East Tennessee St. @ Louisiana State preview

LSU will look for a fifth straight win when it returns to the court after a 10-day break to host a very good East Tennessee State team on Wednesday. The four consecutive wins, since an 80-78 loss to Utah State on Nov. 22 have, been by a combined 114 points, including a 109-59 win over Northwestern State on Dec. 8.

The Tigers put seven players in double figures and reached 100 points for the third time in Will Wade's three-year tenure. Javonte Smart led the way with 17 points, and over the last three games has recorded 35 points, 20 assists and 3 turnovers. "I thought Javonte played great, 17 points with three assists and no turnovers," Wade told reporters. "Javonte has been coming in and working on his shot and working hard. I think he's certainly paid it off and I was really happy to see him play well." East Tennessee State, which won 76 games over the past three years and has lost this season to No. 1 Kansas and North Dakota State on Dec. 7, is coming off a 97-41 win over NAIA Milligan.

TV: 7 p.m. ET, SEC Network

ABOUT EAST TENNESSEE STATE (9-2): The Buccaneers scored 31 consecutive points, recorded a season-high 20 steals and had 43 points off turnovers in the rout of Milligan, as Tray Boyd III (14.6 points, 31-of-66 from the arc, 47 percent) led the charge with 20 points on 7-of-9 shooting. Bo Hodges averages 14.5 points, 5.8 rebounds, 2.5 assists and 1.4 steals and Daivien Williamson chips in 10.6 points and shoots 40.9 percent from the arc. The Bucs can do some damage from long distance, averaging nearly 23 attempts per game and connecting on 38 percent.

ABOUT LSU (7-2): Darius Days (14.2 points, 5.2 rebounds) extended his consecutive double-figure scoring streak to nine games with 16 points while Emmitt Williams (15.4 points, 7.9 rebounds) followed his 18 point-10 rebound performance against New Orleans with 16 points on 6-of-6 shooting and 10 rebounds against Northwestern State - his third double-double of the season. Senior guard Skylar Mays runs the show, averaging 16 points, 5.2 rebounds and three assists while shooting 40 percent from the floor.

TIP-INS

1. LSU's 50-point win was the Tigers' seventh 50-point win since 1954.

2. The Buccaneers are the preseason favorites in the Southern Conference with three players on the league's preseason all-conference team – Hodges, Jeromy Rodriguez and Williamson.

3. Wade said Monday that he hopes to have injured senior Marlon Taylor, who started 24 games a year ago (6.7 points, 3.6 rebounds), back for this game.

PREDICTION: LSU 80, East Tennessee State 74