LSU Basketball: 2019-20 keys for Tigers to bounce back against Auburn
By John Vaccaro
Get to the Free Throw Line
If there is one glaring issue with an Auburn defense that has been pretty solid throughout the season, it is the number of free throws they allow opposing teams to shoot. They commit an average of 18.7 fouls per game and allow opponents to attempt 19 free throws per game. The only reason it hasn’t been too big of a problem for them yet is that their opponents have been below average from the line all season. That won’t be the case against LSU.
LSU has not only been great at getting to the free throw line this season, attempting 21.5 free throws per game, but they have also made their chances at the line count. Their 76.8% shooting from the charity stripe makes them 24th best free throw shooting team in the country.
This has always been one of the simplest paths to picking up wins on the road. Teams tend to see their shooting numbers from the field drop when they go on the road, but consistently getting to the line can offset that. Seeing the ball go through the hoop at the line will also help players bust out of slumps when they are struggling to shoot. I believe that LSU is built perfectly for this.
LSU also knocks down 9.3% more of their free throws than Auburn. That means that if LSU can turn this into a physical game where the teams are battling it out at the free throw line, they’ll be the team that benefits from that more.
LSU needs to get themselves to the free throw line as often as possible in this game to keep this offense rolling and get an important win on the road.