LSU Men's Basketball Statistics... Young Team Getting Better

So, I know it's a little early to pronounce LSU the best team in the SEC... but heck, we can all be psyched right? It's certainly not time to give our young team an ego trip, but we've now had the second SEC West elderstateman coach, Mark Gottfried yesterday after Stansbury on Wednesday, call LSU the team "to beat" in the SEC this year... Quite a different mood now than say three weeks ago, eh (as Brady bashers retreat... :hihi: )?

Anyway, I couldn't help but look at statistics for the season, especially since we now have 4 tough SEC games past us and we can study statistics for the season vs. just the "SEC season".

Some interesting stats:

1. Our younger players ARE maturing. Perhaps the most important statistics? Those of Tasmin Mitchell and Garrett Temple. With so much of the Tigers' weakness being on the outside, I think Tasmin is answering my call of a few weeks ago--to step up as a third option.

Tas' SEC stats versus the whole season? Points: 13.5 vs. 11.7 3pt%: 38.5% vs. 32.5% Assists: 3.5 vs. 2.8 Tas' also has a 3.5 to 1 assist to turnover ratio in SEC play and has cut down on his silly turnover bug.

Garretts's stats are less dramatic, but still meaningful. Points: 8.5 p/g in SEC games vs. 5.0 p/g overall. FG%: 48.2% in SEC vs. 36.2% overall.

2. Ball Handlers need to step it up. A weakness of the Tigers, ball handling and turnovers, have managed to NOT bite us too bad as we're 4-0 on good defense and rebounding. We're still not great with the rock, and primarily, our PG position is still iffy. Darrell overall has had a rougher go in SEC play, as his scoring averages are down vs. the "pre-season"... but I'm generally ok with this, given others like Tas' are stepping up on scoring.

BUT, we see that in a key statistic, Assist to TOs, Darrell drops from a 1.5-1 ratio for the season to a 0.9 to 1 ratio and Ben Voogd drops from a 1.3-1 ratio to a 0.5-1 ratio. This is something that needs to go up if LSU is truly to be successful in the post season. That said overall LSU has only dropped slightly... they were 1-1 overall and now 0.9-1 in SEC play. It's a good indicator of offensive "efficiency" in handling the ball and creating opportunities, and Brady's better offensive teams are usually around 1.5 to 1.

Darrell overall takes the hardest hit moving to SEC play. Teams are athletic and focusing on our main outside threat, which shows in his stats. Lower shooting percentage (46.1 FG% vs. 37 FG%), point production (17 ppg vs. 12.8 ppg), and 3pt % (42.4% to 38.9%). Not a huge deal, b/c you expect it, but it's something to watch... b/c we need D.Mitch to continue to be a perimeter leader.

3. For those that say Brady and staff need to "coach up" LSU's free throw shooting... (although I'm never one to attribute much to a staff's job to free throw shooting%), you'll be happy to know in SEC play, LSU is shooting 72% vs. 67.2% in the season as a whole. Guys like Tyrus Thomas, Tasmin and Darnell are steadier from the line.

4. Count on the constants... we have depended on Big Baby and TTime and we continue to. Glen continues his play by averaging 17.5+ ppg in SEC play (vs. 17.9 overall). He's "quietly" leading this team and we often forget how good he is. Interestingly enough, perhaps Bbaby needs to work on HIS free throws--he'd be scoring more per game if he concentrated harder in SEC play. His percentage is a pretty poor 58.8% in SEC play vs. 65.1% overall. Tyrus on the other hand, has been averaging about the same in league play at 13.5 ppg, but shooting a better % on his free throws, at a very respectable 83.3% in SEC play, up considerably from 64.3% overall for the season. Teams are focusing on keeping him from getting easy baskets, but Tyrus is converting when he goes to the line. It's an underrated part of TTime's game.

5. Bench play and Brady's substitutions. I can't argue with results, but if you look at the numbers, the production of Darnell and other bench players is diminishing. Not surprisingly, Rolle and Chris Johnson and Voogd are getting less minutes in SEC play, and in close SEC games, I'm not questioning Brady's decision to keep productive veterans in. BUT, I'd encourage him get these guys more minutes, especially in games that are separating. Keeping these guys invested in the program, developing in their freshman year, and maturing them for post season play are going to be huge... for this year and beyond. Rolle is a future back up to either BBaby or TTime going pro at PF, and Chris Johnson may be an interesting future Pittsnogle type center for us (who knows, I can dream right? ). Overall, tho' I think the coach has his starters playing 30-35 minutes per game, which is a comfortable number and certainly not as bad as in past years when we had little depth. Although, you look at other deep teams in the SEC and probably starters are playing high 20s to low 30s. We get this in line, and our "reserves" probably feel less pressure to go elsewhere for PT.

Ok, just some things to watch as the SEC season goes on. I like Tas' becoming a bigger factor and Temple also working himself into the offense more. If Darrell steps up again and the bench players develop more, we ARE going to be hard to beat in SEC play... :geauxtige

 

Damn dude...I dunno if I would even read all that if I was an LSU fan... :hihi:

 

you dont expect posts that good from a message board.

 

i read some....some good points some i dont get honestly....all i know is since sec play we have owned the court...and tasmin and garrett are playing there best ball right now and i cant wait till the next game.

 

That's the best thing about this team. When you are done watching them play a game, you just can't wait to see them play again! I keep looking at my stack of tickets for the rest of the games. I want to use them all now!!! :bncry:

 

You kinda do here on TF.com. This site and the caliber of people it attracts is why it blows all other sites away, IMO. :thumb:

 

After seeing the Brady Bunch beat Bama Saturday in what I thought was one of the best LSU wins in recent memory. Why you may ask? LSU in the past few years have gotten our hopes up only to have a some end of the season let down and crush our dreams. I think it's a win that we'll be able to look back upon and point to as a game which really got the Tigers rolling. Well, I know it's still early in the conference slate, but to see a Brady team survive a run then answer with a run to pull away and post a double digit win over a good Bama team is a game I think we could point to as being an "apex" game. A game where the Tigers reached the apex and crossed over the threshhold. Unless there is a major collapse I don't see the Tigers doing any worse than 12-4 in the SEC. The one major concern I have with this team is the need for another perimeter shooter. Darrell Mitchell is streaky and the Tigers really need another shooter to emerge and be able to be a zone buster when D-Mitch is having an off night. But for the first time in years I've found myself getting really excited about LSU basketball.

 

Tigers are "ranked" 32nd in this week's coach's poll, FWIW.

 

That's ridiculos. Louisville is still ranked and have not beaten anyone this year. We should be hovering around 25. Oh well, let's beat Georgia and Ole Miss this week and see if we can crack the top 25 next week.

 

Call it a passion for LSU Basketball, two relatively boring NFL games yesterday, and a 4-0 start in the SEC (first time since 1981... :shock: ).

LSU Basketball is FAN-tastatic!!!! :geauxtige :grin:

Now, let's PACK the PMAC!!!

How long has it been since we've had the #1 SEC MENs' and WOMENs' basketball teams? ... a long friggin' time.

ENJOY THIS FANS and EMBRACE this team!