Has sophomore Tremaine Isabell figured out his game? (photo/Mizzou Athletics)

Has sophomore Tremaine Isabell figured out his game? (photo/Mizzou Athletics)

Despite losing three of their last four, according to “Bracketology” updates released Monday by ESPN and USA Today, the LSU Tigers still have a chance of an at-large bid for the NCAA Tournament.  Joe Lunardi of ESPN, says they need a big finish and/or deep conference-tournament run to be considered.

The Missouri Tigers can play spoiler tonight when they play their final road game of the 2015-16 season with a 8 p.m. tip from Baton Rouge, LA.  A win for Mizzou would sink LSU’s chances.

We’ve made much talk over Kim Anderson’s first two seasons being rough because of the young players he’s had on his roster, but a pair of freshman are helping keep LSU’s tournament hopes alive.  More on that in a moment.  To be fair to Anderson, this is a rebuilding process that won’t be fixed in two years, not even three and maybe not four.  Anderson has dealt with self-imposed scholarship restrictions and and a reduction in recruiting hours, player turmoil and now player turnover.

The latest coming from D’Angelo Allen who is the latest Mizzou player to move on.  Allen wanted to see more playing time at Mizzou.  He wasn’t getting it and now he will be looking to play elsewhere.  Kim Anderson on Allen’s decision and what he’ll do with that freed up scholarship.

Allen played in 22 games, no starts, averaging eight minutes a game, two points, two rebounds per game.

Watch for SEC freshman of the week Antonio Blakeney, scored 32 points in LSU’s win over Florida, had 22 against Arkansas. The 6’4 guard comes in with the hot hand. Then there’s freshman forward Ben Simmons up for two national awards. Simmons is one of 11 players up for the Oscar Robertson Trophy as the national player of the year, and he is one of five finalists for the Wayman Tisdale Award, which goes to the nation’s top freshman. Not only leads the team with 19.6 points, but five assists per game.

Anderson on Simmons.


Anderson hopes to counter with Tramaine Isabell who is coming off back to back games with career highs of 17 points and senior Ryan Rosburg who has scored 15 points or more in five of his last seven games.

LSU will be without senior Keith Hornsby who will miss his third straight game with a sports hernia.  The 6’4 guard has been averaging 13 points and 30 minutes per game prior to the injury.