The LSU Basketball team heads on the road on Tuesday Night to take on the Missouri Tigers. The game is a massive game for LSU now as the Tigers started off SEC play by losing to Vanderbilt a team LSU could've beaten. Based on how LSU played against Vanderbilt, the Tigers need to improve in three areas in order to win this game.
Cut down on the turnovers
The LSU Basketball team had a great shot at beating Vanderbilt this weekend except the Tigers practically handed the game away. LSU put itself in a massive hole in the first half by turning the ball over 11 times allowing Vanderbilt to score 15 points off of turnovers. In the second half, LSU only turned the ball over 4 times allowing Vandy to score 3 points but, the damage was done.
Part of the issue was LSU not being adjusted to the physicality and toughness of SEC play which may take more than one game to adjust to. As LSU goes on the road, the Tigers can't afford to throw this game away with turnovers otherwise it'll result in LSU heading home 0-2.
Get a bigger contribution from the bench
Another key reason as to why LSU lost to Vanderbilt is because of the lack of scoring off of the bench. The Tigers scored just 8 points off of the bench as Curtis Givens III scored 6 points and Robert Miller III scored 2 points. Thus far this season, Vyctorius Miller has been one of LSU's most important pieces and the game showed that LSU can't win in games where he goes scoreless.
In this game, LSU is going to need a bigger contribution from its bench especially if one of the starters get into trouble. This has to be a game where Matt McMahon gets Vyctorius Miller involved early on helping him finding his rhythm otherwise LSU will be in trouble.
Shoot the Three more often
While turnovers told the story of the game, the difference in the game was also the advantage Vanderbilt had shooting the three pointer. The Tigers only took 18 threes knocking down 5 four of which were by Cam Carter. The other Tigers need to shoot the three more often and they need to start making them at a higher rate. Nearly every team in the Country is trying to find a way to shoot as many threes as possible and LSU should follow suit.