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When LSU dismissed coach Will Wade in March 2022 amid recruiting violations involving impermissible payments, athletic director Scott Woodward aimed to find a steadier, less controversial leader who could navigate the program through NCAA sanctions and restore its reputation. Matt McMahon met those expectations off the court but fell short in the win column, posting a 15-17 overall record and a 3-15 mark in SEC play last season.
The departure of Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry, which led to Woodward's exit last year, paved the way for Wade's return. Known for his fiery demeanor, candid nature, and successful track record, Wade had previously energized the fan base and filled arenas. Now, he is leveraging the NCAA's more permissive rules on player compensation and transfers to rebuild the Tigers into a competitive force.
However, the roster's stability remains uncertain, as several players, including highly touted recruit RJ Luis Jr., have pursued legal action to extend their eligibility. The revamped lineup features UCLA transfer guards Donovan Dent and Skyy Clark, both of whom secured a court order for a fifth season. Other key contributors are expected to include Abdi Bashir Jr., a guard transfer from Kansas State; Michael Ruzic, a 7-foot center from Croatia with professional experience in Europe; and Saliou Niang, a 6-8 forward from Italy who has also played in European developmental leagues.
Every player from last season's team has departed, with the most notable losses being Max MacKinnon (15.7 points per game), Dedan Thomas Jr. (15.3 ppg), Michael Nwoko (13.4 ppg), and Marquel Sutton (13.1 ppg). Alongside Dent, Clark, Bashir, and Niang, the new additions include 7-foot center Brice Dessert from France, 7-3 center Gilad Levy of Israel, transfer forward Mo Dioubate from Kentucky, transfer guard Divine Ugochukwu from Michigan State, and transfer guard Austin Nunez from UTSA.
Key Analysis
LSU's first major test under Wade's second tenure comes on Nov. 14 against preseason No. 15 Gonzaga in Spokane, Washington. On Dec. 13, the Tigers visit No. 10 Houston. The SEC slate also features matchups against several preseason-ranked opponents: at No. 20 Alabama on Jan. 5; vs. No. 8 Tennessee on Jan. 9; at No. 23 Kentucky on Jan. 13; vs. No. 7 Texas on Jan. 19; at No. 12 Arkansas on Jan. 26; vs. No. 24 Vanderbilt on Feb. 2; vs. No. 1 Florida on Feb. 17; and vs. No. 12 Arkansas on March 2.
During Wade's initial stint at LSU from 2017-2022, he compiled a 105-51 record and led the Tigers to three NCAA Tournament appearances, though he was absent from the team for two of those trips (2019 and 2022) due to recruiting violation allegations. LSU also appeared headed to the 2020 NCAA Tournament with a 21-10 record before the season was canceled due to the pandemic. The program has not returned to the NCAA Tournament since Wade's departure. As of early October, LSU's roster had only four listed players, but a combination of NCAA eligibility waivers and court orders has since allowed the Tigers to officially add eight more.
Originally reported by nbcsports.