THE STORY: If this was LSU’s first test, it looked like the upperclassmen broke into the teacher’s office and stole it. The Tigers had every answer.
From start to finish, LSU smothered Kansas State on defense and the backboards. Tigers young and old played calmly and comfortably on the offensive end. Every Kansas State surge was stymied.
The Tigers rolled, 76-65. Kansas State never drew within 10 over the last nine minutes.
A 24-3 LSU run over 8:24 in the first half totally seized control of the game in a place that Wildcat head coach Jerome Tang was 33-4 over two seasons.
This team was constructed to play far better defense than the previous two in the Matt McMahon era. Thursday night was a rousing success from that perspective. Kansas State shot 36 percent in the first half, and it only got marginally better in the second half, 39.3 percent. The backboard was a mauling. The end result, a rout.
More to come with statistics, but this was an emphatic statement by the 2024-25 Tigers. It’s now impossible to judge a program based on a single game. Kansas State has 11 newcomers on this team. One of its former starters was wearing the other uniform Thursday night. LSU’s starting lineup features one returner. But this LSU team showed an ability to defend, rebound and play composed offense that bodes well for the future.
Cam Carter lit it up from three when called upon. Corey Chest came out of nowhere to dominate the glass. Jordan Sears ran the show and knocked down some big early shots. Daimion Collins attacked and protected the rim. Vyctorious Miller made a couple of great late-game plays including a floater late in the shot clock and a huge three. Curtis Givens III spelled Sears when called upon and played rock solid basketball.
I believe this LSU squad to be an NCAA Tournament bubble team. If that’s the case, this win is going to help. Kansas State might finish high in the Big 12. Might finish middle of the pack. But a road win there will help. Now you have to hope that it sticks as a Quad 1 win.
THE STATS: Kansas State only turned the ball over seven times and finished with 65 points. LSU’s defense and rebounding were spectacular.
The rebounding stole the show. LSU won the glass 43-25. Kansas State missed 38 shots and only rebounded eight of them.
The Wildcats shot 37.8 percent from the floor. From the 9:30 mark of the first half to the 10:58 mark of the second half (18:32 of game time), Kansas State shot 5-for-32 (16%).
Kansas State entered the game shooting 40 percent from three. They shot 5-of-21 for 24 percent.
LSU shot 50 percent from the floor and made 14-of-18 free throws.
Chest had 13 rebounds in 20 minutes. Derek Fountain was unavailable which sprung Chest into action. He’s an elite athlete who imposed his will on the glass. If LSU is going to go places, players are going to have to fill roles. Chest’s is on the glass.
Carter finished with 20 points on 3-of-6 shooting from behind the arc in his return to Kansas State.
Miller was 6-for-9 from the floor and scored 15 points. He had two assists and one turnover. Curtis Givens dished out three assists, including a sweet pocket pass to Collins in the first half, and didn’t turn the ball over. Those are freshmen in a tough, tough environment. Impressive stuff.
THE PLAY: I only want to list one here because it felt like the biggest play to me. LSU had controlled the game from the middle of the first half into the middle of the second half. Kansas State went on a 6-0 run to cut the LSU lead to 10 with 9:15 to play. Plenty of time. Single digits were within grasp. Carter calmly, and coldly, buried a three for LSU to make it 13 again. Kansas State never got it to 10 again.
TWO WORDS.
CAM. CARTER.
ESPN+ | @camryncarter23 pic.twitter.com/GTQ3NM7gJh
— LSU Basketball (@LSUBasketball) November 15, 2024
