LSU Last season: 10-21; second straight season with no postseason appearance. Nickname: Tigers. Coach: Will Wade. Conference: Southeastern Who’s gone: G Antonio Blakeney, G Jalyn Patterson, F Elbert Robinson III, G Kieran Hayward. Who’s back: F Duop Reath. The 6-11
LSU
Last season: 10-21; second straight season with no postseason appearance.
Nickname: Tigers.
Coach: Will Wade.
Conference: Southeastern
Who’s gone: G Antonio Blakeney, G Jalyn Patterson, F Elbert Robinson III, G Kieran Hayward.
Who’s back: F Duop Reath. The 6-11 senior is LSU’s top returning scorer and interior defender. He averaged 12 points, 6.2 rebounds and 1.5 blocks per game last season. G Brandon Sampson. The 6-5 junior was LSU’s third-leading scorer last season (11.6 points per game). He’ll play on the wing. G Skylar Mays. Started 25 games as a freshman last season, averaging 8.3 points, 3.6 assists and 1.3 steals. F Aaron Epps. The 6-10 senior started 19 games, averaged 6.2 points, 4.4 rebounds in 17.2 minutes per game.
Who’s new: G Tremont Waters. The 5-11 freshman from New Haven, Connecticut, will start right away. The four-star prospect was named Gatorade Player of the Year for Connecticut last season and played in the Jordan Brand All-Star game. G Randy Onwuasor. The 6-3 graduate transfer was among the top scorers in the nation last season at Utah State, averaging 23.6 points. F Jeremy Combs. The 6-7 graduate transfer was injured much of his senior season at North Texas, where he played for current LSU assistant coach Tony Benford. In 14 games last season, Combs averaged 10.2 points and 6.4 rebounds.
The Skinny: The SEC preseason poll has LSU finishing last and Wade isn’t promising miracles in his first season. But he is pledging that his team won’t be outworked, will be fundamentally sound and have exceptional situational awareness. He also suggests that he has enough scoring to pull out games in which the Tigers keep it close.
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