POSTGAME: #25 Florida 106, LSU 71

I’m just repeating myself in every postgame article now. So much is wrong with this team, so little is right. I’m digging through the box score trying to find anything positive to take from this game. Wayde Sims scoring 12 points shooting a perfect 5-5 from the field was nice. Only turning the ball over 11 times to Florida’s 12 is a positive, although that might’ve been the team shooting and missing before they can turn the ball over. If that sounds harsh, you might want to close this tab now.

Skylar Mays had a tremendous game, scoring 13 points and dishing out an incredible 7 assists. Duop Reath led the team with 15 points and committed no turnovers in 30 minutes of playing time. Those facts are literally the only positive things I can say about LSU’s play. It stops there. LSU shot 2-17 from behind the arc, got out-rebounded 39-31, and had a lead for a total of 105 seconds.

Florida, however, had a full game to make Coach Mike White proud, although I’m sure he’s still yelling somewhere. The Gators, you might remember, shot 0-17 from three point land in a loss to South Carolina. Tonight, they shot 19-33, tying the PMAC record for most 3 pointers made in a single game. Florida had six players score over 10 points, led by Devin Robinson’s 24, a career high. Chris Chiozza dished out 10 assists, and finished just one point shy of the hard way double-double. They shot 56.3% from the field.

Let me just simplify this game, the last few games, and I’m sure the rest of the season. LSU gave up. It’s not losing, it’s not being below .500 and 1-7 in SEC. It’s how they’re losing. The dispirited, lackadaisical body language and obvious longing for the season to be over are the most frustrating aspects of this play. Coming from someone who went to every possible home game as a student and begged and pleaded for a larger crowd, I don’t understand why anyone would pay money to watch this team. In previous years, they may not have been the best team, but dammit they cared. They tried. They upset some teams they frankly had no business competing with. If this squad today isn’t blowing a lead in the second half and giving up, they’re getting blown out in the first half and never try to get it together for a competitive score.

This poor level of defense is truly unprecedented for LSU. Being undersized is one thing, but the lack of urgency and true defensive scheme is all on the coaches. We’re just being tremendously out-coached in every single game and it’s flat out embarrassing. Something seriously needs to change, and there’s no reason to delay that change until after the season.

LSU takes their six game losing streak to Lubbock this Saturday afternoon to take on the 14-6 (3-5) Texas Tech Red Raiders as part of the SEC/Big 12 Challenge. That contest will tip off at 1pm, and will be televised on ESPNU.