LSU Seeks Victory Against Kentucky to Secure SEC Tournament Seed

LEXINGTON, Ky. – No. 7 LSU will face No. 14 Kentucky Sunday at Memorial Coliseum, with tip-off scheduled for 3 p.m. CT. The sold-out game will be broadcast on ESPN, featuring commentators Beth Mowins and Debbie Antonelli. Fans can also tune in to the LSU Sports Radio Network for coverage by Patrick Wright and Shaeeta Williams.

At 26-2 overall and 11-2 in Southeastern Conference play, LSU enters the matchup in third place in the SEC. A win against Kentucky would secure a top-four seed and a double-bye in the upcoming SEC Tournament. Currently, LSU has three games remaining in the regular season.

Star player Aneesah Morrow, who leads the nation in rebounds per game and double-doubles, is expected to return after missing Thursday’s game against Georgia due to foot soreness. In Morrow’s absence, Sa’Myah Smith and Jersey Wolfenbarger both posted double-doubles in the team’s victory against Georgia.

Kenny Brooks is in his first season as head coach of Kentucky, where he has rejuvenated the program. This will be the third consecutive season that LSU faces a team coached by Brooks, who previously led Virginia Tech. LSU earned victories over Brooks’ Virginia Tech teams in the 2023 Final Four and last season’s ACC/SEC Challenge.

Kentucky’s star guard Georgia Amoore, who transferred from Virginia Tech to join Brooks, leads the SEC with 7.1 assists per game and ranks sixth in scoring, averaging 19.0 points per game. Clara Strack, another player who joined the Wildcats from Virginia Tech, tops the conference with 2.6 blocks per game. As a team, Kentucky averages over eight three-pointers made per game, with Amoore, Dazia Lawrence, and Amelia Hassett each having made at least 50 this season.

The Wildcats have relied on a consistent starting lineup throughout the season, with all starters averaging over nine points per game. However, the team lacks significant contributions from their bench, as no reserve player averages more than four points per contest.

In their most recent game, LSU defeated Georgia 79-63, with Flau’Jae Johnson leading the team with 28 points. Smith and Wolfenbarger contributed significantly with 11 points and 12 rebounds, and 16 points and 12 rebounds, respectively. The Tigers demonstrated their strength on the boards, particularly in offensive rebounds, allowing them to outscore Georgia in second-chance points, 20-6.

Smith remarked on the team’s championship aspirations saying, “We all ultimately know what we want to do, and that’s to go win a championship or be at that level. So, you know, we take care of things that we have to.”

The clash against Kentucky will be pivotal as both teams vie for favorable positioning in the SEC Tournament. This showdown holds significant implications for LSU as they look to continue their successful season and maintain momentum heading into the postseason.