Louisiana State @ Texas A&M preview
Reed Arena
Last Meeting ( Feb 4, 2017 ) Texas A&M 85, Louisiana State 73
Reinforcements are on the way for No. 13 Texas A&M, which hopes to avoid an 0-3 start to SEC play when it hosts LSU on Saturday. Leading scorer DJ Hogg is expected to return from a three-game suspension for violating school policy, but the Aggies again could be without guards Admon Gilder and Duane Wilson due to knee injuries.
The short-handed Aggies struggled to score in losses to Alabama (79-57) and Florida (83-66) in their first two conference games. The setback against the Gators was Texas A&M’s first this season at home. The Tigers are trying to avoid a similar 0-2 start to league play after falling short in a 74-71 home loss to Kentucky on Wednesday. Texas A&M has won three straight meetings and six of its last seven against the Tigers, including two victories last season.
TV: 2:15 p.m. ET, SEC Network
ABOUT LSU (9-4, 0-1 SEC): The Tigers like to get the ball up the floor in first-year coach Will Wade’s system, and their guard play fits the bill. Freshman Tremont Waters (17.1 points, 6.4 assists) and sophomore Skylar Mays (12.8 points) can push the ball or let it fly from 3-point range, where the former shoots 44.9 percent. Duop Reath (11.9 points, 4.7 rebounds) and Aaron Epps (9.9, 6.3) will have tough assignments against the Aggies’ frontcourt, which is one of the best in the SEC.
ABOUT TEXAS A&M (11-3, 0-2): The Aggies’ offense has sputtered without Hogg (14.6 points, 6.8 rebounds), Gilder (12.7, 5.3), and Wilson (12.1, 4.7 assists). The trio represents three of their top four scorers and their top three shooters, and Gilder is an excellent on-ball defender. Getting Hogg back should stretch the defense and allow more room in the post to operate for Tyler Davis (13.8 points, 8.1 rebounds) and Robert Williams (8.4, 10, 2.7 blocks).
TIP-INS
1. Texas A&M ranks ninth nationally in rebound margin (plus-9.5) and has outrebounded 13 of its 14 opponents.
2. LSU is shooting 59.8 percent on two-point field goals, the fourth-best mark in the nation.
3. Williams has blocked a shot in 41 consecutive games, the longest active streak in the country.
PREDICTION: Texas A&M 73, LSU 70