Later this week, the Southeastern Conference basketball for both the women and the men’s teams will begin.
The LSU women’s team will open their 16-game conference schedule against Kentucky at the PMAC on Thursday night. The LSU men’s team will start their 18-game league schedule against Texas A&M at College Station on Saturday afternoon.
The two programs have different goals.
Coach Kim Mulkey’s women’ team wants to assure itself a top four seed in the NCAA tournament. Winning the SEC title would certainly be enough to result in an even higher seed for the NCAA tourney.
Coach Matt McMahon needs his men’s team to reach the NCAA tournament for the first time in four seasons in Baton Rouge. Picking up ten victories against their SEC opponents will put the Tigers in position to play in the Big Dance and for McMahon to keep his job.
Although the two teams have very different expectations, what occurs on the defensive end of the floor will determine the success in the SEC regular season for both the women and the men’s squads.
Three teams are at the top of the women’s pecking order – Texas, South Carolina and LSU. The three teams have lost one time – South Carolina against Texas in Las Vegas. Now, the Tigers have played the least challenging schedule of the three teams.
LSU has faced one power conference opponent – Duke. South Carolina has played six power league teams – Clemson, USC, Duke, Texas, Louisville and Penn State. Texas has played four power league teams – UCLA, South Carolina, North Carolina and Baylor.
Everyone knows about the offensive explosion coming from Mulkey’s teams with their 11 games of 100-plus points. However, how the Tigers defend will determine what occurs during the SEC action.
LSU’s defensive numbers in its 14 non-conference games are excellent. However, Duke scored 77 points and shot 50 percent from the field against the Tigers. Mulkey knows such a defensive performance is not going to hold up against the best teams in the SEC.
Against its six power conference opponents, South Carolina gave up 59 points per game. Those six teams made 46 percent of their field goal attempts, including 36 percent on 3-pointers. The Gamecocks averaged eight steals and five blocked shots in those six games.
Against its four power conference opponents, Texas gave up 62 points per game. Those four teams made 45 percent of their field goal attempts, including 37 percent on 3-pointers. The Longhorns averaged 12 steals and five blocked shots in those four games.
Following her team’s victory over Alabama State on Sunday, Mulkey explained she does not know what to expect from her team when the caliber of competition increases. Flau’jae Johnson and Mikaylah Williams are the only players who have gone through the SEC grind.
The men’s team has faced a slightly more challenging schedule than the women’s team. McMahon’s team won two of three games against power-conference teams – beating Boston College and SMU and losing to Texas Tech.
The Tigers’ defensive numbers in those three games are not proficient enough to be a first-division SEC team. LSU allowed 76 points per game. The three teams made 44 percent of their field goal attempts, including a disturbing 41 percent on 3-pointers.
In addition, the Tigers were outrebounded by an average of 2.7 boards per game against the three power-league teams. Moreover, LSU had almost the same number of assists and turnovers in those three games.
Without a doubt, the Tigers have their most talented roster under McMahon. However, the players are mostly offense oriented. Jalen Reed’s season-ending injury has negatively impacted the LSU defense. Also, Robert Miller has struggled in recent weeks.
The Tigers’ starting five of Dedan Thomas, Max Mackinnon, Marquel Sutton, Pablo Tamba and Mike Nwoko will log heavy minutes in SEC games. Jalen Reece, Rashad King and Miller have been inconsistent in their play off the bench.
Defensive lapses and depth issues are not two good traits for a team seeking to have a winning SEC record.
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