GameDay: Opportunity in Baton Rouge

The SEC season is off to a roaring start now four games in. There are no undefeated teams, with 5 teams holding a 3-1 record, including your Missouri Tigers.

There is, however, one team who has yet to win a game. And guess what? Missouri plays them today!

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The LSU Tigers have been struggling since the start of SEC play. They started the season 12-1, with their only loss a blowout against Texas Tech. This season Matt McMahon took the Dennis Gates approach to non-conference scheduling and lined up a lot of Q4 games to stack some wins. And stack wins they did. The Tigers have a single Q1 win, that game was a semi-home game against SMU, a team with a pretty shaky resume, but one who has seen the inside of the AP top 25.

The Tigers have been close to another Q1 win since SEC play started, but have yet to secure a win so far this calendar year. A slow start seems to be par for the course in the McMahon era. In his first year they stared 1-13, his second year they were better and started 3-1 before finishing 9-9. Last year they started 0-3 before winning one, then they lost their next seven.

LSU started on the road and lost a toss up game to Texas A&M. It’s one of those sliding doors moments when LSU used a second have 14-2 run to take the lead in College Station, before eventually succumbing in a single possession game.

The next game they were blitzed by South Carolina, stormed back but couldn’t fully threaten in a home loss that was a bit shocking. Then a road trip to Vanderbilt where they fought, but lost. And finally a home loss to Kentucky where they held an 18 point lead but lost on a last second shot by Malachi Moreno who Christian Laettner’ed his way into the Kentucky annals… at the expense of the LSU Tigers first SEC win.

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All LSU conference losses have been without point guard Dedan Thomas, the Tigers leading scorer.

Thomas is listed as doubtful for the game against Missouri. He could be the difference maker.

For Missouri, they don’t need this win. Next week sets up nicely with two home games against teams they should be able to beat (Georgia and Oklahoma). But a win moves you to 4-1 with those two games ahead. Dennis Gates has won in Baton Rouge before, three years ago with D’Moi Hodge and DeAndre Gholston leading the way. It was the only win for Missouri at the PMAC in 8 tries. Two years ago the Tigers lost a close game of two pretty bad teams.

Missouri-LSU Basketball: How to Watch, Game Info:

TIME: 2:30 p.m. CT

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DATE: Saturday, January 17, 2026

LOCATION: Pete Maravich Athletic Center; Baton Rouge, LA

TELEVISION: SEC Network

STREAM: WatchESPN

FORUMS: Rockm.Plus/Forums

College Basketball Games to watch, January 17th, 2026

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