LSU’s seeding projections have been all over the map this season. This was once a team that looked like a potential top four seed after the Tigers carried a one-loss record into mid-January.
Things are a little different now after a month and change of struggles.
LSU took care of business against Missouri on Saturday, as it should have. It got it to its 20th win of the year and to .500 in conference play.
CBS Sports’ updated bracket projections on Sunday morning had LSU slated as a seven seed. ESPN’s most recent projections have them just a tad higher, as a six.
TeamRankings, which publishes predictions that are computer-generated, has LSU most likely being an eight seed. These rankings factor in the upcoming schedule, where LSU doesn’t have the easiest path.
Before the conference tournament begins, LSU will have to play Arkansas and Alabama, two squads that have already beaten the Tigers once this year.
While LSU will be in the tournament no matter what at this point, being able to go at least 1-1 in the final two games of the regular season gives the Tigers a shot of really improving their seeding.
After Saturday, LSU sits 27th in ESPN’s strength of record. That’s a good indicator of how a team has fared against the schedule it has played. A seven or eight seed is about right for a team that sits outside the top 25 in SOR.
That’s the benefit of the tough road ahead, though. Sure, they’re tougher games. But winning those types of games is exactly what this team needs to do to improve its seeding.
Every year, a few teams go on a run in their conference tournaments and drastically better their position compared to what it was the week prior. This LSU team is inconsistent, but they’re certainly capable of stringing together one of those runs. At the same time, anyone could beat them in the first round in Tampa at the SEC Tournament.
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