Know your enemy: LSU

My grandpa always said the only good thing to come out of Louisiana were the Mississippi River and Archie Manning. I am partial to Britney Spears (not her music) in her prime, but who’s keeping track?

1/15/2011

Game 16

4 PM – RUPP ARENA, LEXINGTON
LSU Tigers (10-7 2-0 SEC) Head Coach – Trent Johnson
TV – SEC Network

LSU UK
W-L10-713-3
Avg Points67.079.9
Avg Points Allowed62.163.1
Home Record8-48-0
Road Record2-22-2
Current StreakW2W1

Well obviously this weekend can’t be as bad as last weekend. We now know the fate of Enes Kanter (best bench coach in America), Deandre Daniels is more decisive than Billy Donovan (has he picked a school yet?), football season is finally over (Cobb leaves, Trevathan stays) and our beloved Wildcats get to play a home basketball game (anyone have tickets?)

The Cats had a convincing win over lowly Auburn on Tuesday and look to continue the beat down of the Dirrrrrty Souf by handling LSU. I don’t really see this as much of a problem, but I’ve been wrong before (just ask my wife). Pre-conference the Tigers played a schedule that rivals only Louisville in terms of cupcakedness. They posted wins over a few directional teams, but got thumped by the likes of Nicholls State and North Texas. To date their best win was their last game where they beat Arkansas at home in a real shoot-out 56-53.

Let’s take a look at the Tigers starters:

GPMINPPGRPGAPGSPGBPGTPGFG%FT%3P%
Malcolm White, F1724.68.95.60.40.21.21.60.4960.5940
Eddie Ludwig, F1714.73.22.90.70.800.90.3640.7890
Andre Stringer, G1729.513.42.431.20.22.40.3610.7610.353
M.Derenbecker, F1718.45.82.11.20.50.10.90.4140.6470.313
Aaron Dotson, G1727.17.43.21.90.50.41.90.3950.750.444

For more in depth stats click here

Although these guys are listed as starters, their bench is pretty interchangeable. The one aspect LSU beats the Cats at is depth (we’ve heard that before, right?) Trent Johnson has 9 players that average at least 14 minutes a game. Maybe this means Johnson likes each player so much that they deserve playing time. Maybe he treats it like my sons tee-ball team where everyone gets to play despite athletic ability or desire to be on the field. Or most likely its the fact that none of the players are very good so he’s scrambling to find the right combination to make it work. The only match-up problem I see is Matt Derenbecker having more vowels in his name than Josh Harrellson.

Last 5 games:
06-07 season — UK win 70-63
07-08 season — UK win 67-63
08-09 season — LSU win 73-70
08-09 SEC Tourney — LSU win 67-58
09-10 season — UK win 81-55

Boy do I sure miss Billy Gillispie and him losing to LSU…Twice…In the same year…Once in the SECT

Mortal Lock:

If I were a betting man, and mind you I don’t endorse gambling on any event, especially those involving monkeys, pudding and one legged midget named Jimbo behind the Emperial Buffett off Nicholasville Rd Monday-Friday at 10pm… oops, too much information… Anyways pick that Cats, duh. I expect them to be around a 15 point favorite and to cover quite easily.

Breakdown:

Its really difficult to gauge how good or bad LSU is because they really haven’t played anyone yet. They are very stingy on defense and giving up the three ball, but foul… A LOT. Which leads me to believe they like to amp up the pressure and over extend their defense. I expect that Cats to get to the line a bunch… Hopefully this is a day we are hitting those freebies. The good news for the Wildcats is that LSU’s offense is pretty anemic and they haven’t seen the athletes that Calipari will put on the floor on defense. The Tigers have a tendency to turn it over, averaging almost 15 per game. If the Cats hit their free throws, make a few threes and most importantly don’t get in foul trouble. This one should be over pretty quickly.

Enjoy the game, and be thankful that it’s not last weekend.

As Always!
Go Cats!


By TwitterButtons.com

Keep following www.http://wildcatbluenation.com for the best in Kentucky basketball and football news, rumors, and opinions. By Kentucky fans for Kentucky fans

Schedule

Schedule