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LSU vs Ole Miss: 2021 SEC Tournament game preview, TV schedule

By Matt Melton

FAYETTEVILLE, AR - MARCH 4: Javonte Smart #1 of the LSU Tigers runs the offense during a game against the Arkansas Razorbacks at Bud Walton Arena on March 4, 2020 in Fayetteville, Arkansas. The Razorbacks defeated the Tigers 99-90. (Photo by Wesley Hitt/Getty Images)
FAYETTEVILLE, AR - MARCH 4: Javonte Smart #1 of the LSU Tigers runs the offense during a game against the Arkansas Razorbacks at Bud Walton Arena on March 4, 2020 in Fayetteville, Arkansas. The Razorbacks defeated the Tigers 99-90. (Photo by Wesley Hitt/Getty Images) /
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When: 9:00 pm ET, Friday, March 12 on SEC Network

Location: Bridgestone Arena, Nashville, TN

Firmly cemented on the Bubble, Ole Miss picked up a much-needed win over South Carolina with a golden opportunity against LSU now ahead of them.

LSU finished the regular season by winning five of their last seven games to finish 11-6 in the SEC as the #3 seed in the SEC Tournament. The Tigers however have not won a game at the SEC Tournament since the 2015-2016 season and will have their hands full hoping to break that trend.

LSU is led by one of the top scorers in all of college basketball in star freshman Cameron Thomas. Thomas is averaging 23.1 PPG, which ranks 4th in the country, and has the ability to carry the Tigers against any opponent this time of year. The Tigers also have experienced players in Trendon Watford, Ja’Vonte Smart, and Darius Days, but will production from others in order to make some noise in the SEC and NCAA Tournament.

Ole Miss on the other hand did exactly what they needed to do on Thursday night, win. The Rebels defeated South Carolina 76-59 to move on to the SEC Tournament Quarterfinals.

The Rebels are currently sitting firmly on the Bubble in the “First Four Out” group according to ESPN’s Joe Lunardi, and they helped their case to make the NCAA Tournament with this win. Ole Miss got 15-3-5 from star guard Devontae Shuler, as well as good performances from Jarkel Joiner and Romello White. The Rebels will most likely need at least one more quality win to truly improve their chances of going dancing, and this opportunity with LSU presents just that.

The Tigers and Rebels only played once during the 2020-2021 season, which resulted in a 75-61 win for LSU. LSU has not had much recent success in Nashville, and with a potentially desperate Ole Miss team, this has all the makings of a potential tournament upset.

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Expect Ole Miss to come out firing, but will the Rebels be able to contain Cameron Thomas? If the Rebels pull off the upset, they potentially go dancing. If not, their Bubble may burst.

Prediction: LSU 80, Ole Miss 75

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