2019-2020 LSU Men's Basketball Team Preview

Photo By: Terrill Weil

11/1/2019
By: Terrill J. Weil
​Da Boot Sports!


                       Despite key losses, Tigers still have talent to be contenders      

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    LSU Basketball finished last season,  28-7 (16-2 SEC), earned the SEC regular season championship, and advancing to the sweet 16, all while dealing with the tragedy of loosing teammate Wayde Sims in a senseless shooting death. As well as a late season suspension of Head Coach Will Wade due to allegations of possible recruiting violations.       
       The Tigers will look to build on the 2018-19 season's success. Will Wade is back for his 3rd season.  First off, Wade has some key roster losses to fill.  Gone are starters, Kavell Bigby-Williams, Naz Reid, and Tremont Waters.  The replacement of Reid should come in a key arrival of five-star freshman, Tredon Watford, who Wade calls "Phenomenal."   JaVonte Smart will step in at point guard to run the offense, after finishing last season with several strong performances.  Senior Guard Skyler Mays returns as the emotional team leader of this group.  He averaged 13.4 ppg, along with 3.3 rebound a game. Marlon Taylor will be a major factor in the Tigers attack as well as Junior college transfer, scoring guard, Charles Manning Jr.   One of the main concerns this season is having the height and size in the front court.  Naz Reid was a force to deal with in the paint, and Kavell Bigby-Williams was a solid rebound machine and a great shot blocker. LSU will depend on Emmitt Williams and Darius Days to pick up where last season's big men left off. 
      The Tigers are still a very talented team, more then capable of repeating last season's success if Will Wade can find the right starting lineup and have quality mintues from the bench.  No doubt the Tigers are a NCAA tournament quality team.  Please come out and fill  the Pete Maravich Assembly Center this season. These talented young men need to feed off of loud, electric, sell out crowds in route to a special season.