LSU and Missouri Battle for Their First SEC Win

It’s a Tiger vs. Tiger showdown as LSU and Missouri go head-to-head on Tuesday night in Columbia, Mo. Both teams are coming off losses in their SEC openers and are hungry to turn things around. With strong pre-conference records, they’re eager to prove they belong in the mix as the SEC season heats up.

LSU: Learning the SEC Ropes

LSU’s first SEC game didn’t go as planned. They fell 80-72 at home to Vanderbilt, struggling with turnovers and giving up too many second-chance points.

• Turnover Troubles: The Tigers committed 11 first-half turnovers, leading to a 15-2 deficit in points off turnovers.
• Cam Carter Leading the Way: Carter, a Kansas State transfer and LSU’s top scorer at 17.3 points per game, admitted the team had some growing pains:”We had our ‘welcome to the SEC moment’ in the first half. In the second half, we woke up.”
• Size Matters: LSU’s smaller lineup got exposed as Vanderbilt dominated second-chance points 18-4.
• Consistency Needed: LSU has struggled to play two strong halves, something they’ll need to fix fast in SEC play.

Missouri: Chasing Their First SEC Win in a While

Missouri’s road to their first SEC win just got longer after an 84-68 loss at No. 2 Auburn. That marked their 21st straight SEC defeat, but this team has shown flashes of potential.

• The Bench Mob: Missouri leads the nation in bench scoring, averaging 41.8 points per game. Against Auburn, their reserves outscored the Tigers 47-29, with graduate guard Marques Warrick leading the way with 19 points.
• Defensive Prowess: Missouri’s aggressive defense is no joke. They average 13 steals per game (sixth in the nation) and even exceeded that with 13 steals against Auburn.
• Coach Gates’ Take: Head coach Dennis Gates isn’t discouraged:”We just have to bounce back. Auburn is a great team, but we need to be better prepared.”
• Offensive Reset Needed: Missouri scored fewer than 75 points for the first time this season, and they’ll need to get back on track offensively to compete.

What to Watch For

• Why LSU Could Win:
  LSU showed signs of learning and adjusting during the second half against Vanderbilt. If Cam Carter can stay hot and they clean up the turnovers, they’ll be in a good spot.
• Why Missouri Could Win:
  Missouri’s high-pressure defense could make life miserable for LSU’s ball-handlers. Add in their bench scoring depth and the home-court advantage, and they’re primed to end their SEC losing streak.

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The Bottom Line

This game is all about who can shake off their last loss and set the tone for the rest of the SEC season. LSU needs to protect the ball and play with more consistency, while Missouri’s depth and defense could give them the edge.

Will LSU figure it out, or will Missouri finally snap their SEC losing streak? Either way, it’s shaping up to be an intense battle in Columbia.