No. 5 Tennessee Looks to Stay Hot Against LSU in SEC Clash

Tennessee on a Mission as March Madness Approaches

With the NCAA Tournament looming, No. 5 Tennessee (22-5, 9-5 SEC) is playing some of its best basketball at the perfect time.

The Volunteers have won five of their last six games, including a statement victory over then-No. 7 Texas A&M (77-69) on Saturday. That win bolstered their case for a high seed in March Madness, and they’ll look to build on it when they face LSU (14-13, 3-11 SEC) on Tuesday night in Baton Rouge.

Tennessee showed its depth against the Aggies, but the night belonged to Chaz Lanier.

“I was just super locked in for this game,” Lanier said after his season-high 30-point performance.

The senior shot a blistering 8-for-13 from three-point range, finishing 10-of-18 from the field as Texas A&M struggled to contain him.

With one of the deepest rosters in the SEC, Tennessee continues to prove that anyone can step up on any given night.

Chaz Lanier Emerging as One of the SEC’s Top Scorers

Tennessee’s offensive firepower is a major reason they’re climbing the national rankings.

Chaz Lanier (17.8 PPG, 4.5 RPG) – Fourth in SEC scoring, third in 3-point percentage, and the conference leader in 3-pointers made.
Zakai Zeigler (13.4 PPG, 6.7 APG) – Tennessee’s floor general with elite playmaking and clutch shot-making.
Jordan Gainey (10.8 PPG) – A key late-game scorer, including 10 points in the final six minutes against Texas A&M.

Lanier’s ability to stretch the floor has completely changed Tennessee’s offense.

“All we wanted to do with Chaz is get him a little bit of separation,” coach Rick Barnes said. “He has gotten so much better because he has seen all kinds of defenses.”

But Lanier isn’t carrying the load alone.

Zeigler continues to deliver in clutch moments, scoring 13 of his 16 points in the second half against A&M. He also delivered a game-saving block on a potential game-tying three with a minute left.

“It seems like the bigger the moment, he thrives on that,” Barnes said of Zeigler.

With balanced scoring, a lockdown defense, and big-game experience, Tennessee looks like a legitimate Final Four contender.

LSU Looking to Pull Off an Upset & End Skid

LSU has been up and down this season, but there are signs of life.

The Tigers have won two of their last three games, and held their own against No. 2 Florida on Saturday before falling 79-65.

They led by six at halftime after an impressive 22-4 run, but Florida’s elite second-half offense was too much.

“I thought the final eight minutes of the first half was the best that we’d defended all year,” LSU coach Matt McMahon said. “We had some guys step up and hit some big threes for us.”

LSU’s Freshman Duo Could Be the X-Factor

LSU has two young stars who are starting to shine:

Robert Miller III (11.2 PPG, 6.8 RPG) – Had his first career double-double (19 points, 10 rebounds) against Florida.
Curtis Givens III (9.8 PPG, 4.2 APG) – Scored 11 points with 4 assists and no turnovers against the Gators.

“Curtis’ role has increased because of what he’s doing defensively,” McMahon said. “He’s making a lot of winning plays for us.”

McMahon also praised Miller’s work ethic and improvement.

“You see him get better and better every time out there,” McMahon said.

LSU needs this game to boost their season, and if Miller and Givens continue to develop, they could make things interesting against Tennessee.

What’s at Stake?

For Tennessee:

Continue building momentum before the SEC Tournament
Strengthen their case for a No. 1 or No. 2 seed in the NCAA Tournament
Keep showing why they’re a national title contender

For LSU:

Play spoiler against one of the best teams in the country
Gain confidence heading into the SEC Tournament
Snap their losing streak against Top 10 teams

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Prediction: Can LSU Keep It Close?

Tennessee has too much firepower, too much depth, and too much momentum for LSU to handle.

The Tigers have improved, but they haven’t been able to finish games against elite competition.

Unless LSU’s young stars play the game of their lives, expect Tennessee to pull away late and continue its march toward a deep postseason run.

Lsu Tigers vs Tennessee Volunteers Picks and Predictions February 25th 2025