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Looking to continue their winning ways, the LSU Tigers (11-3, 1-0) head up to Fayetteville this afternoon to take on the Arkansas Razorbacks (10-4, 1-1) in Bud Walton Arena.
Granted they’ve only played one game on the road this season—an 82-76 loss against Houston—the Tigers are currently on a nine game road losing streak dating back to January 20th, 2018. They haven’t won a game on another school’s campus in 367 days, but that campus just happens to be the one the Tigers find themselves this afternoon.
LSU won their last true road game on January 10th, 2018 in Bud Walton Arena. Behind a red hot start, a double-double by Aaron Epps, and an 8 point, 8 assist performance by Tremont Waters, the Tigers quickly put away the Razorbacks in a surprising 75-54 shellacking. Arkansas put up a stronger fight in the PMAC a month later, but the Tigers held on to win the second of their current sixteen game home winning streak.
This season, the Razorbacks currently boast strong, close wins over Texas A&M and Indiana, but have already dropped three games in Bud Walton Arena to Western Kentucky, Georgia Tech, and most recently Florida. Judging by the teams they’ve lost to, Arkansas can be handled pretty well when their opposition fields a very strong defense. While the Tigers have been improving on that side of the ball lately, defense has been a problem for Will Wade’s teams, especially on the road.
LSU is currently ranked 42nd, or thirteen spots ahead of Arkansas by KenPom, but the Razorbacks are given a one point edge due to home court advantage. While the stats seem to line up pretty favorably for the Tigers, a true road test and foul trouble could keep them in check and turn out a grueling one possession game. This afternoon’s contest will tip off at 5pm and will be televised on the SEC Network. You can also listen in on 98.1FM or join the discussion in the comments below.
Projected Arkansas Razorbacks Starting 5
#10 Daniel Gafford - 16.4 PPG, 9.6 RPG, 28.4 MPG
#1 Isaiah Joe - 14.8 PPG, 2.4 RPG, 28.8 MPG
#13 Mason Jones - 14.3 PPG, 3.2 APG, 29.9 MPG
#5 Jalen Harris - 8.9 PPG, 6.6 APG, 30.8 MPG
#2 Adrio Bailey - 6.6 PPG, 3.9 RPG, 20.6 MPG
Projected LSU Tigers Starting 5
#4 Skylar Mays - 13.1 PPG, 3.3 RPG, 29.4 MPG
#3 Tremont Waters - 12.9 PPG, 5.6 APG, 31.1 MPG
#0 Naz Reid - 12.2 PPG, 5.4 RPG, 22.4 MPG
#1 Ja’vonte Smart - 10.6 PPG, 2.8 APG, 28.6 MPG
#11 Kavell Bigby-Williams - 7.3 PPG, 2.2 BPG, 17.0 MPG