Tag: LSU Tigers Basketball

After falling 68-53 to LSU, Texas A&M Basketball is lacking an identity

After falling to LSU at home 68-53 to open SEC play, the Aggies’ looked like a team lacking identity in all facets of the definition.

Texas A&M Basketball (9-5) opened the 2023 SEC slate with a home contest against the LSU Tigers (9-5) on Saturday night, knowing that for the 13th game this season, the Aggies would be without senior forward Julius Marble, who continues to sit out due to an ongoing “University process.”

After closing out a challenging non-conference schedule, consecutive losses to Memphis and Houston were understandable but still frustrating for most of the fan base who felt that the team could not win the “big games” under fifth-year head coach Buzz Williams. Still, either way, it was a respectable finish with conference play on the horizon.

Opening the new year against an LSU squad that, on paper, is still rebuilding under second-year head coach Matt McMahon, A&M held an advantage in nearly every metric, but as soon as the first possession, the Aggies looked lost.

Failing to find any offensive rhythm from the start, defense and rebounding, two areas of predominate strength for the Aggies this season, also took a back seat as the Tigers continued to punch back, outscoring 36-20 in the paint, including a 46-40 rebounding advantage, defeating Texas A&M 68-53 for just the second loss in Reed Arena this season.

Even with the Tiger’s sudden offensive surge, Texas A&M’s beyond-anemic shooting kept them behind the 8 ball going into the second half, finishing 15-59 (25.4%) from the field and 5-28 (17.9) from 3-point, as the scars of last season’s home loss to Wofford reared its ugly head, forcing Williams to find immediate answers before things completely spiral out of control.

“I hope that this is cleansing for us. We have not lost a conference game here in a long time.”

“That is over now. Now, how can we process all of this information and be more prepared with me being at the front of the bus.”

It’s not foreign for a team to randomly struggle from the field; the Aggies are shooting just 40% from the field and just 26% from beyond the arc, and even more worrying, senior forward Henry Coleman was nowhere to be found on Saturday night, logging just four points and four points in 31 minutes of play, forcing the offense go through guard Wade Taylor IV and Tyrece Radford.

Taylor, who on occasion looks like the only player who can create offense, may have led the game with 23 points but was just 8-20 from the field, while Radford’s 4-18, 11-point showing should have been better, as he failed to see several opportunities to drive the lane for easy layups, instead opting for errant jump shots. After the game, Taylor still feels that it’s much too early to judge the Aggies’ ability to compete.

“It’s early. It’s the first game. Take all the lessons we learned tonight.”

“We will continue to play our game.”

Taking this with a grain of salt, inconsistent shooting has been a constant under Williams, but this shouldn’t be the case in 2023 with the veterans on the roster. Even though the Aggies will likely improve on defense as we’ve witnessed after embarrassing losses in years past, the road only gets tougher. Julius Marble’s continued absence hinders this team from establishing their identity and reaching their full potential.

Texas A&M will travel to Alabama to take on the 25th-ranked Auburn Tigers on Tuesday, Jan. 9 at 8:00 p.m. CT. The game will air on ESPN2.

Contact/Follow us @AggiesWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Texas A&M news, notes, and opinions. Follow Cameron on Twitter: @CameronOhnysty.

Georgia basketball season ends with disappointing loss to LSU

The UGA basketball season is over following the Bulldogs’ 72-67 SEC tournament loss to the LSU Tigers

The Georgia Bulldogs basketball season is officially over following the Dawgs’ SEC tournament loss to the LSU Tigers. LSU (14-18) entered the contest with only two conference wins. Georgia (16-16) finishes the season with six SEC wins.

Georgia fell behind LSU, 42-30, in the first half. The Bulldogs attempted a comeback in the second half, but came up short in the 72-67 defeat.

LSU dominated Georgia on the offensive glass, where the Tigers outrebounded Georgia 18-8. Georgia forced just five LSU turnovers and allowed the Tigers to stay in a decent offensive rhythm.

Terry Roberts scored 12 points and hauled in six rebounds for Georgia. Braelen Bridges added 13 points and four rebounds. Justin Hill accumulated 13 points and three rebounds in the Bulldogs’ final game of the season.

LSU forward KJ Williams scored a game-high 18 points in the Tigers’ SEC tournament victory. Next, LSU will play Vanderbilt in the SEC tournament on March 9.

Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports

Overall, Georgia improved from last season, when the Bulldogs finished the year only 6-26 and won just a single SEC game. Head coach Mike White’s first season at the helm was an improvement, but Georgia needs to continue added pieces to the roster if it wants to make an appearance in the NCAA Tournament.

The Bulldogs hoped to stick around the SEC tournament a few more nights.

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Alabama can’t beat LSU on the road despite solid performances from Ellis, Quinerly and JD Davison

Alabama will head into the postseason hoping to get back on track after a close loss in overtime to LSU.

Today’s game between Alabama and LSU had significant implications heading into the postseason. With an Alabama win, the Tide would maintain their spot as the fifth seed in the SEC Tournament. If LSU were to pull off the upset, they could move into the fifth slot if a couple of today’s other conference matchups ended in their favor.

It was senior day in Baton Rouge, and the Tigers appeared up to the challenge against the Tide, who had beaten them five consecutive times prior to this game.

The Crimson Tide got off to a rough start in its final regular-season game of the campaign but picked things up in the knick of time prior to the conclusion of the first half.

Alabama went into the locker room with a two-point lead, ahead 38-36 at the half.

The game was tightly contested throughout, especially throughout the entire second half and overtime, with neither team able to maintain a cushion on the scoreboard of anything more than five points.

Ultimately, the Crimson Tide offense couldn’t get it done when it mattered most, missing 13 of their last 14 three-pointers to end the game. the Tigers walk away with an 80-77 win despite solid performances from three Alabama stars.

The Tide outrebounded the Tigers by a significant margin offensively, winning that battle 17 to 11. Overall, Alabama outrebounded LSU 42-33.

Alabama shot 37% from the floor and hoisted up 40 threes, while only hitting 11, in the losing effort.

LSU shot 46% on field goals, including 35% from beyond the arc.

These three Crimson Tide stars shined despite the loss and contributed their best efforts for Nate Oats.

Keon Ellis

Ellis certainly carried the mantle for the Crimson Tide offensively today. He scored 19 points and connected on three of eight three-pointers.

Ellis also grabbed nine total rebounds, falling just short of a double-double, with four of those coming off the offensive glass.

Jahvon Quinerly

Despite missing the final shot, Quinerly contributed plenty enough for the Crimson Tide to earn a W. He tallied 16 points and pulled down three rebounds.

Quinerly hit on four of his 11 three-pointers.

JD Davison

While many will be upset with Davison regarding his failure to recognize the shot-clock late in the overtime period, resulting in a costly turnover, his efforts otherwise were not in vain.

The freshman phenom scored 12 points and grabbed five rebounds off the boards. He shot three of seven from three and also contributed a team-high four assists.

Notably, Jaden Shackelford only tallied six points in a rare off night for the Crimson Tide’s leading scorer.

Shack threw up eight shots from three-point distance and didn’t hit a single note.

The close loss concludes the regular season for the Crimson Tide. More will be known regarding Alabama’s seeding in the SEC Tournament after the conclusion of the rest of the league games this evening.

Roll Tide Wire will continue to keep you updated on all things Crimson Tide.

Contact/Follow us @RollTideWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Alabama news, notes, and opinion. You can also follow Layne Gerbig on Twitter @LayneG_29. 

LSU puts a hurting on Northwestern State

LSU cruises to 10-0 for the first time since the 1999-2000 season

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The LSU Tigers men’s basketball team dominated Northwestern State 89-49 on Tuesday night, improving their record to 10-0 on the season.

Northwestern State led 6-4 before LSU went on a 22-5 run to take a 26-11 lead in the middle of the first half. Xavier Pinson scored ten points in the Tigers’ big run; he also added 15 points and four assists for the game. LSU had three started in double-digits Efton Reid had 15 points and ten rebounds, and Darius Days scored 13 points, to along with Pinson’s 15. Pinson also surpassed the 1,000 point mark for his career.

Tari Eason led the Tigers in scoring with18 points, 13 of which came in the second half. The Tigers held the Demons to 27.9% shooting from the field and outrebounded them 53-39. LSU was also active in the passing lane, which got them 17 steals. So far this season, LSU has held eight opponents to under 60 points. Defense wins championships.

Kendell Coleman led the Demons in scoring 16 points while also grabbing 12 rebounds; Cedric Garett added 15 points for Northwestern State. The Demons are now 2-9 on the season.

LSU will need to find a more consistent offense when they play conference games because the SEC conference is tough. On Saturday, LSU plays Louisiana Tech in Bossier City, Louisiana.

Updated NBA mock drafts released, Cameron Thomas comes in at No. 19

A look at the latest NBA mock drafts and where LSU Tigers’ Cameron Thomas could land in the draft.

Many changes continue being made to NBA mock drafts prior to the upcoming 2021 NBA draft, and LSU’s Cameron Thomas is still projected to go in the first round. Continue reading “Updated NBA mock drafts released, Cameron Thomas comes in at No. 19”

Badger moments: 2000 Sweet 16 wipeout of LSU

Dick Bennett held a clinic

In the Wisconsin Badgers’ march to the 2000 Final Four, Dick Bennett went up against several great coaches. The exception was the 2000 Sweet 16 in the West Regional semifinals in Albuquerque.

John Brady of LSU was not a bad coach. He lasted over 10 years at LSU and did reach the 2006 Final Four with the Tigers. He was competent. Not every coach is. Yet, while being competent on a basic level, Brady was just as surely not an especially gifted bench boss. Even his best LSU teams — such as that 2006 Final Four group — were not seeded higher than number four in the NCAA Tournament. Brady recruited well and got his players to perform with energy and hunger, which enabled him to carve out a reasonably successful career. However, as a tactician, he fell well short.

Strong tactical coaches could — and did — expose him. This was a gift Wisconsin made full use of in the 2000 West Regional semis.

LSU, seeded fourth that year, had Stromile Swift, a big and strong physical specimen who, a few months later, would become the No. 2 pick in the 2000 NBA Draft. He went to the Vancouver Grizzlies after Kenyon Martin of the Cincinnati Bearcats went No. 1 to the then-New Jersey (now Brooklyn) Nets.

Wisconsin did not have any player who could measure up to Stromile Swift in terms of athleticism. The Badgers needed to be in the right positions on the floor to contain him. Wisconsin needed a cohesive defensive plan and the smarts to implement it.

Dick Bennett made sure his team was prepared.

Wisconsin made only 38 percent of its field goals against LSU. It hit just 6 of 19 threes. UW’s starting five scored a grand total of 42 points. Only one player — Jon Bryant — scored more than eight points for the Badgers.

If you had been told these statistics would be part of Wisconsin’s box score at the end of the game, you would have assumed a loss.

The Badgers won by 13, 61-48.

How fully did UW flummox Stromile Swift? His number of made field goals was the same as his number of turnovers: 3.

How completely did Wisconsin confuse and throttle LSU’s offense? The Tigers committed six more turnovers (23) than their number of made field goals (17).

Bennett outflanked Brady at every turn. LSU scored just 14 points in the first half and desperately scrambled in the second half in an attempt to rally, but LSU’s impatience kept leading to bad possessions for the Tigers, who kept falling deeper and deeper into the quicksand the Badgers laid in front of them.

LSU had the athletes. Wisconsin had the well-coached and cohesive team. The Badgers moved one step closer to a Cinderella Final Four as a No. 8 seed.