Preview: Mizzou seeks first conference victory in 700 days against LSU

After a hot 10-1 start, including ten straight wins at home, the Tigers have struggled against tougher recent competition.

The Tigers first fell to Illinois at home, ending their flawless home record, before dropping their SEC opener on the road against Auburn on Saturday.

SEC competition will only intensify as the season progresses, making their next contest the perfect opportunity for the Tigers to get back on track and spark another winning streak.

While the LSU Tigers aren’t a Top 25 ranked team, much like Mizzou, they consistently compete at a high level and often could make a run in the SEC Tournament. This means head coach Dennis Gates and his squad cannot afford to take them lightly.

LSU enters with a similar 2024-25 campaign to Mizzou. Both teams hold an 11-3 record and are 0-1 in conference play after LSU fell to Vanderbilt last Saturday.

Though LSU has been dominant in their wins, surpassing the century mark multiple times, they have yet to face significant competition. Their losses include defeats to Vanderbilt, Pittsburgh, and SMU.

The two teams are closely matched in the highly regarded KenPom college basketball rankings, with Mizzou sitting at 53rd and LSU at 60th. KenPom provides a comprehensive analysis of team performance, factoring in statistics, predictions, strength of schedule, and more throughout the season.

LSU has made the NCAA Tournament just three times in the past decade, with their most recent appearance in 2022. Their deepest run in the last 20 years came in 2019 when, as a No. 3 seed, they reached the Sweet Sixteen before falling to the No. 2 seeded Michigan State Spartans.

Head coach Matt McMahon has posted a subpar 14-19 record in his first season and a half leading the LSU Tigers. Before LSU, McMahon enjoyed significant success at Murray State, where he dominated the Ohio Valley Conference, including a perfect 18-0 conference record with the help of current NBA All-Star guard Ja Morant.

LSU boasts a well-rounded team with multiple threats on both ends of the court. Several players excel in rebounding, facilitating the offense, and providing strong defensive efforts, making them a balanced and competitive squad.

Offensively, LSU's biggest threat is senior Cam Carter, who is playing the best basketball of his collegiate career. Now on his third team in four years, Carter has emerged as a key contributor for the Tigers this season.

Carter has started every game this season and averaged the most minutes on the roster. He has contributed more than 17 points and four rebounds per game while shooting 46% from the field. Additionally, he shoots 43% from 3-point range and averages nearly two steals per game on defense.

Carter has the ability to get hot and score from all over the court; however, he averages more than two turnovers per game. He tends to get flustered when his shots aren't falling, which can lead to increased turnovers.

Mizzou needs to defend him early and force him into taking tough shots to create more turnovers and take him out of the game completely.

In their three losses this season, Carter has been a non-factor for the team. He committed four turnovers in each game, shot under 30% from the field, and scored just 11 points in both. The Tigers might benefit from following that blueprint if they hope to eliminate him from LSU's game plan.

Along with Carter, LSU features an impressive freshman, Corey Chest. The 6-foot-8 forward averages more than eight rebounds per game and has recorded double-digit rebounds in seven games this season, including a season-high 13 in a win over Kansas State.

Junior big man Daimion Collins is also a key contributor, averaging eight points, five rebounds, and nearly two blocks per game. His defensive presence is significant and could be a game-changer if the Tigers aren’t careful.

Mizzou shouldn’t have a hard time with this one as long as they stick to their game plan. It’s crucial for them to respond to Saturday’s loss and even their conference record at 1-1.

LSU travels to Mizzou Arena on Tuesday night for an 8 p.m. tipoff, as the Tigers look to get back in the win column and back on track.