Tip off 8 PM EST
Spread: LSU -1.5
Total: 140
M/L: LSU -125, BOI +105
LSU
While this year hasn’t been outstanding for the Tigers, it has been better than last year. A year ago, they finished with a 3-13 in conference record, while finishing last in conference offense with only 0.87 points per possesion, and their defense was atrocious, too, the second worst, with 1.06 points per possession surrendered.
Wins over Rutgers and Georgia Tech have inspired some hope in the 5-3 Tigers, though. While they don’t rank high in any statistical cateogories, they are averaging a respectabel 70.6 points per game and are paced by the quartet of Andre Stringer (12.1 ppg), Anthony Hickey (11.0 ppg), Justin Hamilton (10.9 ppg), and Ralston Turner (10.5 ppg). Turner and Stringer both averaged double figures last season as well, while Hickey and Hamilton are both new newcomers, Hickey a freshman and Hamilton a transfer student from ISU.
Stringer has been pretty good and pretty consistent, but had poor showings against both Coastal Carolina and Western Kentucky. His 20 point game against South Alabama has been his best so far, thoguh the Tigers lost. The 5’9″ sophomore point guard shot 6 of 10 from the floor while getting to the line 6 times and recording 4 assists. If the Tigers are going to go anywhere this year, it will be on the little man’s shoulders, as he is clearly their best player moving forward, along with Hickey, who should prove to be a good four year player.
BOISE STATE
Last year was a very good one for the Boise State Broncos. They finished with a 22-13 record, while going 10-6 in conference play, where they had one of the best defenses, ranking 3rd in the Mountain West, surrendering only 1.00 points per possession. They lost to Oregon by 8 in the CBI semifinals, and this year could be even better.
So far, they are 9th in the nation in points per game and have already scored over 100 once, in a 100 to 64 rout of Drake. All of their opponents have been horrible, but you can’t fault them for having a weak schedule. They do not face a single ranked opponent all season.
Strangely, for a team averaging so many points, only one player even averages in double figures, 6’6″ freshman swingman Anthony Drmic. Drmic, however you would try to pronounce it, has scored in double figures every game except the opening night win against Co Christian. He has already posted two 20+ point games.
The reason for the lack of standouts is because the Broncos use a spread out 9 man rotation, in which they have 9 players averaging at least 16 minutes per game, while no one plays more than 27 a game. It will keep the Broncos fresh as they dominate the conference. It’s a shame we won’t see them in March, nor will we get to see them face any tests unless they make the NIT or CBI again.
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