LSU invades Rupp Arena for final road test

By Hunt Palmer

It’s LSU and Kentucky on Mardi Gras Day. What’s the worst that could happen?

Well, I guess we already know that answer.  LSU could, theoretically, blow a 31-point lead in the final 15:34. But I’ll take my chances with another 31-point margin. That happened back in 1994. It remains tied for the largest second-half deficit overcome in the history of Division 1.

This time, the two teams will play at Rupp Arena in front of the Big Blue Nation which is excited about the future under first year head coach Mark Pope.

In his first season, Pope has infused life into a program that had gone stale under John Calipari. His fun offensive style and likeable personality are a welcome breath of fresh air in Lexington.

That said, the Wildcats are just 8-8 in SEC play and now are down their second leading scorer in Jaxson Robinson who suffered a wrist injury last week. He was shooting 45 percent from deep and averaging 14.4 points per game in league play.

Still, Kentucky has offensive weapons and a great system.

LSU has lost three straight since winning those two in a row over Oklahoma and South Carolina.

This is a tough assignment for the Tigers based on a number of factors, but age is certainly one of them. Kentucky will start four graduates and a junior. LSU will start three true freshmen. Mix in the nation’s attendance leader in Kentucky, and you’ve got a tough environment for LSU to respond to.

BREA BUCKETS

Koby Brea is probably the best shooter in America. The 6-foot-7 Dayton transfer is a walking bucket behind the arc. He’s shooting a scalding 44 percent from three this year, and that’s a step down from his absurd 50 percent last season. If you recall, Brea hit the tying three with 48 seconds left against LSU last season. Dayton would go on to win that game.

Brea’s defender simply cannot help. Ever. He can get too hot, and that whips the Rupp crowd into a frenzy. It’s safe to suggest that Brea’s shooting is not a focal point of the Kentucky offense. He’s not going to shoot 11 of them in a game. But he can make three in a two-minute span if you let him. LSU has to try to limit that.

NO WAY, OWEH

With Jaxson Robinson out, more of the scoring onus is going to go to Otega Oweh, the Oklahoma transfer.

Oweh is a brute of a guard who loves to get downhill and finish through contact. At 6-foot-4 and 215 lbs., Oweh is stronger than all of the LSU guards. He’s got 35 lbs on Cam Carter and 30 lbs on Dji Bailey.

That makes him a mismatch on just about anyone Matt McMahon elects to mark him with.

On the season, Oweh has attempted 262 twos and 65 threes. He also leads the Wildcats in free throw attempts. He’s used that formula to average 16.1 points per game. LSU guards have to be ready for a fight with Oweh out there.

RAISING ROOKIES

If LSU is going to compete in however many games are left in this season, the three true freshmen are going to have to contribute. Because they’re going to play.

Over the last five games Curtis Givens is averaging 26.6 minutes. Vyctorius Miller is averaging 21.6 minutes, and senior Jordan Sears is averaging 15.2 minutes. There has been a shift to the kiddos.

Miller is shooting just 6-for-29 over that stretch for 21 percent. In his last three road games, Givens is 1-for-13 from the floor. That much playing time and that little production is crippling for LSU.

Those two have to be more efficient.