Connecticut at LSU

UCONN has established itself as one of the elite programs in the country and are again out of the gate at 12-1. LSU has been elevated to that lofty status over the past couple years. There isn't too many teams that can have 5 players drafted by the NBA, have a roster of all freshmen and sophmores and return to the same status of the previous year. We don't underestimate the potential of this UCONN team, but that isn't yet, it is in the future. Coach Calhoun purposely scheduled a cupcake schedule in the early going, to give his team confidence. They played their first 11 games at home vs competition that left them with a strength of schedule in the 300's. Then this young team took to the road vs W. Virginia and were completely out of it. All the UCONN stats are very misleading. They score 81 ppg, but the truth is, they have scored 69, and 71 in their last two and neither of those teams are as talented as LSU. The UCONN defense is ranked #2 in the country in FG% defense at 34.6%, but the only two legit teams on their schedule shot 45% (S. Fla), and 49.1% (W. Virginia), so don't be fooled. Hasheem Thabeet UCONN's freshman 7'3" center will one day play for pay. He intimidated all the weak opponents, but in the last two vs legit competition has not made a FG (0-5), has just 11 rebounds, and blocked just 2 shots vs W. VA., and has been in constant foul trouble. Think he can handle Glen Davis? Coach Calhoun may be better served playing zone here, but he is too stubborn, and Davis will eat up UCONN inside, and Mitchell will take Adrien outside, and there is no rebounders left. LSU lost a heart-breaker last year at UCONN by 1, and they will be playing with energy here, and this young UCONN team, that looked like a deer in headlights on the road at W. VA is going to take on that same glaze tonight under the eye of national TV.