When Does Lsu Play Again in the Ncaa Tourney

Iowa State found out its NCAA Tournament fate on Selection Sunday, and the Cyclones have an interesting draw.

Iowa State (20-12 overall, 7-11 in Big 12 play) grabbed a No. 11 seed in the Midwest Region. It will take on No. 6 seed LSU (22-11 overall, 9-9 in SEC play) in the first round in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, on Friday.

The winner of Iowa State vs. LSU will face the winner of No. 3 seed Wisconsin vs. No. 14 seed Colgate on Sunday. The top two seeds in the Midwest Region are No. 1 Kansas and No. 2 Auburn.

Here's what you need to know about the LSU Tigers, who Iowa State will play in the first round of the NCAA Tournament.

More:Peterson: Iowa State facing controversy-stricken LSU makes for an intriguing NCAA opening act

LSU fired coach Will Wade; Kevin Nickelberry named interim head coach

The Tigers have had a chaotic end to the season, capped off by the firing of head coach Will Wade after the NCAA sent a Notice of Allegations to the university following an investigation into possible violations.

Instead, the Tigers will be led by interim head coach Kevin Nickelberry.

Nickelberry is a former head coach at Hampton (2006-09) and Howard (2010-19). LSU has not played a game since the coaching change, so it remains to be seen whether the Tigers play any differently with their new head coach.

LSU's best player is Tari Eason

The Tigers will rely on sophomore forward Tari Eason to carry some of the scoring load against Iowa State.

Eason, who spent his freshman year in 2020-21 at Cincinnati, exploded onto the scene this season at LSU. He's averaging 16.9 points and 6.7 rebounds per game despite coming off the bench for all but four games.

Eason was named first-team all-SEC and the SEC sixth-man of the year for his play.

LSU is an elite defensive team

In some ways, this Iowa State vs. LSU game will be like looking in a mirror.

Both teams feature strong defenses that rank among the nation's best. Iowa State's defense ranks No. 10 in the country in adjusted defensive efficiency per KenPom, while LSU's defense is No. 5.

In some of LSU's bigger games this year, the defense shined. LSU kept Kentucky to 60 points and Arkansas to 65 during the regular season.

However, both teams struggle offensively — Iowa State is No. 151 in offensive efficiency, compared to LSU at No. 89 — meaning fans could see a low-scoring matchup on Friday.

Iowa State has played vs. LSU point guard Xavier Pinson before

Iowa State fans might recognize the LSU floor general on Friday.

Xavier Pinson, a senior guard, spent his first three seasons at Missouri. Pinson, who played with Iowa State product Talen Horton-Tucker at Chicago Simeon, played at Hilton Coliseum in his second career college basketball game in 2018, when his Mizzou team lost, 76-59, to Iowa State.

Pinson came off the bench and played 16 minutes, finishing with four points, four rebounds and a pair of assists.

Marial Shayok led Iowa State with 20 points in that game. Tyrese Haliburton made his first career start and tallied eight points.

LSU's NCAA Tournament history

This is LSU's 24th time making the NCAA Tournament. The Tigers have made four Final Four appearances (most recently in 2006) and have advanced to the Round of 32 a dozen times.

Their most recent run to the second weekend of March Madness came in 2019, when LSU won the SEC regular-season title and earned a No. 3 seed.

Led by current NBA players Javonte Smart (Heat) and Naz Reid (Timberwolves), LSU took down No. 14 seed Yale and No. 6 seed Maryland to advance to the Sweet 16. Michigan State beat LSU, 80-63, in the Sweet 16 to end the Tigers' run.

Aaron Marner is a digital producer with the USA Today Network. You can follow him on Twitter @A_Mar32 or reach him at amarner@gannett.com.

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Source: https://www.desmoinesregister.com/story/sports/college/iowa-state/cyclone-insider/2022/03/13/march-madness-lsu-basketball-2022-ncaa-tournament-iowa-state-bracket-midwest-tari-eason/7029950001/

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