By Hunt Palmer
The resume portion of LSU’s non-conference slate is long over. These last two weeks of December are about the Tigers’ improvement, not game plans or matchups.
These last three non-conference games are deeply Quadrant 4 and likely non-competitive. Unless the Tigers choke on cotton candy here, it’s just a matter of getting to league play with some confidence developed by not losing the final two weeks of December.
New Orleans has really gassed up its non-conference slate. The Privateers have already played at Kansas State at Baylor, at Iowa and at Texas. Unfortunately, they’ve lost those games by a combined 138 points or 34.5 points per game.
I have a few things I’ll be watching for in this one. Let’s get to it.
Confident Curtis
Upon his commitment, I took one look at Curtis Givens on YouTube and immediately pegged him as LSU’s point guard of the future. After a month, Givens had underperformed in my mind. He was playing passively and hadn’t made much of an impact. In the second half on Tuesday, he started running the show. He made decisive passes and attacked the painted area to create scoring chances.
It’s clear that Givens is the second point guard on this team. Mike Williams III didn’t play Tuesday in a game where LSU lead by 46 and the walk ons got in there the last two minutes. That spells out the situation pretty clearly. Givens needs to play Sunday, and he needs to play like he did in the second half on Tuesday.
I’m less concerned with the stat sheet and more concerned with the highlight reel. Givens needs to attack assertively and force the issue. He’s capable, and that was obvious in the second half on Tuesday.
Turnovers
LSU cleaned up the turnovers against Stetson. Finishing with 11 including one late in the game from Noah Boyde is a passable effort. LSU’s defensive metrics are strong. The Tigers are No. 15 in the country in opponents’ field goal percentage and No. 28 in defensive efficiency. That’s why it’s a crime to turn the ball over and let teams get out in transition. The more often LSU can set its defense, the better.
White Out
Speaking of LSU’s defense, Dji Bailey is the center point. Most nights in the SEC will revolve around Bailey’s ability to suppress the opposition’s best wing. UNO’s James White doesn’t qualify as an elite scorer, but he’s the best UNO has. White averages more than 18 points per game. He dropped 31 on Tulane, 26 on Robert Morris and 24 more on Iowa. The Privateers get him the ball nearly every possession, and he loves to attack. Only 43 of his 171 field goal attempts are from deep. I’ll be watching how Bailey defends the screens away from the ball as well as how ambitious he is to help off what is clearly the best UNO scoring option.
Tipoff Sunday is set for 2:00, and the game will be streamed on SEC Network+.
