Tasmin Mitchell Leads LSU's March to Madness: Seven Questions about the Tigers

Junior forward Tasmin Mitchell scored a career-high 41 points in Starkville to lead LSU to a 97-94 win over Miss. State in double OT.  LSU is now 20-4 on the season and 8-1 in the SEC.

As March Madness approaches, who are these guys, and what do they have to do to make a run in the postseason?

1. What team leads the SEC conference?

The LSU Tigers with an 8-1 record lead the conference.  There are five teams with a 5-3 record: Tennessee, Florida, South Carolina, Kentucky, and Miss. State.  LSU has yet to play Florida, nor have they played Kentucky, but has pinned losses on South Carolina and at Tennessee and beaten Miss. State twice.

2. Who?

Yes, it's true.  LSU, led by first year coach Trent Johnson, the scoring of senior guard Marcus Thornton (20 ppg), and the all-around play of Tasmin Mitchell (16 ppg and 7 rpg) have come out of nowhere to take the midseason SEC lead.

3. Is it legit?  Is this a team that can win the SEC?

The overall schedule LSU has faced is not great.  The non-conference schedule is rated 240th out of the 343 D-I teams, and LSU's RPI is 50 (heading into the game v. Miss State on Feb. 11).  Further, many analysts proclaim this is a down year for the SEC in general.

That said, LSU is an experienced team.  There are five seniors who contribute on the squad, and Mitchell is a fourth-year junior.  Mitchell was a major contributor on the Final Four team only a few years ago.  The team plays very good defense, can shoot the ball from the perimeter, rebounds well, and blocks shots, and Mitchell can score inside when necessary.

So yes, LSU can win the SEC.

4. Wait a moment, I just looked at the Top 25 rankings; LSU is nowhere to be found...?

Again, this is true—at the moment anyway.  If LSU beats Ole Miss at home this weekend, I am nearly certain LSU will be ranked next week.

That said, your point is a good one: How can a 20-4 team leading a big six conference by two games not be ranked?

5. Is this an NCAA tourney team?

In a word, yes.  LSU is now playing for seeding.  Seven games remain in the regular season plus the SEC Tourney.  Should LSU go 5-2 and win a couple of SEC tournament games and finish with a 27-7 or so record, LSU could be seeded as high as 4.

6. Is a March Madness run in the cards?

So much depends on the seeding and the matchups.  LSU's first six players—Thornton, Mitchell, senior guard Garrett Temple, senior center Chris Johnson, sophomore guard Bo Spencer and senior sixth man/guard Terry Martin—can play with anyone in the nation.

Experience, good coaching, hot shooting, solid defense, and rebounding can take this team a long way.

LSU's weakness is in the low post.  Chris Johnson is a dynamic shot blocker in the post, but he is undersized.  Teams with a low post scorer with some bulk have given LSU problems all year.

LSU's run in March Madness can be a special one IF Marcus Thornton keeps shooting well and finding ways to score, and IF Tasmin Mitchell plays, well, like he has the past couple of weeks.

7. How about a prediction?

LSU finishes the regular season with a 25-6 record.  13-3 in the SEC.  Gets to the SEC Tourney final.  Is awarded a 4 seed and does not disappoint, and the team makes it to the Sweet 16.