As things currently stand, the LSU Basketball team will enter February with a 12-8 record and a 1-6 record in SEC Play. The Tigers solid start to the season has since been erased by a poor start to SEC Play which has the Tigers on the outside looking in when it comes to the NCAA Tournament race. The Tigers will most likely take a step back this season after going 17-16 with a 9-9 record in SEC Play in 2023-2024.
The LSU Basketball team wasn't projected to be one of the top teams in the SEC but, this season does still feel like a disappointment and a step back after the team had momentum last season. The LSU Basketball season and the failures to take the next step will be defined by three challenges the Tigers haven't been able to overcome.
Every time the Tigers have lost it's been in part because of the teams issues turning the Basketball over. In every loss in SEC Play, the Tigers have turned the Basketball over 14 times or more averaging 16.33 turnovers per game in their losses. In most games, LSU is at a talent disadvantage and when you give the opponent fast break chances and additional possessions they will make you pay.
The new standard in SEC Basketball has become fast paced play and a ton of three point attempts. The Tigers haven't been able to find their rhythm from deep all season long and it has hurt this team as they try to keep pace with their opponents. LSU is shooting 31.1% from three which ranks 321st in the Country and 15th in the SEC. There are ways to win without shooting well from deep but, LSU is attempting 25.1 threes per game and are only knocking down 7.8 per game.
The biggest factor in why the LSU Basketball team has struggled this season is the loss of players to injuries. The Tigers lost Tyrell Ward for the entire season before the season kicked off, Jalen Reed tore his ACL before SEC Play, and Vyctorius Miller has missed nearly half of SEC Play.
Losing Tyrell Ward before the season even tipped off is the loss that hasn't been talked about enough with the LSU Basketball team. Ward had taken a big jump from year one to year two jumping from 3.7 points per game to 9.1 points per game. If Ward was able to take another step in his development, he would've been one of the Tigers leading scorers, instead the Tigers didn't get any production out of Ward. Last season, Ward shot 41.3% from three which would be the best on the team and if he regressed to his Freshman mark of 34.8% he'd rank second on the team which badly needs three point shooting.
Jalen Reed was the Tigers best player down low and when the offense went into scoring lulls, he was the player that could get LSU back into a rhythm. Prior to getting injured, Jalen Reed ranked third on the team scoring 11.1 points per game while shooting 60.4% from the field. Reed was also a massive presence on the interior for the Tigers defense and ever since losing Jalen Reed this team hasn't been the same.
Vyctorius Miller was one of the stars of Non-Conference Play as he was emerging as one of the best guards on the team in his freshman season. Miller struggled to start SEC Play then he got injured and missed three games before returning. The injury setback will only make getting used to SEC Play more difficult and the rest of the season he may be playing injured.
The Tigers thankfully get to turn the page heading into February after a brutal January both schedule and results wise. If LSU is going to make a push for the NCAA Tournament, the Tigers are going to need to rattle off some wins and the good news is five of their opponents in February are ranked outside the Top 25.