How Will Baker can be the solution to LSU men's basketball's point guard problem
BATON ROUGE — Splash, splash, splash.
LSU men's basketball forward Will Baker couldn't miss a shot if he tried to on Monday night, the Tigers' season opener against Mississippi Valley State that ended in a dominant 106-60 win.
He scored from the post. He scored from 3-point range. He scored from the free throw line.
It was the kind of performance LSU (1-0) expected to have from Tulane transfer guard Jalen Cook this season. But with Cook ineligible to play this season after not receiving a second-transfer waiver from the NCAA, could the 7-foot Baker fill his role on the offensive side of the floor instead?
Monday night suggested that could be the case.
"We wanted to identify and experience front court player who was not only skilled and effective down in the post but can step out and shoot the ball on the perimeter," coach Matt McMahon said after the win. "And I thought we saw all of that from Will tonight."
Baker, who transferred to LSU from Nevada this offseason, obviously doesn't play point guard. But he scored 29 points on 10-of-11 shooting in his Tigers debut on Monday, drilling both of his 3-point shots and only missing one of his eight free throw attempts.
It's only one game. And Mississippi Valley State (0-1) isn't a world beater by any means. But Baker is already making the game easier for his teammates, the same way Cook would have if he could play.
"Yeah, I mean when you pass it to him, if it's one-on-one, it's a for sure bucket," Vanderbilt transfer Jordan Wright said after the win. "... He's smart enough and good enough to know when they double him, he can make the right pass and make the right play. So that's easy shots for the guys on the perimeter. So the game is just easier that way."
Baker may not be able to break down defenses off the dribble the way Cook can, but his 3-point shooting helps maintain LSU's spacing and his ability to expose mismatches in the post gives the Tigers another dimension to their offense.
McMahon has also been impressed with Baker's passing. He only had one assist on Monday, but Baker's ability to find 3-point shooters out of the post and keep the ball moving increases his value on an LSU attack that will need to share the rock effectively this season without Cook.
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McMahon acknowledged on Monday LSU's offense may have to rely on scoring as a committee this season, in part due to Cook's absence.
But he still feels optimistic about LSU's roster and likes the depth that the Tigers have at every position. That includes Baker, who showed on Monday that he could be more than just another cog in a committee this season.
"I'm fully expecting him to continue to do that," Wright said. "And I know the type of player that he is and his offensive capabilities.
"We're going to feed him and ride him as we continue to go on throughout the season."
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Koki Riley covers LSU sports for The Daily Advertiser. Email him at kriley@theadvertiser.com and follow him on Twitter at @KokiRiley
This article originally appeared on Lafayette Daily Advertiser: LSU men's basketball: Will Baker can help fill Jalen Cook absence
