When it comes to LSU men's basketball, the 3-point line has been both a blessing and a curse this season. Early on, the Tigers were lighting up the scoreboard, hitting at least 90 points in six of their first seven games. But as SEC play heated up, that hot hand from beyond the arc seemed to cool off, and it's been a thorn in their side ever since.
Defensively, LSU's perimeter has been more sieve than shield, allowing opponents to hit 37.7% of their 3-point attempts. Meanwhile, the Tigers are only sinking 32.2% of their own shots from downtown. Over 14 games, that's a gap that's hard to ignore.
The Tigers haven't drastically worsened their shooting as conference play has progressed, but their shots aren't falling when they need them most. This inconsistency has contributed to LSU dropping 12 of their 14 conference matchups, often struggling with slow starts or faltering in the final minutes. The 3-point line has been a silent adversary in many of these losses.
Take their matchup against South Carolina, for instance. The Gamecocks were on fire, hitting 10 threes in the first half alone, cruising to a 25-point lead at the break. LSU fought back valiantly but couldn't close the gap, despite a second-half surge.
Against Florida, the Tigers kept pace in the first half but went ice-cold from deep in the second, missing all six attempts while the Gators knocked down five to seal an 18-point victory.
In their first clash with Arkansas, LSU missed all eight of their first-half 3-point attempts but still managed to lead. However, Darius Acuff Jr. and the Razorbacks found their rhythm late, hitting five crucial threes to snatch the win.
LSU's trouble isn't just one sharpshooter lighting them up-it's a team effort from their opponents. Meanwhile, Max Mackinnon remains LSU's most reliable deep threat, hitting 35.4% in conference play and taking nearly a third of the team's attempts. But even with Jalen Reece and Rashad King stepping up at point guard in Dedan Thomas Jr.'s absence, the Tigers are being outgunned.
The struggle was evident in a game against Mississippi State, where LSU trailed by 23 at halftime, largely due to the Bulldogs' seven 3-pointers compared to LSU's single make. The Tigers never recovered.
Coach Matt McMahon has tried to inject some life into the lineup, bringing in PJ Carter, a specialist from beyond the arc, to add some much-needed firepower. Carter's early contributions helped LSU jump out to a lead against Georgia, but they faltered again, missing all seven second-half attempts.
The Tigers' woes continued with a rough 3-of-21 performance against Arkansas, resulting in a 29-point defeat. They showed signs of life against Tennessee but still fell short. A close game with Texas saw LSU attempting their second-fewest threes in SEC play, ending with an ill-fated attempt by Pablo Tamba.
LSU's best shooting night came against Missouri, where they finally found some consistency, hitting 5-of-13 in each half and securing a rare win. They also shot well against Kentucky, leading by 16 at halftime, but the Wildcats roared back with eight second-half threes to steal the victory.
Despite these struggles, the 3-point line isn't the sole issue for LSU, but it's been a significant factor in their SEC woes. The Tigers' ability to find consistency from deep will be crucial if they hope to turn things around.