Preview and Gamethread: Arkansas vs. LSU

Time: 5 p.m. CT

TV: SEC Network

Line:

Location: Bud Walton Arena

The Hogs hope to have a better offensive performance than their last time out. Even though the defense has been there, the major lapses in scoring have prevented Arkansas from reaching their potential this year. Enter LSU, who is a good but not great defensive team like Florida was.

LSU has Tremont Waters, a slippery point guard who looked like an All-SEC player from day one last season. They also have plenty of size in Naz Reid, a McDonalds All-American that will provide another key matchup for Daniel Gafford against a peer likely battling for NBA Draft position. If he gets in foul trouble, they can send out 6’11” Kavel Bigby-Williams as well.

Because of their size, LSU has been excellent at interior scoring, but there’s the oddity of defensive rebounding. LSU has been right at the bottom of the conference in defensive rebounding, and with the Hogs recent uptick in rebounding, that will be key for the Hogs.

These are also two of the most inexperienced teams in the SEC. LSU has played one true road game this year at Houston and lost. Arkansas will need to feed off the energy of the crowd in this one. If Arkansas wins, it will almost certainly be affected by the crowd in some way.