Synopsis From ESPN & CBS Of LSU & St. Bonaventure

No. 8 LSU will face No. 9 St Bonaventure this Saturday in the first-round of the NCAA Tournament. Tipoff is set for 12:45 p.m. CT on TNT.

Here is a quick synopsis from ESPN and CBS of the Tigers and the Bonnie's.

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ESPN:

LSU Tigers:
Arkansas had won nine in a row before suffering a 79-71 loss to LSU in the SEC tournament semifinals Saturday. The Tigers used the same formula that makes them a threat to advance to the second weekend. Cam Thomas scored 21 points -- his 20th game with 20 or more points this season -- and his team forced 16 turnovers, a sign of an improving defense. At one point in the second half of the win over Arkansas on Saturday, LSU had put together a 17-2 run against the hottest team in the SEC. No. 1 in offensive efficiency in SEC play per KenPom, LSU can put up big numbers, and if it's respectable on defense throughout the NCAA tournament, it can be a team that can compete with the best squads in the field.

St Bonaventure Bonnie's:
Mark Schmidt's Atlantic 10 title-winning squad had the most efficient offense (38% clip from the 3-point line) and the most efficient defense (45% inside the arc allowed) in Atlantic 10 play. He also has two of America's best players. When Kyle Lofton (14.2 PPG, 5.5 APG) and Osun Osunniyi (10.3 PPG, 9.3 RPG, 2.8 BPG) have been on the floor together this season, the Bonnies have made 40% of their 3-point attempts versus 34% without them.

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CBS:

LSU (CBS ranked the Tigers No. 20 in the Tournament)
LSU's fantastically entertaining showing against Alabama in the SEC title game clinches their top-20 status. Defensively there is no doubt plenty of room for concern. But between Cam Thomas, Trendon Watford and Javonte Smart, the Tigers' ceiling is the Final Four IF they play with any semblance of defensive want-to. Will Wade's team wants to beat you 97-85 every time out.

St. Bonaventure (CBS ranked the Bonnie's No. 38 in the Tournament)
Beware the Bonnies. Mark Schmidt has done it again, getting his team to the NCAAs for the third time in what is considered the hardest job in the Atlantic 10. Bona has a tough-as-nails trio of Osun Osunniyi, Jalen Adaway and Kyle Lofton. This is the best defensive team Schmidt's ever had, and it's going to force its will upon its first-round opponent.

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