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SEC Tournament Preview: Mississippi State vs. LSU

By Matt Green

Mar 4, 2017; Starkville, MS, USA; LSU Tigers guard Antonio Blakeney (2) handles the ball during the first half of the game against the LSU Tigers at Humphrey Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Matt Bush-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 4, 2017; Starkville, MS, USA; LSU Tigers guard Antonio Blakeney (2) handles the ball during the first half of the game against the LSU Tigers at Humphrey Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Matt Bush-USA TODAY Sports /
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The first game of the SEC Tournament is Wednesday night between the Mississippi State Bulldogs  and the LSU Tigers.

Mississippi State (15-15, 6-12 in SEC) comes into this matchup on the downslide. The Bulldogs were 12-4 on Jan. 14 before things went south. They went 3-11 in their final 14 games, including seven straight losses. But they did win the season finale against the team they’ll see in the first round of the SEC Tournament, the LSU Tigers.

LSU (10-20, 2-16 in SEC) hasn’t played well all season. From Jan. 7 to Feb. 25 the Tigers lost 15 straight games, the longest losing streak in school history.. They did get a victory over Tennessee in the final week of the regular season, but that’s probably the only bright spot you can find about this team.

With rumors circulating that Johnny Jones is on the way out after the SEC Tournament, it will be interesting to see how the Tigers respond. But according to ESPN Senior Writer Andy Katz, Jones has not been informed by anyone in the LSU administration that he’s going to be terminated.

Jones still has two years left on his contract and is owed an estimated $800,000.

Mississippi State Bulldogs: By the Numbers

Feb 4, 2017; Starkville, MS, USA; Mississippi State Bulldogs guard Quinndary Weatherspoon (11) goes up for a dunk during the second half of the game against the Tennessee Volunteers at Humphrey Coliseum. Mississippi State won 64-59. Mandatory Credit: Matt Bush-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 4, 2017; Starkville, MS, USA; Mississippi State Bulldogs guard Quinndary Weatherspoon (11) goes up for a dunk during the second half of the game against the Tennessee Volunteers at Humphrey Coliseum. Mississippi State won 64-59. Mandatory Credit: Matt Bush-USA TODAY Sports /

Points/Game: 72.9 (184th in NCAA)

Opponents’ Points/Game: 71.8 (164th)

Field Goal Percentage: 44.5% (169th)

Opponents’ Field Goal Percentage: 42.9% (134th)

Key Players:

  • Quinndary Weatherspoon, So. – 16.6 pts., 5.1 reb., 1.7 stl.
  • Lamar Peters, Fr. – 10.9 pts., 3.4 ast., 1.1 stl.
  • Aric Holman, So. – 8.4 pts., 6.1 reb., 2.0 blk.

LSU Tigers: By the Numbers

Points/Game: 75.6 (123rd in NCAA)

Opponents’ Points/Game: 83.1 (339th)

Field Goal Percentage: 45.4% (121st)

Opponents’ Field Goal Percentage: 47.2% (323rd)

Key Players:

  • Antonio Blakeney, So. – 17.4 pts., 4.8 reb.
  • Duop Reath, Jr. – 12.2 pts., 6.4 reb., 1.5 blk.
  • Skylar Mays, Fr./Jalyn Patterson, Jr. (Combined) – 14.1 pts., 6.7 ast., 2.6 stl.

Analysis

The Bulldogs and Tigers have played twice this season. Mississippi State won the first matchup 95-78. They had five guys score in double figures. Holman led the way with 17 points, 9 rebounds, and 2 blocks. The Bulldogs shot 54 percent from the field and 50 percent (11-for-22) from three.

Reath led the way for the Tigers with one of his best games of the season, scoring 19 points with 13 rebounds and 3 blocks. LSU shot 40 percent from the field and 33 percent (9-for-27) on threes.

Mississippi State also won the second matchup on Saturday 88-76. Weatherspoon led the way with 18 points on 8-of-11 shooting. Neither team shot well from three in this game, but Mississippi State shot 54 percent from the field.

It was a 12-point win, but the Bulldogs biggest lead was 18 points with seven minutes remaining. It’s tough to beat a team three times, and I believe LSU will be inspired to play for their coach. But I like Mississippi State in a close one.

Prediction:

Mississippi State

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