No. 23 LSU will hope to start Will Wade’s second season with a victory on Tuesday as it hosts in-state foe Southeastern Louisiana.
The Tigers are back in the national rankings despite being just a few years removed from losing 15-straight games in SEC play.
However, this program has experienced an overhaul under Wade and company, and that should lead to a memorable season.
Meanwhile, the Lions figure to factor into the Southland Conference title race thanks to a strong backcourt.
Let’s run through what to watch for entering this game.
Game Details
- Southeastern Louisiana at LSU
- Location: Pete Maravich Assembly Center – Baton Rouge, LA
- Game Date: Nov. 6
- Game Time: 8:30 p.m. EST
- Watch: SEC Network+
Players to Watch
Tremont Waters (LSU)
Waters enters his sophomore season as one of the nation’s most dynamic playmakers at the point guard position.
He was stellar during his first year with the Tigers, averaging 15.9 points, 6.0 assists, and 2.0 steals in 33 minutes per game.
Wade simply couldn’t take Waters off the court last season, and that trend should continue this time around even with an influx of great backcourt talent.
With the way that Waters impacts the game on both sides of the floor, he should be in the running for SEC player of the year honors.
Naz Reid (LSU)
The 6-10 power forward will be an instant asset for LSU, as Reid ranked as the No. 18 player in the 2018 recruiting class.
Here’s what Wade had to say about the freshman phenom during the preseason:
Wade asked if Naz Reid 'could be' a first round pick next year: "Could be? Will be."
"He's down under 250 pounds. He looks phenomenal. He's a hard worker, a great listener. The way he sees the game is tremendous. It's like having Tremont at the power forward/center spot."
— Cody Worsham (@CodyWorsham) September 24, 2018
With Reid’s ability to make an impact in all aspects of the game, he’ll undoubtedly be one of the biggest catalysts for the Tigers’ success this season.
Marlain Veal (SE Louisiana)
Veal might only be 5-9, but he packs quite a punch with his overall versatility.
He was an all-conference selection last season after averaging 12.8 points and 6.1 assists per game, and the senior also led the league in steals and even grabbed 5.2 rebounds per contest.
He’ll need a lot of help around him to knock off the Tigers, but Veal should offer plenty of entertainment in this one.
Key Stats
LSU was efficient on offense last year in finishing 33rd nationally in adjusted offensive efficiency. The Tigers made the most of their shots from inside the perimeter, going 56.2 percent from two-point range on the season (14th nationally).
What Wade wants to continue to see improve is the defensive consistency, as the team allowed opponents to average 45.5 percent shooting from the field (264th nationally).
And since free throws matters, should this game get close, it’s worth noting that the Jaguars struggled mightily in that area last season at 65.1 percent (337th nationally).
Game Outlook
- KenPom Projection: LSU, 95 percent chance to win
- ESPN BPI Projection: LSU, 89.6 percent chance to win
With Waters leading the way, LSU has more than enough talent to kick off the new season with a convincing home victory.
It should give Wade and his staff an opportunity to mix and match all the newcomers to find the right chemistry in certain rotations.
The Tigers are loaded with talent, and they should be able to showcase their skills in a big way.
Game Pick: LSU
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