Kentucky Wildcat Basketball – Know Your Enemy: LSU Tigers

Jan 19, 2013; Athens, GA, USA; LSU Tigers guard Corban Collins (4) is carried off the court by his teammates in the second half against the Georgia Bulldogs at Stegeman Coliseum. The Bulldogs won 67-58. Mandatory Credit: Daniel Shirey-USA TODAY Sports

THE BENCH

For whatever reason, LSU’s top scorer and second leading rebounder comes off the bench in the form of 6’5 F Shavon Coleman. Coleman logs almost 30 minutes a game and averages 12.4 points a game and 7.8 boards. Coleman also averages 1.7 steals and 1.1 blocks a game, so he is solid on the defensive end as well. He has started just three games, so I guess the bench thing is working for him. Andre Stringer is one of those players that despite his size (5’9), can score from all over the court and is actually shooting about as well from long range (38.8%) as he is overall (39.6%). Stringer has started 11 games and will start if Carmouche does not or could replace Hickey. Either way, he will play a lot and averages 10.7 a game. Corban Collins (6’3) is another freshman guard. Collins is averaging 4.2 points a game and could be a sort of “secret weapon” for LSU. He has not take a three-point shot in the last six games, but is 10-19 for the year. 6’7 freshman F Shane Hammink has really seen his time dwindle lately, but he averages 2.9 points and 2.4 boards a game.

NATIONAL STAT RANKINGS AND COMPARISON

SCORING
 KENTUCKY: 75.9 (35TH)
 LSU: 72.1 (81ST)

REBOUNDING
 LSU: 39.8 (23RD)
 KENTUCKY: 39.2 (30TH)

ASSISTS
 KENTUCKY: 15,3 (44TH)
 LSU: 14.7 (76TH)

SHOOTING %
 KENTUCKY: 48.4% (18TH)
 LSU: 42.5% (205TH)

A/TO
 KENTUCKY: 1.18
 LSU: .91

3 PT SHOOTING
 KENTUCKY: 36.3%
 LSU: 33.9%

FT SHOOTING
 KENTUCKY: 64.2%
 LSU: 60.2%

PREDICTION

Simply put, this is a game that Kentucky must come out and dominate. The fans at Rupp are not going to accept another nail biter with another lower tier SEC team and the team psyche needs a huge boost. After the Alabama game, this team needs to play a complete forty minute game and dominate the Tigers. LSU, while not talented enough to make this a game, has a couple of things that can give Kentucky trouble. Carmouche is a very solid guard and is the type of player that the UK backcourt struggles with. And LSU is a very solid rebounding team.

That said, the UK talent level trumps the Tigers by a large margin and it’s time that Kentucky bought into Calipari’s system. I say it every week, but Poythress should have an advantage, even if matched against Carmouche or Morgan. Kentucky’s backcourt should still have a big length advantage as well. There really is no position where LSU has an advantage and Kentucky has to realize that and come out with the killer instinct from the opening tip.

I hate saying each game that this will be the game that Kentucky plays up to the potential but does not. But with Ole Miss looming, I question the will to win of this team and their urgency. I am being an optimist but I expect this game to be over at halftime and for UK to make a statement to the tune of  a 78-53 complete forty minute effort.