LSU is A Winnable Game For Us

[Herman Cain]

LSU is a winnable game. Would like to see us play a zone from the beginning, keep Luke out of foul trouble , and have Henry stick with short to mid range shots and not bring the ball up the court so much.  Let Duane run the show and have everyone set a few picks for JJJ, Sandy and Haanif. Play hard on every possession.

Lot of NBA scouts will be there, hopefully that distracts the two highly touted LSU kids out of their game. If Henry and Duane stick with a solid game plan and let the game come to them will look better in the eyes of the scouts, which I know is important to both of them.

[brewcity77]

My main concern is who defensively will handle Simmons. Zone might be the best option, but I have a feeling he'll find the holes in it. LSU has been a decent three-point shooting team, but this will be an unfamiliar arena and atmosphere. They also don't take a ton of threes, so I'd be okay with forcing them to shoot over the top of the zone (especially if you really hassle Blakeney on the perimeter). Love to go after them down low, see how Robinson and Simmons handle physicality. Unfortunately, I'm not sure our bigs will be the ones to get overly physical on offense.

[MUfan12]

Luke and Henry play soft, so don't count on anyone getting physical with LSU.

[brewcity77]

The more I look at it, the more I like this matchup, if we have a good gameplan. Come out with a zone on defense and attack the post constantly on offense. Their three bigs, Robinson, Epps, and Malone give up a TON of fouls. Epps fouled out against McNeese State in SEVEN minutes. They haven't seen anyone on defense who can attack like Luke and Henry can.

Thing is, Simmons is somewhat foul-prone too. He has been whistled for 4 fouls in 2/3 games so far. This is a team we can attack. Need to drive and dish inside.

My biggest worry is that to beat this team, we need to play smart. LSU wants to turn you over and run in transition. We need to hold the ball, slow them down, and force them to run their offense. Use the zone to force perimeter shots and see if they can make them in an unfamiliar environment. This will be a huge test of how the team responds and how the coaching staff motivates them. This game is winnable. I expect it to be close and expect us to cover. Gun to my head, I'd pick LSU to win by 3, but in a one-possession game, anything can happen.

[Frenns Liquor Depot]

The more I look at it, the more I like this matchup, if we have a good gameplan.

Not me - I am done with optimism.  I now expect us to get killed every game -- that way anything short of 1H Iowa game will be a positive surprise.

[GGGG]

Here is how MU can win this:

**Slow the pace down and make LSU run their offense in the half court.
**Hope that their lack of experience leads them to make similar mistakes to what MU has made recently.
**Hope that the team is better focused.

I still think MU isn't going to win this.  But I think it will be closer than some are suggesting.

I wonder how many times Simmons and Ellenson were matched up against one another on the AAU circuit?

[WarriorPride68]

MU better win this game, LSU top returning scorer & captain won't be playing.

[JamilJaeJamailJrJuan]

MU better win this game, LSU top returning scorer & captain won't be playing.

Who and why?

[tower912]

Every game is winnable.   But that isn't where you place your money.   

[MUEng92]

Here is how MU can win this:

**Slow the pace down and make LSU run their offense in the half court.
**Hope that their lack of experience leads them to make similar mistakes to what MU has made recently.
**Hope that the team is better focused.

I still think MU isn't going to win this.  But I think it will be closer than some are suggesting.

I wonder how many times Simmons and Ellenson were matched up against one another on the AAU circuit?

It doesn't help with the self confidence when 2 out of your 3 keys to the game involve the word "hope".  Not that I have a great deal of confidence at the moment anyway.

[jesmu84]

Every game is technically a winnable game. This one? Not really. Ben Simmons.

[GGGG]

It doesn't help with the self confidence when 2 out of your 3 keys to the game involve the word "hope".  Not that I have a great deal of confidence at the moment anyway.

"Hope" is pretty much the only reason I'm bothering to watch.

[WarriorPride68]

Who and why?

Hornsby, the tatted up white guy for a lack of better description. Averaged 14 per game last year. I guess he has some illness and out until December

[BM1090]

MU better win this game, LSU top returning scorer & captain won't be playing.

Mostly irrelevant, since that player is now their 4th or 5th best player.

[WarriorPride68]

Mostly irrelevant, since that player is now their 4th or 5th best player.

I agree he's not that important anymore. But a 5th year senior who is a sniper from deep is a welcoming departure for MU tonight.

[BM1090]

I agree he's not that important anymore. But a 5th year senior who is a sniper from deep is a welcoming departure for MU tonight.

I didn't look at his shooting stats, but it's a good sign any time a shooter is missing a game against MU considering we give up open 3's at an alarming rate.

[Golden Avalanche]

LSU is a winnable game. Would like to see us play a zone from the beginning, keep Luke out of foul trouble , and have Henry stick with short to mid range shots and not bring the ball up the court so much.  Let Duane run the show and have everyone set a few picks for JJJ, Sandy and Haanif. Play hard on every possession.

Lot of NBA scouts will be there, hopefully that distracts the two highly touted LSU kids out of their game. If Henry and Duane stick with a solid game plan and let the game come to them will look better in the eyes of the scouts, which I know is important to both of them.

Just send the Bayou Bengals out on a walking tour of Brooklyn this afternoon. Half of them won't make it out alive, right? The game is winnable then.

[Herman Cain]

Just send the Bayou Bengals out on a walking tour of Brooklyn this afternoon. Half of them won't make it out alive, right? The game is winnable then.

Prospect Park would be perfect for that strategy. Any advantage we can get helps.

[GoldenZebra]

I dont know why people are getting their hopes up...especially after the first 3 games. Im all for being optimistic, but come on, at least be rational here haha.

[JamilJaeJamailJrJuan]

I dont know why people are getting their hopes up...especially after the first 3 games. Im all for being optimistic, but come on, at least be rational here haha.

I am sort of in this boat.  Always been an optimist when it comes to MU hoops, but these are the darkest of times in my days as a fan.  I am expecting ugly basketball until I see something otherwise.  Doesn't mean I wont be watching intently.

[jesmu84]

I am sort of in this boat.  Always been an optimist when it comes to MU hoops, but these are the darkest of times in my days as a fan.  I am expecting ugly basketball until I see something otherwise.  Doesn't mean I wont be watching intently.

Agreed. I don't see this as a winnable game. OP is overly optimistic, or setting this up as a "gotcha" if we lose

[only a warrior]

"Hope" is pretty much the only reason I'm bothering to watch.

Hope is never a good strategy.  Will be a long painful season

[jesmu84]

"Hope" is pretty much the only reason I'm bothering to watch.

[We R Final Four]

Hornsby, the tatted up white guy for a lack of better description. Averaged 14 per game last year. I guess he has some illness and out until December

AKA Bruce Hornsby's kid

[naginiF]

AKA Bruce Hornsby's kid

so then his 'range' comes naturally

[Windyplayer]

Hope is never a good strategy.  Will be a long painful season

Hope is a perfectly good strategy for a fan. Just be careful what you stake to that hope given the early season results and this team's youth.

[LloydsLegs]

Hope is a perfectly good strategy for a fan. Just be careful what you stake to that hope given the early season results and this team's youth.

It was a good strategy for Andy Dufresne, too.  Well, that and a helluva game plan.

[jesmu84]

It was a good strategy for Andy Dufresne, too.  Well, that and a helluva game plan.

He had the talent, excellent game planning, and definitely respected the process - one handful at a time.

[mu03eng]

Agreed. I don't see this as a winnable game. OP is overly optimistic, or setting this up as a "gotcha" if we lose

[TAMU, Knower of Ball]

Three games in and the season is apparently over. We're better than we've played in these last two games. The Belmont game actually wasn't that bad. We'll get better as the season goes on. OP is right, tonight is winnable.

That being said, I'm predicting an MU loss tonight. But not by as much as some seem to think it will be.

[TAMU, Knower of Ball]

I wonder how many times Simmons and Ellenson were matched up against one another on the AAU circuit?

Simmons and Jones were on local new york sports show last night. Simmons says he has never played against Ellenson.

[Herman Cain]

I felt this Game was winnable. The kids played hard every second and showed a lot of heart. Congrats to all on a job well done.

[warriorchick]

Reading through this thread was very entertaining.