LSU missed an opportunity to add a gem to its resume on Wednesday night against an Arkansas team that is playing like one of the nation’s best right now. Still, the loss on the road to a team that had won 14 of its last 15 entering the matchup won’t reflect too poorly on Will Wade’s squad.
This team is an essential lock to make the NCAA Tournament with 20 wins on the year already and a NET Ranking in the top 20. But it’s not playing its best basketball in the second half of the season.
Since Jan. 15, this team is just 5-9. It played back-to-back opponents tough on the road, holding second-half leads at Kentucky and against the Razorbacks. Neither panned out, though, and the Tigers may not find themselves in the best seeding position if they don’t win the finale against Alabama on Saturday and make a nice run in next week’s SEC Tournament.
Here’s how the Tigers fare in the most recent bracket projections heading into the final game of the regular season.
Next: ESPN Bracketology from Joe Lunardi