Tag: Daimion Collins

LSU guard Jalen Cook suspended for violation of team rules, Matt McMahon announces

Jalen Cook has missed the last five games and is now suspended for failing to meet “team requirements.”

LSU guard [autotag]Jalen Cook[/autotag] hasn’t appeared in a game since a loss to Florida on Feb. 13, and it seems that absence will continue.

On Monday, coach [autotag]Matt McMahon[/autotag] announced that Cook is currently suspended from the team for failing to meet “team requirements.” Cook initially missed four games with a leg injury, but he was not with the team on the road for Saturday’s victory against Vanderbilt.

Trae Hannibal has been starting in Cook’s place.

A native of Walker, Louisiana, Cook began his career at LSU but transferred following his true freshman season and spent two years at Tulane. He returned in 2023-24 but was forced to sit out the first 10 games as a two-time transfer.

Cook’s loss is significant as he currently leads LSU in points per game (15.6) and assists per game (2.8).

McMahon also announced that guard [autotag]Carlos Stewart[/autotag] (knee soreness) isn’t likely to return this season while [autotag]Daimion Collins[/autotag] (dislocated shoulder) is taking a medical redshirt but is expected to be back healthy next season.

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LSU F Daimion Collins to return against Northwestern State on Friday night

Daimion Collins will make his return to the court after missing the last six games.

LSU has been without one of its top transfer additions in recent outings, but it will be back closer to full strength as it hosts Northwestern State for the final non-conference matchup before SEC play begins in the new year.

Forward [autotag]Daimion Collins[/autotag] will make his return to the court after missing the last six games, according to On3’s Joe Tipton. A former five-star recruit who arrived this offseason from Kentucky, Collins is averaging 4.8 points and 2.2 rebounds in five games this season.

He’s been a rotational player and will likely resume that role, giving LSU some more depth on the interior with the 6-foot-9 player.

It’s one of several recent boosts the Tigers have gotten as transfer guard [autotag]Jalen Cook[/autotag] was finally given the green light to play as a two-time transfer ahead of a loss to Texas.

Now closer to full strength, LSU will hope to reverse its fortunes from last season in SEC play. First, it will take on the Demons at 7 p.m. CT on Friday night.

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LSU men’s basketball rolls in opener against Mississippi Valley State

LSU is trying to erase last year’s disappointing campaign, and it got off to a nice start Monday night.

The Tigers badly want to erase a disappointing Year 1 under [autotag]Matt McMahon[/autotag], and they’re certainly off to a great start.

LSU’s men’s basketball team rolled in its season opener against Mississippi Valley State, winning 106-60 in our first look at this new, transfer-heavy group.

It was a fantastic night for the offense, which shot 57.6% from the field. The real standout was [autotag]Will Baker[/autotag], a Nevada transfer who went off for a game-high 29 points on 10 of 11 shooting. Vanderbilt transfer [autotag]Jordan Wright[/autotag] also scored in double figures with 12 points, as did Kentucky transfer [autotag]Daimion Collins[/autotag] and [autotag]Tyrell Ward[/autotag] with 11 each.

It’s hard to find much fault with the defense, either, which held the Devils to 38.2% shooting from the field. LSU also forced 22 turnovers, which resulted in 35 points.

The Tigers will face tougher opponents this season, and it’s too early to tell if this team has taken a substantive leap. But this was an encouraging way to start, and we’ll see if this team can keep it up when it returns to the court to host Nicholls on Friday night.

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LSU men’s basketball starts season with huge exhibition win over Louisiana Christian

The Tigers began the 2023-24 season with a 132-44 exhibition win over NAIA Louisiana Christian.

LSU’s men’s basketball team enters the 2023-24 season looking to wash away the bad taste from last season’s losing record and 2-16 finish in SEC play. The Tigers certainly got off to a nice start in Year 2 under [autotag]Matt McMahon[/autotag], taking down NAIA Louisiana Christian 132-44.

Vanderbilt transfer [autotag]Jordan Wright[/autotag] led the way for the LSU offense, which shot 73.1% from the field as a team. He scored 19 points followed by [autotag]Tyrell Ward[/autotag] (19 points) and [autotag]Mwani Wilkinson[/autotag] (17).

All in all, seven Tigers scored in double figures. Transfers [autotag]Daimion Collins[/autotag] (15 points), [autotag]Will Baker[/autotag] (14) and [autotag]Carlos Stewart[/autotag] (12) were among those players.

It was also an impressive game on the defensive end for the Tigers, which allowed the Wildcats to shoot just 24.2% from the field while forcing 21 turnovers (resulting in 39 points the other way) and outrebounding Louisiana Christian 49-23.

It wasn’t a Division I opponent, but it’s certainly a positive sign for the Tigers as they look to return to contending for the NCAA Tournament. LSU will begin its regular season on Nov. 6 against Mississippi Valley State.

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How to watch LSU men’s basketball’s “Boo Up” exhibition game vs. Louisiana Christian on Monday night

The Tigers begin Year 2 under Matt McMahon with a scrimmage against NAIA Louisiana Christian on Monday night.

The 2023-24 LSU men’s basketball team will take the court for the first time on Monday night as the Tigers host NAIA Louisiana Christian in an exhibition at the Pete Maravich Assembly Center.

The game tips off at 7 p.m. CT and will be the first time LSU has hosted a preseason exhibition at the PMAC since 2016.

It will be our first glance at a new-look LSU team after a disappointing 14-19 first season under [autotag]Matt McMahon[/autotag] that featured a 14-game losing streak and saw the team finish just 2-16 in SEC play.

McMahon hit the portal hard once again this offseason, bringing in one of the nation’s top hauls, headlined by players like [autotag]Jordan Wright[/autotag], [autotag]Will Baker[/autotag], [autotag]Daimion Collins[/autotag] and [autotag]Carlos Stewart[/autotag].

Louisiana Christian is coming off a 13-17 finish last season and will play back-to-back nights in Baton Rouge as it will scrimmage Southern on Tuesday night.

Admission to the scrimmage will be free to fans, and it has a Halloween “Boo Up” theme, featuring candy for kids, a costume contest and a postgame autograph session with the players.

This will be the final tuneup before LSU begins the 2023-24 season against Mississippi Valley State on Nov. 6. Here’s everything you need to know to follow this one.

LSU men’s basketball ends Bahamas tour with win over Argentina’s Obras Sanitarias

The Tigers went 3-0 during their exhibition tour in the Bahamas this week.

LSU’s exhibition tour in Paradise Island, Bahamas, came to an end on Thursday with a 118-79 win over Obras Sanitarias, an Argentinian club team. The Tigers previously beat club teams from Puerto Rico and the Bahamas on Monday and Tuesday, respectively.

The Tigers controlled the final game from the tip, jumping out to a 14-2 lead and taking a 62-39 advantage into the second half.

“I loved our start today in the first quarter; I thought everyone came out with great energy,” coach [autotag]Matt McMahon[/autotag] said in a release. “We were able to create some turnovers on the defensive end of the floor that got us out in transition, and I thought everyone played with great unselfishness and got a lot of good looks. We didn’t shoot the ball exceptionally well from three but really did a good job attacking the rim and getting some good baskets. I thought Jordan Wright in the first half was just terrific on the offensive end of the floor, enabling us to build a big lead.

“As for the trip, this has been just terrific for our team. The time we’ve gotten to spend together, the ten practices before we left, the time outside of basketball this week in the Bahamas has been really good. As we try to take these six returning players and nine newcomers and start to build the chemistry of our team, the commitment to winning, and the understanding of what each player is about. I think it’s so important that you have trust in the locker room and you usually see that carry over to the court. This has been really beneficial for us.”

Vanderbilt transfer [autotag]Jordan Wright[/autotag] led the way with a huge game offensively, scoring 27 points. Nevada center transfer [autotag]Will Baker[/autotag] scored 19 points, while [autotag]Mwani Wilkinson[/autotag], [autotag]Corey Chest[/autotag] and [autotag]Daimion Collins[/autotag] all had 12.

“Well, I think the guys play the right way on the offensive end of the floor,” McMahon said. “We weren’t running a lot of plays, we were just trying to play out of concepts and be very unselfish. Guys stepped up and knocked down not only the threes Jordan (Wright) made, but the post-up opportunities for Will Baker, and you saw his efficiency in there. I thought Corey Chest gave us great energy, chasing rebounds, and finishing plays around the basket. Everyone we played was able to contribute, not just today but throughout the trip. It’s been a really good learning experience for us.”

Tyrell Ward also capped off his third-straight double-figure scoring game with 11 points.

Coming off a disappointing first season in Baton Rouge, McMahon has a largely new group of players for Year 2. He’ll hope the opportunity to get some early game action with this team will ultimately pay dividends.

“Yeah, really excited about our team, love our group,” he said. “Obviously, we need to get healthy. We had four guys who were unable to play on the trip and look forward to getting them back when we start the Fall semester of classes. I love the talent and athleticism. We have great character in our locker room and those things give you a foundation to build a team that can win. Can’t wait to get back to Baton Rouge and get started this Fall.”

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LSU basketball comes back to beat Puerto Rico in Bahamas exhibition

The Tigers squandered a big halftime lead, but they battled back to win the exhibition game.

The LSU Tigers had to overcome a seven point deficit at the end of the third quarter, but coach Matt McMahon’s team battled back to beat Puerto Rico 86-82 at the Imperial Ballroom in Paradise Island, Bahamas.

“I was thrilled to see some of the leadership and the response from some of our older guys there in the fourth quarter,” McMahon said in a release. “The third quarter was arguably the worst quarter in the history of Bahamas basketball. Finding a way to respond to that, I thought Mwani Wilkinson hit two huge threes for us, [autotag]Daimion Collins[/autotag] hit a huge three. I loved our unselfishness on the offensive end of the floor. 20 assists on 29 baskets, we moved and shared the ball. The problem is the turnovers and illegal screens cost us a lot of possessions. Overall, it was a great experience for our guys to learn from: the positive response in the fourth quarter, the energy and effort in the first half and to learn from the tragedy of the third quarter.”

LSU led 50-30 at halftime in the game, which wasn’t broadcast. But some sloppy play — namely a concerning 29 turnovers — allowed Puerto Rico to get back in the game.

Still, some timely offense allowed LSU to erase a late deficit and take the win. [autotag]Tyrell Ward[/autotag] led the team with 19 points on 6 of 9 shooting, including a 3 of 6 performance behind the arc.

Transfers [autotag]Jordan Wright[/autotag] and Collins each scored 13 points, while transfer big man [autotag]Will Baker[/autotag] had 11, as did [autotag]Mwani Wilkinson[/autotag]. As a team, LSU shot 57% from the field in a solid offensive performance.

“I thought Tyrell (Ward) has had a great offseason,” McMahon said. “We all know he is wired to score, and I thought he shot the ball well. He was able to get out in transition and get some baskets for us, he hit two clutch free throws late in the game. I thought Daimion (Collins) really responded well in the fourth quarter and made big plays for us. He ran the floor, had a couple of putback and got a rim runner for a dunk to put us up one and of course, the big three he hit. I thought you saw Will (Baker), not only his ability to score in the post but also his passing. For us right now, with so many guys out, having another guy like Will who can facilitate is important.”

The one negative for the Tigers came in the game’s opening seconds, when true freshman Mike Williams suffered an injury while hyperextending his knee on a breakaway layup. After the game, McMahon didn’t have an update on his condition.

LSU will be back in action on Tuesday when it takes on the Bahamas.

“Excited to get to play again tomorrow,” McMahon said. “Jalen Reed will work out in the morning and we think he will be able to play some tomorrow which will be good for us. Just another opportunity to get better. The reality is we have eight newcomers and combining them with our five returners so the opportunities are priceless to work together and get into some game situations and play different combinations of people together and start to establish the chemistry of the team.”

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LSU misses on sweepstakes for big-time transfer Zyon Pullin

Pullin committed to Florida after a visit to Gainesville over the weekend.

LSU was in the mix for one of the best available transfer portal players in the country, former UC Riverside guard [autotag]Zyon Pullin[/autotag]. ESPN’s Jeff Borzello reported Tuesday that Pullin was down to two schools: LSU and Florida.

Ultimately, the Gators won out. Pullin opted to head to Gainesville, informing Borzello of his commitment.

It’s not exactly a surprise. Florida had Pullin on campus for an official visit this weekend. It seems LSU will not get the 6-foot-4 fifth-year player on campus.

A three-year starter at UC Riverside, Pullin earned first-team All-Big West honors in 2022-23 while averaging 18.3 points, 4.4 rebounds and 4.2 assists.

LSU still has a very solid transfer class, headlined by Tulane guard Jalen Cook — who returns after beginning his career with the Tigers — as well as Santa Clara guard [autotag]Carlos Stewart[/autotag], Nevada center [autotag]Will Baker[/autotag], Vanderbilt forward [autotag]Jordan Wright[/autotag] and former Kentucky forward and five-star recruit [autotag]Daimion Collins[/autotag].

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LSU lands commitment from Kentucky basketball transfer forward Daimion Collins

Collins was a five-star prospect in the 2021 recruiting class.

LSU coach [autotag]Matt McMahon[/autotag] has been one of the most active in the entire country when it comes to the transfer portal this offseason.

He’s already landed a number of talented players as he looks to rebuild the roster following a frustrating first year in Baton Rouge, and he made one of his biggest pickups on Thursday as former Kentucky power forward [autotag]Daimion Collins[/autotag] pledged to the Tigers.

The Atlanta, Texas, native is a former five-star prospect and McDonald’s All-American from the 2021 recruiting class. The 6-foot-9 player only saw sporadic action in his two seasons with the Wildcats, appearing in 47 games with two starts.

During his 20 appearances as a sophomore in 2022-23, he averaged 1.9 points and 1.9 rebounds in 7.9 minutes per game. He’ll likely get the chance to play a bigger role with his new team as he joins a revamped LSU frontcourt.

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Kentucky losing guard CJ Fredrick and forward Daimion Collins to transfer portal

The Kentucky Wildcats are losing two pieces of their roster to the transfer portal.

The Kentucky Wildcats 2023-2024 roster took a hit on Friday morning as rotational guard and part-time starter CJ Fredrick and forward Daimino Collins are both entering the transfer portal. Both players announced on Twitter their decisions to enter the portal.

Fredrick is leaving Lexington after two years with the Wildcats program. He originally transferred into the program prior to the 2021-2022 season after two productive seasons with the Iowa Hawkeyes in 2019-2020 and 2020-2021. During his two seasons with the Hawkeyes, he averaged 8.8 points, 1.5 rebounds, and 2.3 assists while starting in 52 games.

His start with the Wildcats would not be the one that was envisioned as he appeared in just one game due to a hamstring injury that required surgery. He also missed seven games this past season for the Wildcats due to multiple injuries. When on the court, Fredrick was solid for John Calipari’s program, averaging 6.1 points, 0.8 rebounds, and 1.5 assists over 27 games and 22.3 minutes a night.

While he will be entering the transfer portal, Fredrick also says in his statement on Twitter that he will be considering professional options and will be maintaining his college eligibility in the process. While he has used five years of eligibility already, redshirting his true freshman season at Iowa, Fredrick still has one year of eligibility remaining thanks to the NCAA’s COVID-19 eligibility ruling, awarding him one extra season of eligibility.

Collins, a former five-star prospect never was able to find his footing with the Wildcats, averaging 2.4 points and 2.0 rebounds over 52 games. He’ll look for a fresh start elsewhere and while he hasn’t had the career that many have expected, should still be a popular name in the transfer portal this offseason thanks to his potential.

Kentucky, on the other hand, without Fredrick will look to improve upon a 22-12 record from this past season including 12-6 in SEC play. The Wildcats were a No.6 seed in this year’s NCAA Tournament before being eliminated by Kansas State in the Round of 32.