The SEC season is heating up, and while the standings are tight at the top-with five teams sitting at 3-1-it’s the bottom of the table that’s drawing some attention today. Missouri, one of those 3-1 squads, heads to Baton Rouge to face an LSU team still searching for its first conference win. And while this might look like a mismatch on paper, there’s more going on beneath the surface.
Let’s start with Missouri. The Tigers have quietly put together a strong start in conference play, and today’s matchup presents a golden opportunity to keep that momentum rolling.
A win would move them to 4-1 in SEC play, with two very winnable home games on deck next week against Georgia and Oklahoma. It’s not a must-win, but it sure feels like a should-win if Dennis Gates and company want to stay in the thick of the SEC race.
On the other side, LSU is reeling. After a 12-1 start to the season-albeit one built on a soft non-conference schedule-they’ve dropped four straight to open SEC play.
That early run included just one Quad 1 win, a semi-home victory over SMU, a team that’s flirted with the Top 25 but hasn’t exactly solidified its resume. Since then, it’s been a string of near-misses and heartbreaks for Matt McMahon’s squad.
It started with a tough loss at Texas A&M, where LSU used a 14-2 second-half run to take the lead, only to fall short in a one-possession game. Then came a home loss to South Carolina-a game that saw the Tigers dig a deep hole early, surge back late, but never quite close the gap.
That was followed by another road defeat at Vanderbilt, and then the gut-punch: an 18-point lead at home against Kentucky erased by a last-second dagger from Malachi Moreno. That one stung.
A key factor in all of this? LSU has been without their floor general, Dedan Thomas Jr., for the entire SEC slate so far.
Thomas, the team’s leading scorer, is listed as doubtful again for today’s game. His absence has been glaring.
Without him, LSU has struggled to find rhythm offensively and close out games. If he’s somehow able to go, he could swing the balance-but that’s a big if.
Missouri, meanwhile, is looking to build on a bit of history. Gates has already won in Baton Rouge once before, back when he was coaching a different squad led by D’Moi Hodge and DeAndre Gholston.
That win was Missouri’s only victory at the Pete Maravich Assembly Center in eight tries. Two years ago, the Tigers fell just short in a matchup of two struggling teams.
This time around, Missouri comes in with confidence, momentum, and a chance to solidify its place near the top of the SEC standings.
Tip-off is set for 2:30 PM CT on the SEC Network, and while it might not be the flashiest game on the Saturday slate, it’s a pivotal one-especially for a Missouri team that wants to prove it’s more than just a hot start. As for LSU, desperation can be a dangerous motivator.
They’re 0-4, hungry, and playing at home. If they’re going to turn the tide, today would be a good time to start.