Busting Brackets
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SEC Basketball: Buy or sell Kentucky, Tennessee and LSU

By Joe Cook-Shugart

LEXINGTON, KY - JANUARY 12: John Calipari the head coach of the Kentucky Wildcats gives instructions to his team against the Vanderbilt Commodores at Rupp Arena on January 12, 2019 in Lexington, Kentucky. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)
LEXINGTON, KY - JANUARY 12: John Calipari the head coach of the Kentucky Wildcats gives instructions to his team against the Vanderbilt Commodores at Rupp Arena on January 12, 2019 in Lexington, Kentucky. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images) /
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SYRACUSE, NY – SEPTEMBER 26: Former NBA player Karl Malone cheers on the LSU Tigers against the Syracuse Orange on September 26, 2015 at The Carrier Dome in Syracuse, New York. LSU defeats Syracuse 34-24. (Photo by Brett Carlsen/Getty Images)
SYRACUSE, NY – SEPTEMBER 26: Former NBA player Karl Malone cheers on the LSU Tigers against the Syracuse Orange on September 26, 2015 at The Carrier Dome in Syracuse, New York. LSU defeats Syracuse 34-24. (Photo by Brett Carlsen/Getty Images) /

LSU Tigers

Expectation: Make the Final Four
Buy or Sell: Sell

The Tigers are riding high after a (questionable at best) buzzer beating tip-in by Kavell Bigby-Williams to claim their first victory in Lexington this decade. That momentous victory put LSU alone in second place in the SEC conference standings, just a half game back of Tennessee, who they’ll play in a week’s time on February 23rd.

LSU has perhaps the best point guard in the SEC in Tremont Waters. His well-rounded ability (16 points per game, to go with 6 dimes, 3 boards, and 3 steals per game) make him a dangerous team leader to face come tournament time. Add in future NBA first-rounder Naz Reid, who is a truly modern inside-out threat (when he manages to stay out of foul trouble), and you have quite the dynamic duo.

So, why am I selling? Well, there are two primary reasons.

The first of those reasons is turnovers. The Tigers turn the ball over 14 times a game, and that actually starts with the otherwise mostly infallible Waters. On average, he turns the ball over almost 4 times a game. To succeed in March, a team needs to have a floor general that is going to maximize their possessions on a game to game basis, and Waters doesn’t always do that.

The second reason I’m selling: LSU’s struggle in playing defense without fouling. I already mentioned Reid’s proneness to fouling, but Bigby-Williams has the same issue. When the whistles become more frequent in the tournament, LSU is going to struggle with giving opponents too many freebies and having their key players in foul trouble.

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