Houston Basketball: 3 keys for the game against LSU

WICHITA, KS - MARCH 17: Head coach Kelvin Sampson of the Houston Cougars talks with the team as they take on the Michigan Wolverines in the second half during the second round of the 2018 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at INTRUST Bank Arena on March 17, 2018 in Wichita, Kansas. The Michigan Wolverines won 64-63 with a 3-point buzzer beater. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images) /

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WICHITA, KS – MARCH 15: Trey Kell #3 of the San Diego State Aztecs attempts a shot defended by Galen Robinson Jr. #25 of the Houston Cougars during the second half of the first round of the 2018 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament at INTRUST Arena on March 15, 2018 in Wichita, Kansas. The Houston Cougars defeated the San Diego State Aztecs 67-65. (Photo by Jeff Gross/Getty Images) /

The Cougars must try and slow a deep LSU offense

Another key for Houston will be how well they can slow down the Tigers’ high-powered offense. Not only does LSU have a top-50 offense in the country with their 82 points per game, but they also shoot it well from the floor and from the free throw, where they shoot 73%.

Even though the Cougars have been elite defensively, what will pose a problem for Houston will be how deep and diverse the LSU offense is. Of the Tigers four double-digit, three of them are guards, junior Skylar Mays, sophomore Tremont Waters, and freshman Ja’vonte Smart combine for 37.4 points, while star freshman forward Naz Reid is second on the team with 12.1 points.

While those four are the Tigers’ offensive focal point, what makes Will Wade’s squad difficult to deal with on the offensive end is its depth. Aside from the starting five, they get over 25 points per game from their bench that consists of two more guards, Marlon Taylor and Daryl Edwards, and two forwards Kavell Bigby-Williams and Darius Davis, all four of whom average at least five points off the bench.

Not knowing where the scoring is coming from, whether it’s the frontcourt or the backcourt, the starters or the bench will be the biggest question Houston will have to answer in order to keep the Tigers down.