’ Jan. 19 loss to Texas A&M, the 6-foot-10, 265-pound Aggie scored 18 points on 7-of-9 shooting, helping Texas A&M score 42 points in the paint.
Victor is confident the Tigers can make Davis uncomfortable.
“We’re going to take care of that,” Victor said. “Most definitely.”