Liberty (1-0) vs. LSU (2-0)
Baton Rouge, Louisiana – Maravich Assembly Center (Capacity 13,215)
Monday, Nov. 15, 7:00 p.m. ET
ESPNU
Last Meeting: Liberty lost, 74-57, on Dec. 29, 2019
Series History: LSU leads 1-0
Projected LU Starters:
2 Darius McGhee (Sr., 5-9, 150) – 21.0 ppg, 3.0 rpg, 5.0 apg
20 Keegan McDowell (R-Sr., 6-6, 180) – 10.0 ppg, 3.0 rpg, 1.0 apg
22 Kyle Rode (Jr., 6-7, 220) – 3.0 ppg, 8.0 rpg, 7.0 apg
32 Blake Preston (R-Jr., 6-9, 230) – 10.0 ppg, 6.0 rpg, 1.0 apg
33 Shiloh Robinson (Jr., 6-7, 215) – 4.0 ppg, 4.0 rpg, 0.0 apg
Projected LSU Starters:
1 Xavier Pinson (Sr., 6-2, 154) – 8.0 ppg, 1.5 rpg, 5.0 apg
0 Brandon Murray (Fr., 6-5, 214) – 10.5 ppg, 1.5 rpg, 1.5 apg
5 Mwani Wilkinson (So., 6-5, 206) – 4.0 ppg, 5.0 rpg, 1.5 apg
4 Darius Days (Sr., 6-7, 245) – 23.5 ppg, 6.5 rpg, 0.5 apg
15 Efton Reid (Fr., 6-11, 238) – 9.0 ppg, 5.0 rpg, 1.0 apg
PREVIEW
The Liberty Flames return to action Monday night for the team’s first game against a Division I opponent so far this season. The Flames will travel to Louisiana to take on the LSU Tigers. LSU is currently 2-0 on the season with wins over Louisiana-Monroe (101-39) and Texas State (84-59).
This is a new look LSU team under head coach Will Wade. The Tigers have to replace their top three scorers from a season ago and have just two players with starting experience back and six total returners. Illinois transfer Adam Miller was expected to be a top contributor this season but just a couple of weeks prior to the season starting he was lost for the year with a torn ACL.
Eight newcomers are on the team with transfers Tari Eason (Cincinnati) and Xavier Pinson (Missouri) adding some experience for this year’s team. Darius Days is the top returner as he comes back after testing the NBA Draft waters before electing to return to Baton Rouge.
Pinson averaged 13.6 points, 2.9 assists, and 2.7 rebounds per game last season for Missouri and provides a huge boost to the LSU backcourt at point guard. Brandon Murray is a strong combo guard freshman that can attack the rim and handle the ball.
Mwani Wilkinson is one of two returning starters from last year’s squad when he made 14 starts in 27 appearances. He averaged 3.6 points and 2.7 rebounds in 17 minutes per game last season. Days led the team in scoring (11.6 ppg) and rebounding (7.8 rpg) last season and he has taken his game to another level to begin the year. Efton Reid is a highly recruited freshman who Liberty offered at point in time. He’s a mobile big man who can affect the game with his size and length and he is part of the No. 6 recruiting class in the country.
KENPOM PREDICTION
LSU 75, Liberty 65
