LSU men’s basketball coach Will Wade has plenty to be encouraged about after the Tigers' first two games of the 2026-27 season.
After opening the season with a 100-57 victory over New Orleans, LSU delivered another convincing performance Friday night, defeating Texas Southern 92-51 at the Pete Maravich Assembly Center.
The Tigers (2-0) dominated nearly every statistical category, shooting 57.1% from the field, outrebounding Texas Southern 50-29 and holding the visitors to just 23.7% shooting.
Although LSU struggled from beyond the arc, making just five of 22 attempts, the Tigers controlled the paint, scoring 62 points inside while generating 23 points on fast breaks.
Perhaps most encouraging was the balance throughout Wade's rotation. Six LSU players scored in double figures, and both starters and reserves contributed significantly.
With tougher competition approaching, including a road matchup against Gonzaga on Nov. 14, LSU still has areas to improve. However, Friday's performance provided another glimpse of the roster's potential.
Here are three takeaways from LSU's second consecutive blowout victory.
Donovan Dent Continues to Show Remarkable Efficiency at Point Guard
LSU's offense has plenty of talented scorers, but Donovan Dent is quickly demonstrating why he could be the most important player on Will Wade's roster.
The UCLA transfer finished Friday's victory with 10 points and 10 assists, recording a points-assists double-double while committing zero turnovers in nearly 31 minutes.
Even more impressive, Dent has now dished out 20 assists without a single turnover through LSU's first two games.
That's an extraordinary level of efficiency for a point guard who handles the basketball as frequently as Dent does and carries so much responsibility in directing the offense.
Although Dent struggled with his shot against Texas Southern, making just four of 11 attempts, his ability to create scoring opportunities for teammates more than compensated for his shooting struggles.
His court vision, decision-making and ability to control the tempo have helped LSU establish an offensive rhythm that was often missing in recent seasons.
And while the competition will become considerably tougher during SEC play, Dent's early performances raise an intriguing question: Is he already the best passer in the conference?
It's certainly a conversation worth having.
If Dent continues distributing the basketball at this level while limiting mistakes, LSU could have one of the SEC's most dangerous offenses.
Michael Ruzic Is Making a Strong Case to Enter the Starting Lineup
One of LSU's most encouraging early-season developments has been the emergence of Michael Ruzic, who continues to make a compelling argument for a spot in Will Wade's starting lineup.
The 6-foot-10 Croatian forward delivered another impressive performance Friday, finishing with 12 points, 11 rebounds and two blocked shots in nearly 22 minutes off the bench.
Ruzic made six of seven field-goal attempts, grabbed 10 defensive rebounds and finished with a game-high plus-40 rating.
And through LSU's first two games, he's arguably outplayed starting center Brice Dessert.
Against Texas Southern, Dessert finished with nine points and two rebounds in just over 12 minutes. While Dessert provides size and a physical presence inside, Ruzic has been more productive and efficient in his opportunities.
Ruzic's combination of size, mobility, rebounding and offensive versatility gives LSU another dimension in the frontcourt. He's also demonstrated an ability to make an impact without requiring significant offensive touches.
That raises an intriguing question for Wade: How much longer can he afford to keep Ruzic out of the starting lineup?
Although LSU's frontcourt depth gives Wade flexibility with his rotations, Ruzic is making it increasingly difficult to justify keeping him on the bench.
If his early production continues, it might only be a matter of time before Ruzic replaces Dessert in the starting five.
LSU's Bench Had a Huge Impact — and That Could Be Its Biggest Strength
While Dent's playmaking and Ruzic's emergence deserve attention, LSU's depth might be the most encouraging development through its first two games.
The Tigers got 41 points from their bench Friday, nearly matching Texas Southern's 51-point total.
That production helped LSU maintain control throughout the game, even as Wade rotated players and experimented with different lineup combinations.
Abdi Bashir Jr. led the reserves with 15 points, shooting 4-for-10 from the field and hitting 4-of-9 from three.
His perimeter shooting was particularly important considering the Tigers' overall struggles from beyond the arc.
LSU made just five 3-pointers, meaning Bashir accounted for four of them.
That kind of outside shooting could become increasingly valuable for a team that has shown a willingness to attack the basket but still needs more consistent perimeter production.
Ruzic added 12 points off the bench, while Divine Ugochukwu shot 5-for-5 for 10 points.
Ugochukwu also collected five rebounds and two steals, providing another example of LSU's ability to receive meaningful contributions from multiple players.
Gilad Levy and Jordan Bender rounded out the bench scoring with two points apiece.
Altogether, LSU's reserves combined for 41 points, 24 rebounds and seven assists, giving Wade a level of depth that could become especially important once SEC play begins.
The Tigers also benefited from their ability to control the paint, where they outscored Texas Southern 62-12.
That interior dominance, combined with contributions from LSU's reserves, helped the Tigers maintain a comfortable advantage through the second half.
