McMahon starting over again
Matt McMahon basically started from scratch a year ago in his first season as LSU basketball coach.
The departure of coach Will Wade was followed by the exodus of nearly every scholarship player in the program. Simply trying to build a roster, McMahon utilized the transfer portal. Due to the horrible situation, McMahon had to find bodies – disregarding talent.
Not surprisingly, the results of McMahon’s first season were terrible. The Tigers won 14 games – the fewest by a first-year LSU coach since John Brady during the 1997-98 season. Brady’s initial Tigers team posted a 9-18 record, including 2-14 in the Southeastern Conference.
****
EXCLUSIVE: LSU the team to beat for 5-star QB Bryce Underwood (premium)
WATCH: 5-star RB Harlem Berry goes off on Cohen (premium)
LSU offer 'feels amazing" to Karr's Corey Adams Jr. (premium)
WATCH: Evangel's Gabriel Reliford goes beastmode! (premium)
****
McMahon’s first venture in the SEC produced a slightly worse record than that of Brady. LSU won only two of its 18 SEC games. Most of the players from last season’s team are gone. There are only two returnees who averaged as much as 20 points per game – Derek Fountain and Trae Hannibal.
In essence, McMahon is starting over once again in his second season which begins in ten days against Mississippi Valley State at the PMAC. McMahon once again used the transfer portal. On paper, this group looks stronger than McMahon’s first transfer class.
McMahon brought to LSU three players who averaged double figures last season – Carlos Stewart (15 points a game at Santa Clara), Will Baker (14 points a game at Nevada) and Jordan Wright (11 points a game at Vanderbilt).
The Tigers added a fourth transfer, who averaged double-digit points last season – Jalen Cook (20 points a game at Tulane). However, the NCAA has not ruled Cook immediately eligible after his second transfer. Cook spent his freshman campaign at LSU before heading to Tulane.
Not having Cook would be a huge blow for McMahon’s second Tigers team. It is doubtful that Cook will be ruled eligible. So, McMahon will have to rely upon two non-point guards to run the offense – Stewart and Hannibal.
Stewart, Baker and Wright probably will be three starters – Stewart at point guard, Wright at a wing and Baker at a post position. Three holdovers are competing for the other two starting spots – Fountain and sophomores Jalen Reed and Tyrell Ward.
Fountain, who started 23 games last season, averaged eight points and six rebounds in his 24 minutes per contest. Reed and Ward made 11 and eight starts, respectively. Both players averaged just four points per game.
Mwani Wilkinson, who began his LSU career under Wade, is attempting to come back from a shoulder injury which kept him out for more than half of last season. Two more transfers will play inside – Daimion Collins from Kentucky and Hunter Dean from George Washington.
McMahon signed two freshmen – Corey Chest and Michael Williams. Two of the projected starters – Baker and Wright – have just one year of eligibility remaining as do Hannibal and Dean.
So, this season will not be one where McMahon is building for greater results in the 2024-25 campaign. That LSU team will also have a different look. McMahon already has two top-50 recruits set to join the program.
McMahon must start developing a winning culture this season. McMahon should use a similar pattern utilized by Wade in his first season. The Tigers became a tough out at the PMC. LSU did not lose a home conference game in the second half of the schedule back in 2018.
Enthusiasm for the men’s basketball program must return if the Tigers are going to be successful once again. That feeling from the fans will come only if McMahon can win some games. That task will be challenging, but it is one which McMahon and his team must meet.