2 weeks Ago
LSU's Jordan Sears (1) hits a three-point shot in the first half of LSU men’s basketball game vs. Loyola-New Orleans Tuesday in LSU’s Pete Maravich Assembly Center. LSU led 54-12 at the half.
Facebook Twitter WhatsApp SMS Email Print Copy article link Save LSU men’s basketball is finally set to start its 2024-25 campaign under third-year coach Matt McMahon . The Tigers play their season opener at home against Louisiana-Monroe at 7 p.m.
on Thursday at the Pete Maravich Assembly Center. Expectations are low for the group as voters in the SEC preseason poll predicted LSU to be the third worst team in the standings – a spot behind Missouri, which finished 0-18 in the conference last season. This year team's has a number of unknowns after adding four transfers who project to have major roles and four freshmen.
Here are five questions for LSU entering the year. LSU's Jalen Reed (9) drives to the basket in the first half of LSU men’s basketball game vs. Loyola-New Orleans Tuesday in LSU’s Pete Maravich Assembly Center.
LSU led 54-12 at the half. Who will be LSU’s leading scorer? The Tigers retained six players from last season but lost their top four scorers, including Jalen Cook who only played 13 games. Their top returning scorers are juniors Tyrell Ward, who averaged 9.
1 points in 21.7 minutes per game, and Jalen Reed, who averaged 7.9 points in 22.
2 minutes. While they may take a leap, the two most likely players to become LSU’s go-to scorers are Kansas State transfer Cam Carter, a Donaldsonville native, and Tennessee-Martin transfer Jordan Sears. Carter averaged 14.
6 points last season and had 21 points in LSU’s 110-48 exhibition win over Loyal (N.O). Sears averaged 21.
6 points a year ago and had 16 points in the exhibition. Will LSU shoot more 3-pointers? The Tigers were not an offense that prioritized 3-point shooting last season. They were 172nd in the country in 3-point attempt rate (37.
6), according to Bart Torvik . LSU launched 37 triples in its exhibition game. The most 3-pointers the Tigers attempted in a game last year was 38, and they only eclipsed 30 three times.
Players like Carter and Sears are known as prolific shooters. They attempted 15 shots from beyond the arc in the 62-point exhibition win. Is LSU’s backcourt too small to defend top SEC guards? LSU’s starting guards in their exhibition game were Dji Bailey, a transfer from Richmond, Carter, and Sears.
The three-guard lineup is relatively small as Carter stands 6-foot-3, Bailey at 6-4 and Sears at 5-11. None of them are listed at over 195 pounds. Some of LSU’s conference opponents will likely initiate mismatches and try to overpower the lighter unit.
A secondary concern also is the group’s inexperience under McMahon. Since they are transfers, there may be an adjustment period in building cohesion together and comfort in the scheme. What role will Damion Collins play? Arguably the most fascinating player on LSU’s team is redshirt junior Damion Collins.
The former five-star recruit, who played his first two years at Kentucky, only appeared in six games for LSU after dislocating his shoulder. The 6-foot-9, 200-pound forward, has only scored 10 or more points four times in his career. What Collins lacks as a scorer he makes up for as an elite leaper and shot blocker.
Assuming a healthy season, the once elite recruit could be a significant piece that McMahon has needed in his front court rotation. Will LSU have an impact freshman? One of the biggest differences in LSU’s team is the number of freshmen on the roster. Last year, it only had two first-years, Mike Williams III, who averaged 7.
2 points in 19.5 minutes, and Corey Chest, who redshirted. The Tigers freshman group this season has four-stars Curtis Givens III, Vyctorius Miller, Robert Miller III and three-star Noah Boyde, according to 247Sports.
In the team’s exhibition win, Givens led first-years in scoring with 10 points and Miller had a team-high nine rebounds. The emergence of anyone in the 2024 recruiting class can be a pleasant surprise as the Tigers hope to make the NCAA tournament for the first time since 2022..
