Lil Kim been around way way longer than her second season at LSU. Yes, she's figured out that the old myth that too many cupcakes make you an automatic post season flameout is not necessarily true. She saw Geno do it for decades with weak sister conferences while winning umpteen nattys. One of Kim's hallmarks is doing whatever it takes.
Plus, she knows they'll be tested in the SEC. My gripe with her schedule would be how boring it is for fans. I hate sitting thru those games, I skip many. OTH, KJH wanted her team punched hard and early. Somewhere btw the two is a good preseason schedule. Test, but don't punch, especially repeatedly.