Considering the season LSU has had, the Tigers have to be hoping they can at least cause a little madness in March before putting the balls and game uniforms away for the offseason.
Late-game dunks, buzzer-beating 3-point shots, game-saving steals and shocking upsets are what postseason basketball is all about — no matter if it comes in a conference tournament or the Big Dance.
Some of that magic is what Matt McMahon’s team is looking for going into the Southeastern Conference tournament, which begins Wednesday night at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Tennessee.
Despite losing 17 of its past 18 games — 16 of them in conference play — No. 14 seed LSU (13-18, 2-16 SEC) will be trying to extend its season when it meets No. 11 seed Georgia (16-15, 6-12 SEC) about 8:30 p.m. Wednesday.
The game will start 25 minutes after the conclusion of the tournament opener between No. 12 South Carolina and No. 13 Ole Miss, which tips off at 6 p.m. Both games will be televised by the SEC Network.
LSU played one of its better defensive games in a 65-63 loss to Georgia in Athens on Feb. 14, but 19 turnovers doomed the Tigers that evening.
However, McMahon knows there’s only one way to approach the game — regardless of the opponent.
Playing loose with nothing to lose is also important at this point with no time to make major changes to the offense or defense.
“We all know the turnover issues and some of the things that are shortcomings for us,” McMahon said, knowing erratic field-goal shooting and defensive breakdowns have been major issues. “(The record is) zero and zero.
“We’re going to work at it (in practice), and hopefully, go into tournament play with confidence. Loose is a word … I always want us to play that way — loose and confident.”
At the same time, LSU has shown some signs of improvement late in the season even though the Tigers have just one win to show for it in 2023.
McMahon’s team has put together some stretches of good play, but there haven’t been enough of them and they disappear almost as quickly as they come.
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