Matt McMahon takes responsibility for LSU’s shooting woes

LSU has not won a basketball game in 2023. A quick 12-1 start for the Tigers has seen them drop their last three games – ranking them 12th in the SEC despite having one of the most impressive overall records in the conference.

The trifecta of losses was capped off with a 67-56 loss to Florida at home. LSU shot 32.2 percent (19-59) from the floor and an even worse 17.9 percent (5-28) from the three-point line in the losing effort, something head coach Matt McMahon took complete responsibility for in his postgame press conference.

“We’ve got to do a better job. I’ve got to be a better job coaching, to put us in better positions to where we can shoot higher percentage shots from the floor,” McMahon said after the loss.

Three of LSU’s best shooters – Adam Miller, Justice Hill and KJ Williams – finished the matchup a combined 3-of-24 from the three-point line against the Gators. Most of those were contested jumpers – something that played right into the scheme of Florida head coach Todd Golden’s defense.

On more than one occasion, LSU passed up a decent inside look for a tightly guarded trey. That would end up condemning the Tigers, not to mention their 16 total turnovers.

“Give credit to Florida, I think they have a nice [defensive] formula. They don’t over-help on the three-point line – they funnel you into the rim where they have one of the top shot-blockers in the country,” McMahon said. “Their two-point defense ranks 10th or 12th in the nation, and they don’t give you as many open looks as you like. I thought when we executed we were able to create some, but we have to do a much better job of getting cleaner looks from behind the arc.”

LSU can be forgiven for its early 2023 woes if it can knock off No. 4 Alabama on the road this Saturday. Tip-off is scheduled for 4 p.m. ET live on ESPN.