PALMER: If LSU survives the SEC slate, Thomas will lead the way

By Hunt Palmer

Armed with a larger checkbook and an empty roster ripe with playing time, Matt McMahon dove headfirst into the transfer portal last summer.

One position was the target.

For three seasons, LSU’s point guard play has lagged well behind the SEC. Juice Williams didn’t translate from Murray State to the SEC. Jalen Cook was ineligible, then eligible, then inconsistent, then gone. Jordan Sears only started seven of 18 SEC games a year ago leaving freshman Curtis Givens with that role. Givens scored five points per game and shot 26% from the floor with 24 assists in 18 games. Then he left.

Dedan Thomas Jr. aims to change all of that starting Saturday.

LSU torched a poor non-conference slate by rolling up sizzling offensive numbers for two months. After 13 games, LSU ranks 11th in offensive efficiency, 11th in shooting percentage, 19th in points per game, 18th in free throws attempted per game and has a 12-1 record to show for it.

Yes, the level of competition has plenty to do with that. But LSU teams of the last three seasons have not consistently hammered non-conference teams like this. Southern Miss played South Carolina into overtime and lost to Ole Miss by four. LSU totally controlled the Golden Eagles for 40 minutes and won by 28 on Monday thanks to 22 points and 12 assists by Thomas.

SMU beat Texas A&M and Mississippi State in December. LSU ran by the Ponies by 12 lengths. Thomas scored 16 points and dished out 12 assists.

DePaul beat Georgia Tech by 14 in Destin. Twenty-four hours later, LSU beat the Blue Demons by 33. Thomas was only asked for 20 minutes that night, but he delivered five assists, made his only three ball, scored 12 points and was plus-19 for the game.

No one is here to suggest that LSU is ready to challenge Alabama or Tennessee or any of the established programs at the top of the SEC.

This is not an outhouse to penthouse situation.

How about just coming out of the cold and grabbing a chair in the lobby, joining the party, where the middle of the SEC discusses the NCAA Tournament?

Thomas holds that key.

He’s one of the six players in the country averaging better than seven assists per game. In the one outing where he struggled to get his teammates involved, finishing with just one assist and three turnovers (a season high), LSU was pasted by Texas Tech.

Thomas is not the most explosive athlete. He’s not the tallest or longest guard. He doesn’t play above the rim, and he’s not a dead-eye shooter.

He’s the pacemaker on the heart of the LSU roster. As long as he’s out there, the rest of the players are in rhythm and comfortable.

Mike Nwoko has gone from a 6.1 ppg scorer at Mississippi State to a 16.1 ppg scorer with Thomas. He’s shooting 71 percent from the floor and throwing down three lob dunks a night.

Max Mackinnon has a pair of six-three nights already and is shooting 52% from deep over the last four games.

Neither of those two creates a ton off the bounce. Some, not a ton. They rely on Thomas to create defensive rotation with his penetration and ability in transition.

LSU has had a really good post presence in McMahon’s time. KJ Williams was a second-team All-SEC player and averaged 17.7 points per game. LSU went 2-16 in the league.

Cam Carter was an awesome wing last year. He averaged 16 points and nearly shot 40 percent from deep. LSU went 3-15 in the league.

The point guard makes it go in college basketball.

McMahon finally has one.