23. LSU (8-0)
Regardless of the level of opposition, there’s certainly something notable about being undefeated at this point in the season, as it’s a list of teams that is shrinking rapidly. The Tigers haven’t exactly been challenged, though they put on a show with great performances last week against DePaul and Drake in the Emerald Coast Classic. Still, Matt McMahon is trying to put together a winning program in Baton Rouge and may have his best team in his fourth season.
Despite building a double-digit lead before the half, the Tigers needed overtime to overcome Boston College, winning 78-69 on the road back on Wednesday night. That victory, part of the ACC/SEC Challenge, was propelled by a 23-point, 7-assist effort from Dedan Thomas Jr. LSU also got great work from Marquel Sutton with 18 points and 13 rebounds.
Questions still exist about this LSU team, even if the metrics like the early work that LSU has done this season. They’ll certainly get their fair shares of tests in the SEC, but it’s hard to find much to hate when you survive the first five weeks of the season without a loss. Whatever you argue about this early schedule, LSU’s real trial begins this week with games over Texas Tech on Sunday and then SMU the following Saturday.