The LSU Tigers aren’t the best team in the SEC, but they have something many teams in their conference do not have. A shot blocking extraordinaire in Jordan Mickey.
The key to beating Kentucky is to take their big men out of the game, control the glass and keep possessions alive. That’s exactly what Mickey does for the Tigers. He impacts the Tigers on both ends of the court, but his calling card is his incredible ability to create blocked shots.
Mickey is a game-changer on the defensive end of the court. This season, Mickey has seven games where he has recorded five or more blocks, with two seven block performances against Texas A&M and UAB. It’s no surprise that LSU is 6-1 when Mickey records five or more blocks. (the only loss coming to Texas A&M)
While Mickey can prevent opposing team’s from scoring, he enables LSU on the offensive end. Mickey is incredibly active on the glass, averaging 10.6 rebounds per contest. His energy also translates to many offensive rebounds as well, averaging 2.8 a contest.
One thing Mickey has improved from his freshman season is his scoring, as he increased his scoring average from 12.7 to 15.5 over the course of one year. In fact, Mickey only has three games of single-digit scoring.
The scariest thing about Jordan Mickey is he is only a sophomore. With temptation of the NBA looming in the back of his mind, Mickey has become a staple on this surprisingly solid Tigers team, and he might be the team’s best chance at beating Kentucky.
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