Tag: jalen cook

Where LSU men’s basketball stands in latest On3 power rankings

The Tigers sit at 7-5, but there haven’t been many positive moments this season.

As we prepare to turn the calendar to 2024 and SEC play in the men’s basketball season, LSU has a lot more questions than answers.

The Tigers sit at 7-5 but lack impressive wins and even tout a really bad Quadrant 4 loss to Nicholls State. With a brutal SEC schedule incoming, it’s hard to find too much optimism surrounding this team.

In its latest SEC power rankings, On3 has LSU in the No. 13 spot, ahead of only a struggling Vanderbilt team that sits at 4-8 on what has been a disappointing season.

Per On3’s Alex Weber, the team’s biggest hope is that [autotag]Jalen Cook[/autotag], who has impressed in the last two seasons after sitting out as a two-time transfer, is the answer the Tigers have been looking for.

Completed on a Friday and Sunday on the second weekend of the season, LSU’s wins over North Texas and Wake Forest are its only in the KenPom top-250. Otherwise, the Tigers lost all four of their other games against top-100 teams and even lost to dreadful Nicholls State. After some positivity at other schools, the Tigers appear to be heading towards two straight years with little hope after their latest coaching hire.

New Year’s Resolution: Hope and pray Jalen Cook is the answer. The former Tulane point guard was one of the top guys at his position in the portal cycle and it was Matt McMahon who landed him. However, due to waiver rules, he couldn’t get on the court to begin the year but has now been granted eligibility. So, in two games, he’s participated in an 11-point shootout loss to Texas on a neutral court and then a win by 21 over Lamar. Maybe he doesn’t change much, but it’s worth wondering what kind of spark he’ll bring once fully integrated.

LSU will be back on the court at Friday night at 7 p.m. CT to host Northwestern State at the Pete Maravich Assembly Center.

Contact/Follow us @LSUTigersWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Louisiana State news, notes, and opinions.

Follow Tyler to continue the conversation on Twitter: @TylerNettuno

Matt McMahon notices a trend for his team in first halves

If LSU wants to win an SEC game this season, it will need to fix the self-inflicted wounds.

LSU took down Lamar on Thursday night to increase their season record to 7-5 with only one non-conference game left before the Tigers start SEC play on the road against Texas A&M on Jan. 6.

The Tigers have been looking for some consistency from the team this year and adding [autotag]Jalen Cook[/autotag] back to the team has helped a lot. Head coach Matt McMahon has noticed a trend for his team this year that has led to the Tigers having to dig themselves out of a hole in a majority of their games this year. LSU has struggled during the first half of ball games. Here is what McMahon had to say about it.

“I think there’s a pretty simple formula that you’re finding, the differences in the two halves,” McMahon said, per On3. “The first half Saturday we gave up 10 points off second chance opportunities and we gave up 15 points off our turnovers. So 25 points there, self-inflicted so to say, and the second half that number came down to seven and so we limited their second chance opportunities and did a much better job of taking care of the ball.”

If LSU wants to win an SEC game this season, it will need to fix the self-inflicted wounds.

Contact/Follow us @LSUTigersWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Louisiana State news, notes, and opinions.

Matt McMahon talks about preparing for a tough SEC slate

After a win over Lamar on Thursday night, Matt McMahon and the LSU Tigers move to 7-5 this season.

After a win over Lamar last Thursday night, [autotag]Matt McMahon[/autotag] and the LSU Tigers move to 7-5 this season. The Tigers will have one more non-conference game before they start SEC play on the road against the Texas A&M Aggies.

The Tigers have struggled to find their identity so far this season but the addition of [autotag]Jalen Cook[/autotag] to the lineup has helped LSU immensely. LSU has scored 85 and 87 points in their last two games thanks to having Cook in their lineup.

McMahon was asked how his non-conference slate has helped to prepare his team for conference play this year. The Tigers did not win a conference game last year, can they right the ship this time around?

“I think the focus just has to be on getting better. We added a new piece in Jalen Cook, now we have to build the chemistry around that,” McMahon said, per On3. “The goal is to build consistency. So that’s what we’ll try to be very intentional in how we prepare.”

LSU will take on Northwestern State on Dec. 29 before taking a break until Jan. 6.

Contact/Follow us @LSUTigersWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Louisiana State news, notes, and opinions.

Instant Analysis: Jalen Cook leads LSU past Lamar

Jalen Cook’s 17 points led the Tigers as they cruised to a win over Lamar.

Jalen Cook’s second appearance since returning to LSU was even better than the first. He led the Tigers with 17 points as they got back in the win column with an 87-66 win over Lamar on Thursday night.

LSU jumped out to a 45-26 lead at halftime, and though it couldn’t stretch that lead much in the second, coach Matt McMahon’s team still cruised to a much-needed win as it’s finally close to full strength.

Cook wasn’t the only transfer addition who starred. [autotag]Carlos Stewart[/autotag] scored 16 points, while [autotag]Jordan Wright[/autotag] and [autotag]Will Baker[/autotag] followed closely behind with 15 and 12, respectively.

There were a lot of positive signs from the offense, but the defense held up, as well as the Tigers forced 19 turnovers. They also scored more than half of their points (44) in the paint.

It will take a lot more than a win over Lamar to get the season back on track, but it’s a start. LSU will finish up non-conference play with another winnable game against Northwestern State on Dec. 29 before things kick up a notch with SEC play starting against Texas A&M on Jan. 6.

Contact/Follow us @LSUTigersWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Louisiana State news, notes, and opinions.

Follow Tyler to continue the conversation on Twitter: @TylerNettuno

How to watch, betting odds as LSU men’s basketball hosts Lamar on Thursday night

The Tigers look to stay above .500 as they host a struggling Lamar team on Thursday night.

Coming off a disappointing 11-point loss against a ranked Texas team, LSU returns to the Pete Maravich Assembly Center for what should be a much more manageable matchup.

Lamar comes to town sitting at 4-6 on the season, and the Cardinals haven’t beaten a team that ranks higher than No. 284 in the NET. In their last outing, they lost by three points to Southern Miss.

LSU did get a boost in the Texas loss in the form of Jalen Cook’s debut, and he’ll look to build off a solid first performance in this game.

Here’s everything you need to know to follow this game, including the latest betting odds from BetMGM.

Jalen Cook’s return boosts LSU offense in loss to Texas

Jalen Cook looked good in his return, but it wasn’t enough for LSU to get win against No. 19 Texas.

LSU got a key piece back when [autotag]Jalen Cook[/autotag] returned to the floor on Saturday morning.

The guard began his collegiate career at LSU in 2020 before transferring to Tulane, where he spent the last two seasons.

At Tulane, he emerged as one of the top guards in the AAC and averaged 19 points per game over 50 career appearances.

His return to Baton Rouge was a welcome one given the struggles LSU had on offense last year, but his eligibility was unclear. But after a court prevented the NCAA from enforcing some transfer requirements earlier this week, Cook was able to suit up.

LSU didn’t get the win, but Cook’s return provided the boost the offense expected. LSU’s 85 points was the most it scored in regulation vs a Power 5 opponent all year.

McMahon wasn’t shy about playing Cook either, who saw the court for over 30 minutes on Saturday.

He scored in double-digits with 13 points, to go along with five assists, four rebounds, and two stills. However, Cook found himself in some foul trouble with four and it wasn’t the most efficient performance, going 5/15 from the field.

LSU now sits at 6-5 and this doesn’t look like a tournament team, but having Cook back could help LSU score some points in conference play.

Contact/Follow us @LSUTigersWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Louisiana State news, notes, and opinions.

Instant Analysis: Huge second half not enough for LSU to spring upset vs. No. 19 Texas

LSU missed another opportunity for a quality win as it had no answer for Texas’ offense.

LSU’s men’s basketball team looked like it was dead in the water at halftime against No. 19 Texas in Houston on Saturday. While it showed real fight in the second half with an offensive barrage, it wasn’t enough as the Tigers fell 96-85 and dropped to 6-5 on the season.

It was an ugly first half for LSU, which shot 40% compared to the Longhorns’ 60% and found itself trailing by 19 at the break. Things seemed like they could break really badly for Matt McMahon’s team, but the second half was a different story.

The Tigers shot on the right side of 50% in the final 20 minutes and put up 48 points, outscoring Texas in the second half. That wasn’t enough to dig their way out of the hole they found themselves in despite Texas’ shooting cooling off in that span.

[autotag]Jordan Wright[/autotag] had his best offensive game as a Tiger, leading the team with 33 points. In his debut, [autotag]Jalen Cook[/autotag] scored 13 points, as did [autotag]Derek Fountain[/autotag].

But LSU allowed four Texas players to score in double figures, and it particularly struggled against guards Max Abrams and Tyrese Hunter, who scored 20 and 19 points.

The Tigers missed another opportunity for a quality win, and they’ll look to bounce back when they host Lamar on Thursday night.

Contact/Follow us @LSUTigersWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Louisiana State news, notes, and opinions.

LSU’s Jalen Cook seems to be in the clear after latest twist in NCAA 2-time transfer saga

After yet another twist, Jalen Cook seems primed to make his debut Saturday, after all.

While LSU coach [autotag]Matt McMahon[/autotag] said Thursday that guard [autotag]Jalen Cook[/autotag] would make his season debut on Saturday against Texas, some later developments called that into question.

Cook is awaiting a waiver from the NCAA as he is currently ineligible for the season as a two-time transfer. He began his career at LSU before transferring to Tulane, where he spent two seasons and ultimately returned to Baton Rouge this offseason.

On Wednesday, the NCAA lost a federal court case in Ohio that resulted in a temporary restraining order that essentially allowed ineligible athletes to compete during a 14-day window.

However, the NCAA later said it would punish players who participated during the temporary restraining order with the loss of a season of eligibility should that court ruling be eventually overturned.

While that created a conundrum for Cook and players in similar circumstances, they got some much-needed news on Friday. The temporary restraining order was changed into an injunction that will now last until the end of spring sports.

Even more notably, the NCAA has said that it will not retroactively punish players who participate, meaning that barring a setback, Cook will likely make his debut on Saturday.

However, the NCAA also previously said it wouldn’t punish players who participated during the 14-day window before reversing course. So Cook could still run the risk of another shift in NCAA policy later on.

In spite of that, it seems that Cook and other players in his position are finally in the clear to play in the 2023-24 season.

Contact/Follow us @LSUTigersWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Louisiana State news, notes, and opinions.

Follow Tyler to continue the conversation on Twitter: @TylerNettuno

NCAA reverses course on 2-time transfers: What it means for LSU’s Jalen Cook

Jalen Cook’s season debut may have to wait.

Jalen Cook’s LSU return may have to wait.

The former Tulane point guard began his career at LSU, but upon transferring back to Baton Rouge after two years in New Orleans, he was deemed ineligible for the 2023-24 season as a two-time transfer.

While awaiting a waiver, it seemed Cook got what he needed to make his season debut as a federal judge filed a temporary restraining order allowing ineligible athletes to play during a 14-day window.

The NCAA initially said it would not pursue retroactive action against any player who participated during the 14-day window if the ruling were later overturned, and coach [autotag]Matt McMahon[/autotag] said he expected Cook to be available on Saturday against Texas in Houston.

Those plans may be on hold, however.

On Thursday, the NCAA reversed course. In its latest guidance, it deemed that players who participate during the window would lose a season of eligibility if the court order is ultimately reversed.

LSU hasn’t addressed its plan regarding Cook, but it’s hard to imagine he will play given the unclear circumstances.

His return would be welcome for a Tigers team that has struggled and sits at just 6-4 on the season. A two-year starter at Tulane, Cook averaged 19.9 points and 4.9 rebounds, leading the Green Wave.

Contact/Follow us @LSUTigersWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Louisiana State news, notes, and opinions.

Follow Tyler to continue the conversation on Twitter: @TylerNettuno

NEW: Transfer Jalen Cook expected to make LSU debut Saturday vs. Texas

Jalen Cook will finally make his long-awaited return to LSU.

The long-awaited return of [autotag]Jalen Cook[/autotag] has finally arrived.

LSU head basketball coach [autotag]Matt McMahon[/autotag] said that he expects Cook will be available to make his debut with the Tigers this Saturday against Texas.

This decision comes on the heels of a restraining order placed on the NCAA stating that for the next 14 days, any athlete who has transferred multiple times will become immediately eligible. Cook fits that mold as he started at LSU before transferring to Tulane and then back to LSU.

The Tigers need him in a bad way offensively. LSU has scored only 57 points and 60 points in their last two big games. That will not get the job done in SEC play. For a team that did not win a conference game last season, LSU must find a way to score.

Contact/Follow us @LSUTigersWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Louisiana State news, notes, and opinions.