The LSU Basketball team has just one game against Mississippi Valley State before the start of SEC play. The Tigers are off to a 10-2 start a year removed from finishing 17-16 in part because of some ugly Non-Conference losses. The difference for LSU this season in making the NCAA Tournament will be SEC Play as the Tigers did a solid job in Non-Conference play but, will need to add some big wins. The good news is, LSU will get several chances to pick up those massive wins in their first month of conference play.
The Tigers open Conference play at home hosting the 11-1 Vanderbilt Commodores who have already beaten their 9-23 record last season. The Commodores are scoring 85.4 points per game while allowing just 66.9 with both numbers just edging out LSU's. The Commodores are an incredibly tough team to play against but, when you look at the rest of LSU's schedule in January its a must win game.
LSU then heads on the road to take on the Missouri Tigers who are off to a 10-2 start to the season with a massive win over Kansas. Last season, Missouri finished 0-18 in SEC Play which certainly won't happen this season. Missouri sports one of the SEC's best offenses scoring 87.8 points per game and have been great at turning their opponents over. This is a 10-2 Basketball team and they're easily in the bottom half of who LSU will play in January which speaks to the Conference's depth.
After Missouri, LSU heads to Oxford to take on the 16th Ranked OIe Miss Rebels who have started the year 11-1. The Rebels under Chris Beard have been playing incredible defense allowing opponents to score just 63.8 points per game. Going on the road in SEC play and winning is never easy but, this is an easily winnable game for LSU if they play their game.
The Tigers will then return home to host the 23rd ranked Arkansas Razorbacks in John Calipari's first season at Arkansas. The Razorbacks scoring has been led by Adou Thiero but, Boogie Fland and DJ Wagner continue to gain experience continuing to reach the high ceilings they had as recruits. If LSU is going to exceed expectations and push for the NCAA Tournament, this is the kind of game the Tigers need to win against a tough opponent at home.
After facing Arkansas, LSU will go back on the road to face their 3rd straight ranked team of 5 straight ranked matchups when they face Texas A&M. The Aggies are 10-2 ranking 13th in the AP Poll with one Non-Conference game remaining. The Aggies score 74.8 points per game which ranks 213th in the Nation but, their defense has been incredible allowing just 66.3 points per game.
The Tigers then host their first Top 5 opponent of the season when they host the 5th ranked Alabama Crimson Tide. The Crimson Tide win with offense which has been the case under Nate Oats as the Tide are scoring 88.7 points per game. When Alabama's shooting goes cold they're an easily beatable team but, with almost another month before this game the Tide should build their chemistry up further.
Finally, LSU finishes an incredibly tough month by hosting the 2nd ranked Auburn Tigers who are 11-1 on the season. Auburn has the Nation's 6th best scoring offense scoring 88.4 points per game while allowing just 65.4 points per game. The thing that makes Auburn so difficult to beat is that they have 6 players scoring at or above 10 points per game as anyone of their pieces can get hot on a given night.
Pick off one of the top teams and defend home court
It would be unfair and unrealistic to think that LSU can win all 7 games as some of the other teams have more talent while this is also the toughest conference in the Country. The realistic goal and hope from this team should be that they can pick off an Auburn or Alabama as it'd give them that top end win that will look great in March. Defending home court is also a massive deal in this league as its tough to win on the road, LSU gets to host Vanderbilt, Arkansas, and Auburn even if the Tigers finished the month 3-4 but, defended home court those two ranked wins would go a long way.