In the last game of the non-conference slate for both LSU and Memphis, the Tigers of Baton Rouge travel to Memphis to play their first true road contest of the season.
Tubby Smith’s squad will look to defend its undefeated home record as they prepare to head into AAC play on New Year’s Eve.
The 2017-18 LSU squad under first-year coach Will Wade has gotten off to a better start than most would have guessed, going 8-3 with their best wins coming over Houston and Michigan.
They’re currently ranked 82nd in the KenPom rankings, and while that does rank them last in the SEC, they have not played at a level that would be consistent with the worst team in the conference to this point.
Memphis, on the other hand, has had an equally good start under Smith, going 9-3 with quality wins over the likes of NCAA Tournament teams Northern Kentucky and Mercer.
After losing their three top scorers all to transfer, the Tigers have been rebuilding with a new roster of players stepping into bigger roles in a short amount of time.
Let’s take a look at the players to watch, the keys to victory for both teams, and a score prediction for this one.
Game Details
Date: December 28, 2017
Time: 9 p.m. EST
Location: FedExForum
TV: CBS Sports Network
Players to Watch
Brandon Sampson (LSU)
The Tigers sorely lacked Sampson’s scoring output over the last six games as he was out with a sprained ankle suffered against Notre Dame in Maui.
However, he returned to the North Florida contest to the tune of seven points off the bench for the Tigers.
The third-leading scorer from last year’s squad has seen a dip in his points per game production with the injury and more guard scorers coming into the rotation, namely standout freshman Tremont Waters.
LSU needs Sampson to get back to speed very quickly, and with the Christmas break coming and going, he should be at 100 percent for this all-important game for the Tigers, so look for him to have a large impact in his full return back to the lineup.
Jeremiah Martin (Memphis)
The Tigers’ leading scorer at 18.6 points per game, Martin has been the best scorer for a team that lost the three top scorers from last season’s squad (Dedric Lawson, K.J. Lawson, and Markel Crawford) and needed leadership to step up and maintain a sense of consistency between seasons.
Martin has scored in double figures in every game this season, so finding a way to get him involved in the offense early and often is one of the key points of the offensive system working and being efficient.
If he can create that same impact in against the Bayou Bengals from the off-ball guard spot, Memphis has a great shot to win this game and enter conference play with double-digit wins.
How LSU Can Win
If LSU can continue to maintain their top 70 rebounding margin, they present a serious challenge to Memphis, who doesn’tvhave very much size up front as it is (no major contributors over 6-8).
The likes of Duop Reath (6-10) and Aaron Epps (6-9) need to have big games to take advantage of the size mismatch, and if they are able to do so, look for LSU to have the major upper hand in this game on the boards and in paint points.
That inside presence will also set up the outside shooting of Sampson, Waters, and Skylar Mays, who have all been fantastic this season shooting the basketball in LSU’s potent offensive attack.
How Memphis Can Win
Memphis needs to limit the lead guard play from Waters in this game to have a chance in this contest.
In their three losses this season, the other team’s lead guards – Dazon Ingram for Alabama, Nate Darling for UAB, and Quentin Snider for Louisville – all scored in double figures against Jamal Johnson.
If the Tigers want to win, they need to have more consistent play from Johnson and the rest of the guards defensively if they want to stop Waters and Mays in the backcourt for LSU.
Prediction
LSU has the better resume between the two teams, and seem to be a better team in most facets of the game compared to Memphis.
Look for Waters to have a big game in the backcourt, and for LSU to pick up a solid win on the road before they start conference play with potentially the toughest four-game stretch of any SEC team (Kentucky, at Texas A&M, at Arkansas, Alabama).
Prediction: LSU 78, Memphis 67