The LSU Basketball team sits at 10-2 in Non-Conference play with just one out of conference game left against Mississippi Valley State remaining before SEC play. If you had to grade how LSU has handled its Non-Conference slate it would be "better than expected". Every game that LSU should have won they've won, the Tigers have three nice wins over UCF, Florida State, and Kansas State while they've lost against their two best opponents in SMU and Pittsburgh.
As SEC Play approaches, its tough to tell how the Tigers will compare to the rest of the SEC because the Tigers haven't played the toughest teams outside of the conference. The determining factor in how far LSU goes in this season and how they fare in the SEC will be true freshman Vyctorius Miller.
At this point, we all know what we're getting from Cam Carter and Jordan Sears this team's most reliable combination. Carter and Sears at worst will each score ten points while at the most we'll likely only see them get up to 25 points. The player that has that superstar ability and the ability to take their game to another level is Vyctorius Miller.
After Miller scored 17 points on Sunday, Cam Carter showed a ton of praise to the True Freshman guard.
"He could have had more, but sometimes he hesitates. I tell him, if you can see the rim, shoot the ball. He's one of the best shot makers I've ever seen."Cam Carter
The fact of the matter is that Miller is the best pure scorer on this team and it may not be close. If you give Miller a Mid-Range Jumper, he'll take it an he'll make you pay as he's shown all season.
Vyctorius Miller sees drop defense and will take that mid-range jumper all day for LSU basketball pic.twitter.com/L7bD5cN019
— Toyloy Brown III (@TJ3rd_) December 22, 2024
If you then step up to take away the jump shot or the floater, Miller will blow by you and finish with authority.
Vyctorius Miller takes flight for LSU basketball, getting a smooth one-hand tomahawk dunk after the steal pic.twitter.com/NuWHYrViuX
— Toyloy Brown III (@TJ3rd_) December 22, 2024
If you get lost on a screen or if you respect Miller's screen, he's not afraid to take a pull-up three and given that he's shooting 31% from three this season and 41.6% over the last five games, he's going to make you pay.
LSU basketball's Vyctorius Miller is such a smooth operator.
— Toyloy Brown III (@TJ3rd_) December 22, 2024
6-5 freshman guard brings it up and comfortably drills pullup 3 against UNO defender who goes under screen pic.twitter.com/gFi6a9rezd
On the season, Miller is scoring 10.8 points per game while shooting 46.5% from the field. Miller's averaging just eight shots per game a number that should only increase as Miller continues to find his footing.
The Tigers had their true third option in Jalen Reed but, he tore his ACL and Carter and Sears have needed a third player to help carry the scoring load. The Tigers best lineup right now is when Matt McMahon gets Vyctorius Miller, Cam Carter, Dji Bailey, and Jordan Sears all onto the court together.
Frankly, Matt McMahon knows what he's getting every game from Bailey, Carter, and Sears and he likely could pencil them in for at minimum 30 points to game while you can expect atleast 45 from the trio each game. The guy that has to be that high upside scorer for this team in SEC play is Miller as he has the talent to be the guy that elevates this team above the highly ranked teams In Conference.
It'll be interesting to see how Miller handles the speed and physicality of SEC play and it'll likely take some time to get used to but, he has to be the guy who steps up in a big way for LSU.