Once Upon A Time In Las Vegas – Wildcard Edition
The (12-4 SU, 7-9 ATS) LSU Tigers and (14-2 SU, 9-6-1 ATS) Alabama Crimson Tide are facing off on the hardwood Saturday at Coleman Coliseum. The Tigers, 1-3 in Southeastern Conference competition, have lost three consecutive games following Tuesday's loss to Florida. The Crimson Tide, 4-0 in SEC play, picked up a momentous win at Arkansas in their last game.
Alabama and Louisiana State split their matchups last season. The Tide holds an 84-53 series advantage over the Tigers.
Tip-off from Tuscaloosa, AL, is at 4:00 p.m. ET.
LSU is losing momentum after winning seven straight and 12 of its first 13 games. Unfortunately for the Tigers, all three losses came to conference foes, putting the Tigers' strong start to the season in jeopardy. LSU was picked eighth in the media's SEC preseason poll.
In their latest loss, the Tigers were outscored 42-28 in the second half at home by the Gators. LSU outshot UF from the floor and outrebounded its opponent 40-34 but turned the ball over 16 times. Senior forward KJ Williams scored 23 points and grabbed seven rebounds in the losing effort.
KJ Williams ??
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— LSU Basketball (@LSUBasketball) January 11, 2023
The Tigers score 69.9 points per game on 44.5 percent shooting, including 34.7 percent from distance. Their schedule-adjusted offensive efficiency rating is 122nd in D-1, per KenPom.
Williams paces LSU, averaging 18.5 points, 7.6 rebounds, and 1.5 steals per game. The Tigers also count on solid play from sophomore guard Adam Miller (13.0 PPG), junior guard Cam Hayes (8.7 PPG), junior forward Derek Fountain (7.4 PPG and 5.7 RPG with a 66.2 FG%), and senior guard Justice Hill (7.2 PPG and 3.7 APG).
Louisiana State gives up 64.6 points on 42.5 percent shooting, including 27.5 percent from three, the 8th-lowest opponent 3PT% in the country. LSU is 76th in schedule-adjusted defensive efficiency and 116th in assist-per-turnover ratio (1.05).