Louisiana State @ Memphis preview
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Last Meeting ( Nov 29, 2013 ) Memphis 76, Louisiana State 69
LSU faces its first true road test of the season Thursday, and it’s a doozy. The Tigers look to snap their nine-game skid on opponents’ courts when they visit Memphis, which is 9-0 at home.
It’s a critical test for LSU, which has played only three games away from home – it went 1-2 in the Maui Jim Maui Invitational in November – but will hit the road for two of its first three SEC contests. LSU has won two straight in dominant fashion, but playing on an opponent’s court presents a different dynamic. "On the road, tough environment, you can’t turn the ball over,” LSU coach Will Wade told reporters. “You can’t give teams extra cracks. I worry about that. I worry about defensive communication. It is a little different when it is at home or on a neutral site.” Memphis is undefeated at home but has been far from perfect, needing to rally from double-digit deficits six times - including each of its last two games.
TV: 9 p.m. ET, CBSSN
ABOUT LSU (8-3): The Tigers have adjusted well to Wade’s up-tempo style, with freshman point guard Tremont Waters (17 points, 6.3 assists) leading the way. Duop Reath (12.6 points, 4.5 rebounds) and Aaron Epps (10.1, 6.3) give LSU a pair of capable post players at 6-11 and 6-10, respectively. Skylar Mays (12.6 points) is coming off a season-low six points in Friday’s 104-52 win over North Florida, but fellow guard Brandon Sampson (9.4) returned and scored seven in 10 minutes in his first action since spraining his left ankle in the opening minute of the Tigers’ fourth game of the season.
ABOUT MEMPHIS (9-3): Coach Tubby Smith’s Tigers have struggled more than they would like against some weaker competition, but they’ve played up to the level of stronger opponents in competitive losses to Alabama and Louisville. Memphis counts on Jeremiah Martin (18.6 points) and Kyvon Davenport (13.1, 6.3 rebounds) on the offensive end but relies on playing strong defense to stay in games. Senior forward Jimario Rivers (10.4 points, five rebounds) is expected to return after missing the last two games with a concussion.
TIP-INS
1. LSU shoots 61.3 percent on 2-point field goals, second in the nation behind Creighton (61.8).
2. Smith is 12-4 against LSU in stops at Georgia, Kentucky and Texas Tech.
3. Wade, the second-youngest active coach at a Power Five school at 35 years old, is one win away from 100 for his career.
PREDICTION: LSU 79, Memphis 75