The Tigers went into Tuscaloosa looking to pull off an upset against the nation’s No. 4 team.

Although LSU ultimately lost 80-73, they battled the entire game and showed they could hang with some of the best in the conference and country.

Here are some notable takeaways from their matchup against Alabama:

Corey Chest leads the way

The redshirt freshman from New Orleans, had the best game of his young career. Entering this game, he had six points and seven rebounds, and for a player who is playing his first season of collegiate basketball, it’s not a bad start.

Chest has found his way into the starting lineup because of his tremendous rebounding and the effort he puts into his plays on the court. Both were on display against Alabama.

Chest was all over the boards early, as he had nine rebounds in only five minutes on the court. However, it did not stop there.
Chest finished the game with 12 and a team-high 18 rebounds against the Crimson Tide.

It was a beautiful sight for Tiger fans to see.

Chest is not exactly a scorer but finds ways to impact the game. Having a freshman bring intensity and energy to every game is something that LSU has been missing.

The 6-foot-8 forward leads the team with seven rebounds per game. For someone who is not the tallest player on the team, it’s quite impressive.

Although the Tigers didn’t come out on top, Chest earned his role in the starting rotation.

The need of another scorer

The losses of Jalen Reed and Tyrell Ward have continued to hurt LSU this season.

The Tigers’ offense has been unpredictable outside of Cam Carter and Jordan Sears, who are No. 1 and 2 in points per game.

LSU lost Reed earlier this season after he tore his ACL against Florida State, and with that loss, the Tigers lost their third-leading scorer. In the eight games Reed played, he averaged 11 points and six rebounds, shooting 60% from the field and 50% from three.

Ward stepped away from the team due to his mental health and will most likely not play this season. It was a significant loss for LSU. Ward added something that this team was missing: shooting.

Last season, Ward stepped into a role as a 3-point shooter, averaging nine points per game while shooting 41% from the 3-point line.

This season, it seemed almost assured that Ward would play a prominent role for the Tigers; his shooting would have been a great addition to the team as the shooting struggles remain.

It’s also important to note that freshman guard Vyctorius Miller has missed time with an injury of his own, so the Tigers have been without their fourth-leading scorer in the past couple of games.

There hasn’t been a clear third option for LSU, and since Reed went down, this has been a problem for them.

The Tigers have to find someone else if they want to remain competitive in the SEC.

Points in the paint

It’s no surprise that LSU again had a poor shooting performance on Saturday night against the Crimson Tide.

The Tigers came into this game shooting roughly 32% from beyond the arc, and tonight was no different. LSU shot an abysmal 13% from three, shooting 3-for-23 as a team. But the Tigers found success in the paint.

LSU scored 43 of its 73 in the paint and kept themselves in the game the entire night.

Until a shooter unfolds for the Tigers, they must continue to attack the basket. It’s understandable if they need to chuck up a three to save the possession.

However, someone needs to attack the basket and get their feet in the painted area every possession for LSU. It was on display Saturday.

Getting in the paint with pick-and-rolls and put-back attempts allows this team to find some sort of identity. Although basketball has evolved to a 3-point-dominant offense, attacking the basket is something LSU should look to do every game.