SMU Basketball: 3 keys to a win over LSU Tigers

SMU (8-2) is set to battle LSU (8-1) on Saturday, December 14 at the Comerica Center in Frisco, Texas. 

This tilt between the Mustangs and Tigers should play out to be a ferocious display of basketball as both teams have strong records and have defeated semi-difficult opponents. SMU defeated Washington State, who is now 8-2, while LSU defeated Central Florida and Florida State, two programs that currently sit with 7-2 records. 

Here are the keys to the Mustangs pulling off the victory.

Slowing down the LSU guard duo

If SMU wants to avenge the Tigers in what will be a quality quadrant-two win, they will have to shut down LSU senior guard Cam Carter and fifth-year senior guard Jordan Sears, the top two scorers listed on LSU’s roster. 

Carter is averaging 17.3 points per game and has the highest amount of points scored in a game in three games thus far. Sears, who is averaging 15.2 points per game, led LSU in points scored in two games. 

LSU has great help through other players like freshman Vyctorius Miller, who is averaging 11.2 points per game, and junior Jalen Reed, who is averaging 11.1 points per game. However, if SMU shuts down LSU’s two most crucial scorers, they should be able to hang in there and let their top two scorers go to work.

SMU Needs Guards to Takeover

That brings us to our second point, and that is SMU’s guards. 

SMU’s Boopie Miller is averaging 14.9 points and 5.6 assists through ten games played. With this, Miller will need to have a productive performance as a game without a solid performance by him is not in the favor of the Mustangs, especially against LSU. 

The second leading scorer at SMU is Chuck Harris, a fifth-year senior averaging 12.2 points per game. Harris has six double-digit performances under his belt and is a great addition accompanying Miller. 

Take Advantage of the Neutral Site

While this game is considered a neutral site, with SMU being located in Texas, they need to take advantage of their resources, and that is their “home court.” SMU’s traditional home, the Moody Center, is only located 20 miles north of where Saturday's game will take place. SMU fans will definitely be present, and with that, the Mustangs need to utilize this and take advantage of it counting as a neutral site. 

Tip-off is set for 4:00 p.m. EST and this highly crucial contest can be viewed on ESPNU.