The key question when LSU plays at Boston College on Wednesday night as part of the ACC/SEC Challenge might be this: Can the Eagles produce enough offense to keep up with the Tigers?
LSU (7-0) has scored at least 93 points in six of its seven games and averages 94.3 points per contest, which puts the Tigers among the top 10 in the nation. Boston College (4-4) enters Wednesday’s matchup ranked last among ACC teams in points per game (70.5) and 3-point shooting accuracy (27.0%), but sixth in defense (65.6 ppg).
LSU is coming off Saturday’s 96-63 victory over DePaul in the Emerald Coast Classic championship game. The Tigers shot 68.6 percent from the field (35 of 51).
“I just love that it was efficiently done,” said LSU coach Matt McMahon. “We missed 16 shots for the whole day. We continued to impose our will and get to the free-throw line. We had 22 assists to 15 turnovers and some of (the turnovers) were late there in garbage time.
“Then the balance. I believe it was seven guys in double figures and an eighth guy had eight points. So, I love that.”
Michael Nwoko, a 6-foot-10 forward, averages 17.4 points per game to lead LSU. Dedan Thomas Jr., the MVP of the Emerald Coast Classic, is next at 14.4.
Despite its struggles from behind the 3-point arc this season, Boston College made a season-high 12 in last Wednesday’s 73-60 victory over Harvard. Freshman Caleb Steger made three 3-pointers in a three-minute stretch in the second half that allowed the Eagles to pull away.
“He’s a game changer,” said Boston College coach Earl Grant. “We knew it when we were recruiting him. He’s just a sniper.”
Donald Hand Jr. is Boston College’s leading scorer (15.4 ppg), but Fred Payne has scored in double figures in each of the last six games. Payne is the team’s No. 2 scorer (12.9).
