Tuesday Lay-up Lines: LSU hosting Florida highlights an interesting night

LSU (23-4, 11-1) hosts Florida (21-6, 8-4) in one of the more intriguing match-ups this week. LSU remains largely a mystery to everyone outside of Baton Rouge. Playing in a joke of a weak SEC West, the Tigers best wins are against Washington State, South Carolina, and at Tennessee, all of which (except probably the win in Knoxville) are highly debatable as "quality" wins. But facts are facts, and the Tigers are, in fact, sitting at 23-4 with a three game lead over the pack in a power conference. This should be a fun one to watch. Florida likes to get out and run the floor, while LSU has a number of athletes capable of becoming youtube legends. I think LSU's size and athleticism will be too much for the Gators.

The rest of the tonight's hoops:

• 7:00 PM: Penn State (19-8, 8-6) @ Ohio State (17-8, 7-7): This game has huge implications both for the two team's bubble prospects and for rankings in the Big Ten tournament. Right now, PSU is in fourth and OSU is in seventh, but a Buckeye win would create a four-way tie for fourth in the Big Ten. Why is that interesting? Because the top five teams get a bye in the first round.
• 7:00 PM: Pitt (25-2, 12-2) @ Providence (16-11, 8-7): This may be the last chance for Providence, who has dropped five of seven after starting out the year 6-2 in the Big East. Tough match-up here, as the Friars, who are a jump shooting team don't play much defense, will be going against one of the toughest defensive teams in the country.
• 7:30 PM: Syracuse (19-8, 7-7) @ St. John's (13-14, 4-10): The Orange could really use this win after losing seven of their last ten. Right now, they are tied with Cincinnati for the eighth in the Big East. For those that don't know, the top eight get a bye in the Big East tourney.
• 8:05 PM: Northern Iowa (18-10, 12-4) @ Illinois State (22-6, 11-5); Creighton (23-6, 12-4) @ Missouri State (11-17, 3-13): First place in the MVC is on the line.
• 9:00 PM: Florida State (21-8, 8-4) @ Boston College (19-9, 7-6): Florida State might have all but locked up a NCAA tourney bid, but BC still needs to pick up a couple of wins to feel comfortable. Should be fun to watch Toney Douglas go up against Tyrese Rice.
  
• 10:30 PM: BYU (20-6, 8-4) @ SDSU (18-7, 8-4): These two teams are right on the bubble, and also tied for second place in the MWC.