Da Boot Sports
10/29/2024
LSU Sports Communications
By: Cam Carter


   BATON ROUGE – The LSU men’s basketball team jumped out to a 31-3 lead in the first nine minutes and showed flashes of what fans can expect this season in a 110-48 victory over Loyola (N.O.) Tuesday night in the Pete Maravich Assembly Center.

   LSU played 12 players and all 12 scored in the contest with six players in double figures. The Tigers shot 55.7 percent for the game (39-of-70) and made 18 three-pointers, shooting 48.6 percent. LSU was 14-of-19 at the free throw line (73.7 percent) and outrebounded Loyola, 48-29.
   Cam Carter, the transfer from Kansas State had 21 points with five three-pointers in 21 minutes, while Jordan Sears had 16 points with four three-pointers. Mike Williams III added 11 points (three treys) and Jalen Reed, Dji Bailey and Curtis Givens III 10 each.

   Noah Boyde did not dress for the game as he continues to await full clearance from ACL surgery and Coach Matt McMahon said afterwards that Tyrell Ward and Derek Fountain did not dress “for precautionary reasons.”

   Loyola was led by Braelee Albert with eight points. The Wolf Pack after shooting just 13.6 percent in the opening 20 minutes (3-of-22) finished the game at 17-of-58 (29.3%) with four made threes and 10-of-17 at the free throw line.

   The Tigers open the regular season on Wednesday, Nov. 6, at 7 p.m. against ULM. Loyola, coached by former LSU manager Donald Reyes, next plays at LSU-Alexandria on Saturday.

LSU COACH MATT MCMAHON QUOTES
OPENING STATEMENT:
“Good way to start the exhibition season here. From an offensive standpoint I liked it when we were sharing the basketball, balls popping around, guys stepping up knocking down, a lot of good looks from behind the three-point line. I thought in the first half we were able to be disruptive on the defensive end. Think you saw the experience of Jordan Sears, Dji Bailey, and Cam Carter. We talked about it in media yesterday. Over 7,000 minutes of college experience for those three guys. Happy to see them get their first game under their belts in the PMAC. From an availability standpoint, Noah Boyde continues to be out as he makes his recovery from his ACL surgery last December. Derek Fountain and Tyrell Ward were out for precautionary reasons with it being an exhibition game, believe everyone else got in the action tonight. Love to answer any questions.”

On what he liked from the defense tonight…
“I think we were able to make them uncomfortable in the first half with the pressure. They do a nice job executing offensively and we were able to get them out of their spots. And what we ended up doing was forcing a lot of contested jump shots on the perimeter. We did a solid job on the defensive glass which enabled us to get out in transition and take advantage of our speed and quickness. I thought that was all activated by the defensive pressure on the ball.”

LOYOLA COACH DONALD REYES
Opening Statement
“First and foremost, I’ll give credit where credit is due. Obviously, with their athleticism, LSU is a really good team. It’s small and modern, you know, so I take pride in knowing who they are and what they’ve done, and I think they have a lot of depth that’ll give a lot of people some really tough problems, but obviously against us they shot it extremely well tonight from the three-point line, which was a little bit unorthodox for them and it kind of shocked us a little bit to be truthful. Their athleticism just kind of overwhelmed us. It was hard to really get in the paint and get clean shots and you know, it just hats off to them. They were the much better team that took care of the ball. They really got up and down the transition.”

On his return to Baton Rouge after being at LSU …
“I was a special, full circle moment, I will be honest with you. 19 years ago, I was a freshman here on campus, prior to Hurricane Katrina. I was blessed man. I have had a lot of mentors. Coach John Brady, who is the color commentator here, being there for me first and foremost, and (former LSU assistant) Coach Michael Giorlando. I still have a lot of ties to the program, from athletic trainers to assistant coaches, and it meant a lot. I’ve got a lot of family and friends out here tonight that were here to support myself and my team, and I told my team I love them to death, and I appreciate them for sharing this moment with me”



      Make sure you go to DaBootSports.com for all of your LSU, Saints and Southern University coverage all season long. Also, please Subscribe to our Da Boot Sports YouTube Channel for our live 'Talking Tigers with Da Boot Sports' Football Podcast ever Tuesday night at 8:00pm.   Tuesday night's special guest will be LSU Super Fan TigerMark!....  Thank you for all the support!   GEAUX TIGERS!!! 

    **If your a Saints fan, tune into our YouTube Channel next Monday night at 8pm for our new live Saints podcast, Fleur De Lis Focus. Check it out and join us for some fun New Orleans Saints football Talk...
​
​
​

Photos Below By: Jonathan Mailhes

John 14:6 - "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." (Accept Jesus as your Lord and Savior)

​*John 3;16 - For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.​

Da Boot Sports
10/10/2024
LSU Sports Communications
By: Mason Siegel


   The 2024-2025 season holds plenty of promise for LSU Men’s Basketball as it looks to build on the momentum established under third-year head coach Matt McMahon. After advancing to postseason play a year ago in a season that included back-to-back wins over ranked teams South Carolina and Kentucky, LSU aims to make a deeper postseason run, powered by a blend of experienced returnees, exciting newcomers, and a revamped coaching staff.

Key Returning Players
   LSU’s roster stability is a significant strength heading into the season, as the Tigers return several key contributors. Junior forwards Jalen Reed and Tyrell Ward, along with sophomore guard Mike Williams III, were all starters last year and look to elevate their games. Reed and Ward demonstrated the program’s focus on player development, making significant strides from their freshman and sophomore seasons. Reed, a versatile 6-10 forward, showcased an improved offensive game, while Ward, at 6-6, became a consistent scoring threat and defensive presence on the wing.
Williams III also made his mark as a tenacious defender and steady playmaker, starting in 22 games last season. His development as a scorer will be crucial to LSU’s success, especially as he takes on more leadership responsibilities in the backcourt.
Fifth-year senior Derek Fountain returns for his third year at LSU, bringing veteran leadership and a gritty work ethic. Known for his ability to do the dirty work—rebounding, defending, and setting screens—Fountain’s experience will be invaluable for a relatively young team.
Daimion Collins, who missed nearly the entire SEC schedule last year due to a shoulder injury, has been cleared for full participation. A 6-9 forward, Collins was a highly-touted recruit coming out of high school, and his return to health is a massive boost for the Tigers. Known for his athleticism and shot-blocking ability, Collins has the potential to be a game-changer in the paint.

​Highly Ranked Recruiting and Transfer Class
   McMahon and his staff brought in a top-tier recruiting class, ranked No. 14 in the 247Sports composite rankings. Freshmen Vyctorius Miller, Curtis Givens III and Robert Miller III are expected to make an immediate impact.
“Vyctorious Miller is very talented guard with good size at 6-5,” McMahon said. “I think he has great IQ, feel for the game, and can score in a variety of different ways and is also a very good playmaker. He’s been one of our tops in assist-to-turnover ratio in the workouts this fall.”
Givens III, a 6-3 point guard, has been praised for his consistency and shooting ability.
“Curtis Givens III has been everything we were expecting at the point guard position,” McMahon explained. “Just rock-solid consistency, relentless worker, and he’s shooting the ball exceptionally well from three.”
Miller III, a 6-11 forward with a 7-5 wingspan, has bulked up to 229 pounds and could be a force in the frontcourt with his shot-blocking and perimeter shooting.
“Robert Miller III has done a terrific job with (basketball strength) coach (Mike) Chatman in the weight room and is really talented. He’s not a back-to-the-basket, old-school post player. He’s very skilled, he shoots it well from three, and provides shot blocking, length, and athleticism around the rim.”
In addition to the freshmen, LSU dipped into the transfer portal to bring in three key players: Cam Carter, Jordan Sears, and Dji Bailey.
“All three guys impact winning,” McMahon said. “They had a combined 47 points per game of production last year, and we’re very excited about those three.”
Carter, who previously played at Kansas State, brings familiarity with high-level competition and will add depth to the backcourt. Sears, a scoring guard, and Bailey, a versatile wing, are expected to provide offensive firepower and defensive intensity.

New Faces on the Sidelines
   LSU’s coaching staff has undergone significant changes, headlined by the addition of Associate Head Coach David Patrick and Assistant Coach Jalen Courtney-Williams. Patrick, who brings extensive experience as a head coach and international coaching credentials from the 2024 Olympics with the Australian team, returns to LSU after previously serving as an assistant under Johnny Jones.
Courtney-Williams, a former LSU player, joins the staff after a successful coaching career at multiple programs. His connection to the program and understanding of LSU’s culture will resonate with the players. The two new hires join returning assistants Casey Long, Tim Kaine and Ronrico White, forming a strong, cohesive unit.

A Challenging Non-Conference Slate
   LSU’s non-conference schedule is designed to prepare the team for the rigors of SEC play, with several high-profile matchups on the schedule. The Tigers will play at Kansas State, and LSU will compete in the SEC/ACC Challenge against Florida State at home and versus SMU in Frisco, Texas. The Tigers will also play in the Greenbrier Classic in West Virginia, where LSU will take on Pittsburgh in the opening round and could face either Wisconsin or UCF in the second game. Tickets for the Tigers’ home gamers are available now at LSUTix.net.



   Make sure you go to DaBootSports.com for all of your LSU, Saints and Southern University coverage all season long. Also, please Subscribe to our Da Boot Sports YouTube Channel for our live 'Talking Tigers with Da Boot Sports' Football Podcast ever Tuesday night at 8:00pm.  This Tuesday's special guest will be former LSU quarterback Mickey Guidry...   Thank you for all the support!   GEAUX TIGERS!!! 

    **If your a Saints fan, tune into our YouTube Channel next Monday night at 8pm for our new live Saints podcast, Fleur De Lis Focus. Check it out and join us for some fun New Orleans Saints football Talk...
​

​John 14:6 - "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." (Accept Jesus as your Lord and Savior)

​*John 3;16 - For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.