Tag: Efton Reid

Five takeaways from No. 9 Duke’s 77-69 win over Wake Forest

Taking a look at our five biggest takeaways from Duke’s 77-69 win over Wake Forest.

No players on Wake Forest’s roster were alive the last time the Wake Forest Demon Deacons beat Duke at Cameron Indoor Stadium.

For another year, that streak will continue as No. 9 Duke outlasted Wake Forest 77-69 in a cagey affair to keep themselves in pursuit of the top spot in the ACC standings.

The last time Wake Forest won on the road against Duke, a halfway decent player named Tim Duncan was a senior for the Demon Deacons in 1997. Wednesday’s game was a close affair as Wake’s talented assortment of scoring threats gave Duke all it could handle.

The teams played a very physical, sloppy, and low-scoring first half for two of the best offensive teams in the ACC. The Demon Deacons shot just 28% in the first half, while the Blue Devils were 36% from the field. Neither team could find the touch from the 3-point range in the first half, with the Demon Deacons going just 4/19 and the Blue Devils going 3/14.

Mark Mitchell put Duke on his back in the second half, and foul trouble with Wake Forest big man Efton Reid made it nearly impossible for Wake to slow down Duke inside. Some timely shots and defense from Duke were enough to seal it away.

Duke completed their three-game homestand undefeated and will now embark on their Florida road trip. This trip will see them play road games against both Florida-based ACC schools and a trip to Winston-Salem for a rematch with these same Demon Deacons in 12 days.

Before we turn the page, here are our five takeaways from the game.

Gonzaga transfer Efton Reid granted immediate eligibility at Wake Forest

Wake Forest will be able to play Efton Reid on Wednesday against Rutgers after the NCAA granted the two-time transfer immediate eligibility.

The Wake Forest Demon Deacons just added a big piece to their roster ahead of Wednesday’s game against Rutgers with the news that two-time transfer Efton Reid has been granted immediate eligibility by the NCAA.

The 7’0, 240-pound center was a five-star prospect out of IMG Academy and began his college career at LSU under Will Wade, where he started all 34 games as a freshman and averaged 6.3 points, 4.3 rebounds, and 0.8 blocks in 2021-22.

After the season, he transferred to Spokane, Washington to play for Mark Few and the Gonzaga Bulldogs. However, the return of Drew Timme and the emergence of Anton Watson pushed Reid into a bench role and within a few weeks he was pushed just outside the rotation by backup Ben Gregg, who offered more floor spacing than Reid.

All told Reid appeared in 25 games for the Zags, playing 4.6 minutes per night and averaging 2.1 points, 1.0 rebounds, and shooting 62.2% from the field.

Reid hit the portal again this offseason and ultimately followed fellow former Gonzaga teammate Hunter Sallis to North Carolina to play at Wake Forest, where he should immediately step into a role for a team that has gotten very little production out of big men Matthew Marsh (2.5 points) and Zach Keller (2.7 points) in the frontcourt.

The Demon Deacons currently rank 328th in offensive rebounds per game and 289th in total rebounds per game, and Reid’s hulking frame and experience should provide a nice boost for coach Steve Forbes as they look to climb out of the cellar in the ACC this year.

LSU basketball recruiting is a mess. Where does it go from here?

LSU’s recruiting is in a really bad spot, and it might get worse before it gets better.

With the season now in the rearview mirror, LSU basketball enters a period of uncertainty. There’s not much anybody knows about where this program is headed, if anything at all.

Coaching changes always bring turnover and turmoil, but this one feels different. The way the Wade era ended paired together with looming NCAA sanctions has created an atmosphere of chaos.

LSU might have a hard time getting a coach to sign on, even if a loaded contract offer is put in front of them. The program could have even more trouble getting recruits. This is going to be a ground-up rebuild, even if the sanctions from the NCAA are mild.

Before the firing of Wade, LSU’s recruiting was in a great spot, maybe as good as it’s ever been. There were multiple five-stars poised to join the program, but now LSU has just one commit left in Yohan Traore, and Tigers fans shouldn’t hold their breath on that one either.

A couple of guys who have backed off their pledge have noted that Wade was the reason they wanted to come to Baton Rouge. Even if there wasn’t the drama with the NCAA, LSU was going to have a hard time holding this class together.

It might get worse before it gets better, so let’s look at who the Tigers have lost and where they can go from here.

Where LSU stands in latest bracket projections

LSU sees some variance in its bracket projections after the win over Missouri on Saturday.

LSU’s seeding projections have been all over the map this season. This was once a team that looked like a potential top four seed after the Tigers carried a one-loss record into mid-January.

Things are a little different now after a month and change of struggles.

LSU took care of business against Missouri on Saturday, as it should have. It got it to its 20th win of the year and to .500 in conference play.

CBS Sports’ updated bracket projections on Sunday morning had LSU slated as a seven seed. ESPN’s most recent projections have them just a tad higher, as a six.

TeamRankings, which publishes predictions that are computer-generated, has LSU most likely being an eight seed. These rankings factor in the upcoming schedule, where LSU doesn’t have the easiest path.

Before the conference tournament begins, LSU will have to play Arkansas and Alabama, two squads that have already beaten the Tigers once this year.

While LSU will be in the tournament no matter what at this point, being able to go at least 1-1 in the final two games of the regular season gives the Tigers a shot of really improving their seeding.

After Saturday, LSU sits 27th in ESPN’s strength of record. That’s a good indicator of how a team has fared against the schedule it has played. A seven or eight seed is about right for a team that sits outside the top 25 in SOR.

That’s the benefit of the tough road ahead, though. Sure, they’re tougher games. But winning those types of games is exactly what this team needs to do to improve its seeding.

Every year, a few teams go on a run in their conference tournaments and drastically better their position compared to what it was the week prior. This LSU team is inconsistent, but they’re certainly capable of stringing together one of those runs. At the same time, anyone could beat them in the first round in Tampa at the SEC Tournament.

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LSU Basketball: Tigers upset Tennessee in Baton Rouge

LSU improves to 14-1 on the year.

In what should have been a night where LSU cemented themselves as a SEC contender, the story became Xavier Pinson’s injury as he left the court with a ugly knee injury as LSU was trying to close out the win.

Pinson’s injury aside, it was a good night for LSU where they played some of the best basketball they have played all year.

The final score was 79-67 as LSU moved to 14-1 on the year.

Coming into the game, KenPom had LSU and Tennessee rated as the top two defenses in college basketball. These two teams were almost a mirror image of one another. Two elite defenses with offenses that have struggled at times.

For the first 17 minutes or so, it was a competitive game. LSU went on a run about 10 minutes into the game, but the Volunteers found a way to respond, trading some three’s with LSU near the end of the half.

After that, LSU found a way to take control of the game. LSU had one of their better shooting performances of the year, with a few players finding the net from deep on multiple occasions. LSU also had some huge momentum plays, including a big block from Alex Fudge and scoring off turnovers.

Tennessee found a little bit of life midway through the second half and made it a game at the end, but it wasn’t enough to dig out of 20 point hole, as LSU eventually pulled away again.

Here are some notes coming out of LSU’s win.

– This is LSU’s second consecutive win over a top 15 team in ESPN’s BPI. Earlier in the week, the Tigers defeated 5th ranked Kentucky. Tennessee ranked 11th coming in to the game. After losing the SEC opener to Auburn, it was critical for LSU to tack on a couple resume builders early in the season.

– This was LSU’s third consecutive game against a team in the SEC’s top tier. They’ll now get a brief reprieve as they face Florida and Arkansas, who are both quality opponents but not to the level that LSU has seen in their first three games.

– Tari Eason has arguably been LSU’s best player all year and he had another big game against Tennessee. He scored over 20 points and added a dunk that is sure to be seen on SportsCenter later tonight. Eason had a double-double, bringing in double digit rebounds and was a factor on the defensive end as well.

– Xavier Pinson’s injury cast a cloud over the win. Pinson has been critical to LSU’s success this year as a scorer and a facilitator. It’s not easy to find experienced guards who can run the floor and score, LSU has that in Pinson. A long-term injury would put drastically hurt LSU’s chances at doing something special this season. LSU is already thin at guard after losing Adam Miller to a torn ACL before the season started.

– LSU got a big performance from Brandon Murray. Murray, who missed the conference opener at Auburn, has now had back-to-back double digit games to start his SEC career. Murray was active on defense too, helping LSU create some turnovers.

LSU vs Tennessee: How to watch, listen and stream the SEC basketball matchup

LSU looks to take down another ranked SEC foe.

The LSU Tigers men’s basketball team looks to go two-for-two in upsets this week. After using a 20-3 run to knock off No. 13 Kentucky, focus shifts to the No. 18 Tennessee Volunteers.

LSU comes in at 13-1 with their only loss coming against the Auburn Tigers last week. The Vols are 10-3 and looking to hold off LSU twice in the next couple of weeks. Against the Wildcats, LSU was led by Tari Eason once again. In 30 minutes on the floor in the Kentucky game, the newcomer scored 13 points with six rebounds and three assists. The guard tandem of Brandon Murray and Xavier Pinson were the only other two in double-digits as far as points go.

The Vols are led by their backcourt duo of Kennedy Chandler (13.3/points per game) and Santiago Vescovi (13.5/points per game). Chandler is also leading the team in assists and steals this season. John Fulkerson is the big man down low that the Tigers must limit. He brings 9.5 points, six rebounds, and 1.4 blocks on a nightly basis.

According to ESPN’s matchup indicator, the Tigers’ win probability sits at 68.1%. The Tigers could be 14-1 before they head to Gainesville to take on the Florida Gators on Jan. 12.

Game details

  • Date: Tuesday, Jan. 8
  • Location: Pete Maravich Assembly Center in Baton Rouge, LA
  • Time: 5:00 p.m. CT
  • TV: ESPN2
  • Radio: LSU Radio Network
  • Live Stream: fuboTV (try it free)

Odds provided by Tipico Sportsbook

Spread: LSU (-1.5)

Over/Under: 136.5

Money Line: LSU (-120) | Tennessee (+100)

LSU vs Kentucky: How to watch, listen and stream the SEC basketball matchup

Prior to the Texas Bowl, we have LSU men’s hoops in action.

Prior to the LSU Tigers taking on Kansas State in the Texas Bowl, we have SEC hoops with Will Wade’s unit taking on Kentucky. It is an all Tigers-Wildcats affair on Tuesday.

The men’s basketball team looks to shake off the loss from the last time they took the hardwood with the loss at Auburn. LSU dropped to No. 21 in the Ferris Mowers Coaches Poll and now faces No. 13 Kentucky at home. A great opportunity to get back on the winning side of things as they gear up for the heart of their SEC schedule. They also have Alabama and Tennessee in the coming weeks.

They will need to shoot much better than 28.6% as they did against Auburn. The Tigers will need big performances from Efton Reid inside, as well as Darius Days and Tari Eason. The big matchup inside is Reid and Kentucky’s Oscar Tshiebwe, who averages 15.8 points and 15.2 rebounds per game.

According to ESPN’s matchup indicator, the Tigers’ win probability sits at 60.9%. Improving to 13-1 will be big for Will Wade and LSU. They set to face No. 18 Tennesse on Saturday at the PMAC.

Prior to the game, LSU will hold a ceremony as they rename the court at the PMAC, “Dale Brown Court.” Dale Brown coached the LSU men’s basketball team from 1972-1997. During that time he won 448 games, four SEC championships, two Final Four appearances, and was inducted into the College Basketball Hall of Fame in 2014.

Game details

  • Date: Tuesday, Jan. 4
  • Location: Pete Maravich Assembly Center in Baton Rouge, LA
  • Time: 6:00 p.m. CT
  • TV: ESPN
  • Radio: LSU Radio Network
  • Live Stream: fuboTV (try it free)

Odds provided by Tipico Sportsbook

Spread: LSU (-2.5)

Over/Under: 143.5

Money Line: LSU (-150) | Kansas State (+122)

LSU puts a hurting on Northwestern State

LSU cruises to 10-0 for the first time since the 1999-2000 season

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The LSU Tigers men’s basketball team dominated Northwestern State 89-49 on Tuesday night, improving their record to 10-0 on the season.

Northwestern State led 6-4 before LSU went on a 22-5 run to take a 26-11 lead in the middle of the first half. Xavier Pinson scored ten points in the Tigers’ big run; he also added 15 points and four assists for the game. LSU had three started in double-digits Efton Reid had 15 points and ten rebounds, and Darius Days scored 13 points, to along with Pinson’s 15. Pinson also surpassed the 1,000 point mark for his career.

Tari Eason led the Tigers in scoring with18 points, 13 of which came in the second half. The Tigers held the Demons to 27.9% shooting from the field and outrebounded them 53-39. LSU was also active in the passing lane, which got them 17 steals. So far this season, LSU has held eight opponents to under 60 points. Defense wins championships.

Kendell Coleman led the Demons in scoring 16 points while also grabbing 12 rebounds; Cedric Garett added 15 points for Northwestern State. The Demons are now 2-9 on the season.

LSU will need to find a more consistent offense when they play conference games because the SEC conference is tough. On Saturday, LSU plays Louisiana Tech in Bossier City, Louisiana.

Ohio State misses out on five-star center Efton Reid

Ohio State basketball will have to continue to search for a dominant big man as the Buckeyes have missed out on five-star center Efton Reid.

After two postponed announcements, the mysterious recruitment of five-star center Efton Reid has come to an end. Reid made his college of choice known via his personal Twitter account choosing to commit to LSU.

Reid’s commitment to the Tigers really came out of left field. Recruiting experts were all over the place, but the schools linked to Reid the most seemed to be Pitt, Virginia, Florida State, and NC State. The Buckeyes always seemed to be a long shot, but his name kept popping up as a possibility to land in Columbus.

Reid’s IMG roommate, Brandon Murry, committed to LSU earlier and may have had some sway in his final decision. After Reid’s mother had posted on Twitter two announcement dates that came and went with silence, Reid decided to wait until Mother’s Day to share his news.

It will be interesting to see where Chris Holtmann goes from here. With only one year of eligibility left, Indiana transfer Joey Brunk is a band-aid, not a fix. Maybe four-star center Donovan Clingan will be the answer, but the Buckeyes face stiff competition to land his services as well.

One thing is for certain, OSU needs to address the absence of a big man and it needs to happen soon.

Ohio State basketball way-too-early projected starting lineup, key players for 2021-2022

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High school basketball: Five-star center Efton Reid commits to LSU

Five-star center Efton Reid committed to the LSU Tigers on Mother’s Day.

IMG Academy (Fla.) center Efton Reid, one of the top remaining recruits in the class of 2021, brought an end to his recruitment on Mother’s Day, committing to LSU over Florida State, North Carolina and Pittsburgh.

Reid was originally supposed to announce his commitment during the week, but pushed his announcement to Sunday as he worked toward a final decision.

“Before all else, I want to thank God for everything he has done for me and all that he is going to do for me,” Reid tweeted. “I want to thank my circle for giving me the support and guidance during this journey. All I got to say is I’m ready to get to work!!!!!! #bootup.”

Reid attended Steward School in Virginia, where he averaged 19 points and 12 rebounds per game before transferring to IMG Academy. Reid averaged a double-double for IMG Academy’s post-graduate team this past season.

“I think he’s the best post player in that class, coming out, heads and shoulders above everybody else as far as skill level,” Steward School head coach Curtis Kassab said in an interview with the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review earlier in May. “He can score at all three levels, just has phenomenal footwork in the post for a kid his age. A lot of people compare him a lot to a Tim Duncan-type of player. Very mature. He’s a very humble kid in the way he carries himself. He’s very professional in the way he carries himself.”

According to the industry-generated 247Sports Composite Rankings, Reid No. 24 overall prospect in the class of 2021, No. 3 center and No. 3 prospect in Florida.

“Has NBA center size,” 247Sports’ Jerry Meyer said in his scouting report of Reid. “Game is skill based and not athletically based. Has good footwork and touch in post. Can stretch defense to three-point line. Comfortable with the ball as a passer. Has good hands and rebounds his area. Not a big shot blocker. Positional defender inside. Needs to improve quickness to defend on perimeter.”