LSU vs. Charleston Prediction, Game Preview

The No. 22 LSU Tigers will travel to Charleston, S.C. to take on the College of Charleston Cougars in TD Arena on Monday night. Below is the LSU vs. Charleston prediction and game preview.

LSU vs. Charleston Game Preview

Game Broadcast

Date: Monday, Nov. 30
Game Time: 7 p.m. ET
Venue: TD Arena, Charleston, S.C.
Network: ESPN2

Why You Need To Care

LSU entered this season with high expectations because of its young, exciting freshmen. But losing two straight games to Marquette and North Carolina State wasn’t exactly in the game plan.

The Tigers did win their first three games, and this matchup against Charleston could be a bounce-back game to end all bounce-back games against a 3-2 Cougars team.

LSU will use this game to get the young guns back on track and slide back into a rhythm defensively after allowing 164 total points in its last two showings.

Charleston is coming off a 57-56 win against Western Carolina, and the Cougars may be giving up just 63.4 points per game, but LSU scores 80.4 points per game. Someone is going to bend, and it probably won’t be the Tigers.

Why LSU Will Win

Head coach Johnny Jones has watched his team take a step back defensively during the past couple of games, but that will need to change against the Cougars. The Tigers have to make a statement and play smothering defense. The offensive attack will be there. LSU does a great job of scoring inside and outside, but Jones has to tell his guards to chase over the top on screens because Charleston can knock down the three. Play the passing lanes, box out and run. That’s how LSU will win this one.

Why Charleston Will Win

LSU needs to miss shots. That’s about it. The Cougars can’t really compete athletically with the Tigers, so Charleston will have to shoot a high percentage to have a chance. So far, the Cougars have been shooting 40.8 percent from the field. Aside from that, the Cougars just need to protect the ball. They’ve only turned it over 57 times in five games. Smart decisions with the basketball mean less fast breaks for the Tigers.

Players Who Matter

Ben Simmons finally showed us he’s human after a poor showing against N.C. State. Simmons was just 1-of-6 from the field in 40 minutes — still with 14 rebounds and 10 assists. He’s become a triple-double threat already, and this could be an opportunity for him to get the first of his career. He and Antonio Blakeney are combining for 32.8 points per game.

The Cougars are going to turn to Canyon Barry in this one. The junior guard is averaging 21 points per game on 41.4 percent shooting. He’s also knocking down 33.3 percent of his three-point attempts and 88 percent of his free throws. Barry needs Cameron Johnson to be his right-hand man. Johnson is hitting on 42.3 percent of his threes, so he can definitely have a big impact on the game.

What’s Going To Happen?

The Tigers are going to make an example out of Charleston. There’s no way Simmons lets his team lose three games in a row. He’ll collect his fifth double-double of the season, and Blakeney will go on an offensive attack. LSU will shut the Cougars down and control the glass to take the game.