LSU Basketball: Keys to success in crucial home game vs. Tennessee

LSU and Tennessee meet on Saturday in a game that might decide the SEC regular season champion. Here’s how the Tigers can pull off the upset.

LSU has been one of the biggest surprises of this basketball season. With a solid group of returners boosted by an excellent freshmen class, the Tigers have put themselves in position to compete for the SEC title after missing the NCAA Tournament altogether last year.

Saturday’s game against Tennessee represents perhaps the biggest regular-season game LSU has played in the last decade.

The two teams are at the top of the SEC standings and would have been tied for first had the Tigers taken care of business this week. Instead, they were upset by Florida in overtime and now need this win to have any realistic chance of winning the conference.

Head coach Will Wade said on Monday’s teleconference – prior to the loss to the Gators – that his team understands what’s at stake down the stretch.

"“We haven’t really talked about it that much. We’ve talked more about the ingredients that go into what would become winning the SEC, but our guys are certainly aware of things and where things stand.”"

The good news is that the Vols are looking vulnerable. Ranked No. 1 for the previous month, Tennessee had their 19-game win streak come to a close last weekend in a blowout loss to Kentucky, and they struggled in a 12-point home win over Vanderbilt.

Both programs now enter Saturday’s game with something to prove against another high-end opponent.

If LSU wants to confirm their place as one of the country’s best teams and as the favorite in the SEC, this is a game they must have. The same goes for Tennessee, who also wants to put some validation on their lofty record and prove they’re one of the nation’s elite teams.

How will LSU win this important game? Here are the three biggest keys: