LSU basketball knows just how brutal life in the SEC can be. After a gut-wrenching one-point loss to Kentucky, the Tigers find themselves in a tough spot - still searching for their first conference win and carrying the emotional weight of a 0-4 start in league play. It’s the first time they’ve opened SEC action with four straight losses since the 2012-13 season, when they eventually clawed their way to a .500 finish in conference play.
That’s the kind of resilience LSU is hoping to channel now. With Missouri coming to town on Saturday, head coach Matt McMahon is urging his team to shift gears quickly and build on the positives - because despite the loss, there were plenty of them.
“We've got to start our preparation here for Missouri and build on all the good things that we did,” McMahon said after the Kentucky game.
And let’s be clear - LSU’s first-half defense against the Wildcats was as locked in as it’s been all season. Kentucky didn’t hit its first field goal until nearly five minutes into the game.
They opened just 1-of-12 from the field and didn’t grab an offensive rebound until under eight minutes remained in the half. That’s not just effort - that’s execution.
The Tigers came out with a defensive edge that had been missing in earlier SEC games. They were communicating, rotating, and crashing the glass with purpose.
And right in the middle of it all was freshman big man Robert Miller, who continues to emerge as one of LSU’s most impactful defenders. He filled the stat sheet with seven rebounds, two steals, two blocks, six points, and a pair of assists - all while anchoring the defense with poise beyond his years.
“Rob Miller continues to come along,” McMahon said. “He's our best defender.
He's fantastic on that end of the floor. We saw tonight he's really good in those little short rolls in the middle of the floor as not only a scorer but a passer.”
Miller’s going to need to bring that same energy against Missouri, a team that leads the SEC in field goal percentage at a blistering 51.6%. His primary assignment?
Slowing down Mark Mitchell, a 6-foot-8 forward averaging 17.5 points per game with a knack for getting to the line - his 127 free throw attempts rank third in the conference. That’s a tall task, but Miller’s defensive instincts and rim protection give LSU a fighting chance.
Offensively, LSU continues to navigate life without standout point guard Dedan Thomas, who’s been sidelined with a lower leg injury since Jan. 2. Thomas, who’s averaging 16.2 points and 7.1 assists, is still working his way back and remains day-to-day.
“He's gone from clearly being out to doubtful, making great progress,” McMahon said. “Started back running and jumping.
He'd give anything to be on the floor. Just can't cut and jump and do everything at full speed that would allow him to get back out there.”
In Thomas’ absence, LSU made its first starting lineup change since the injury, inserting senior Rashad King in place of freshman Jalen Reece. The move paid off early - both guards responded with strong performances, each posting their second-highest scoring outputs of the season.
King, the 6-6 transfer from Northeastern, used his length to impact the game on both ends. He finished with 12 points, including eight in the second half, and added two blocks and a steal.
Reece looked more assertive, stepping into his shot with confidence and attacking the rim. He dropped 11 points, hit a pair of threes, and added five rebounds and four assists with just one turnover - a clean, efficient outing.
“Jalen Reece and Rashad King were fantastic at the point position,” McMahon said. “I thought they did a lot of good things.”
They’ll need to bring that same poise against Missouri’s Anthony Robinson, a defense-first point guard who ranks fourth in the SEC with 2.1 steals per game. Ball security and decision-making will be key.
Another area LSU has to tighten up? Free throws.
The Tigers are typically one of the SEC’s best from the stripe, shooting 77.4% on the season. But against Kentucky, they stumbled, going just 19-of-28 (67.9%) - their third-worst performance of the year.
And while Pablo Tamba’s two missed free throws in the final seconds will get the spotlight, the truth is LSU had earlier opportunities to extend its lead and didn’t capitalize.
Now, it’s all about turning the page. LSU isn’t focused on tournament projections or long-term goals right now.
The mission is simple: beat Missouri. Win the margins.
Defend with urgency. Execute under pressure.
That’s the formula McMahon is preaching - and the Tigers are still very much listening.