Tag: KJ Williams

LSU storms past Illinois State to win Cayman Islands Classic opener

The Tigers will face the winner of Akron-Western Kentucky on Tuesday afternoon.

The Tigers are heading into the winner’s bracket in the Cayman Islands Classic after breezing past Illinois State in the opener with a 77-61 win. Now, LSU will face the winner of Akron-Western Kentucky at 12:30 p.m. CT on Tuesday.

It was something of a breakout game for forward [autotag]KJ Williams[/autotag], who followed coach [autotag]Matt McMahon[/autotag] from Murray State. He led the team with 33 points, shooting 13 of 19 for the game while also notching a game-high eight rebounds.

Guards [autotag]Adam Miller[/autotag] (13 points) and [autotag]Cam Hayes[/autotag] (10) also scored in double figures as the team shot nearly 50% for the game, though its offense dropped of in the second half as the Tigers were outscored by 11. They led 45-18 at the break.

The Redbirds had three players finish in double figures offensively and shot 42.3% from the game, but they were an abysmal 5 of 22 from beyond the arc, and 19 turnovers overshadowed a sloppy LSU team that also gave the ball away 18 times.

It was another performance that leaves this team with a lot to work on, but McMahon is 4-0 to start his LSU tenure with a chance to move to 5-0 on Tuesday.

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Late run helps LSU basketball pull away from Arkansas State

The Tigers moved to 2-0 on the McMahon era, though it was close once again.

The Tigers got to 2-0 on the young 2022-23 college basketball season on Saturday, though each of those wins has been a bit shaky.

The latest, a 61-52 win over the Arkansas State Red Wolves, was a five-point game at halftime. ASU cut that deficit to as little as two in the second half, but an 11-0 run for the Tigers helped them pull away to maintain their perfect start to the [autotag]Matt McMahon[/autotag] era.

It was another huge game offensively for [autotag]Adam Miller[/autotag], who missed all of last season with a torn ACL before the year. He totaled 26 points on 9 of 15 shooting, leading the team in scoring for the second game in a row. However, the team struggled a bit outside of Miller, shooting just 39.2 percent.

Two other LSU players scored in double figures in [autotag]Justice Hill[/autotag] (11 points) and [autotag]KJ Williams[/autotag] (15 points). The Tigers were also the beneficiary of 16 turnovers, which led to 23 points. They were out-rebounded in this game by a 35-34 margin, however.

The Tigers struggled against Red Wolves forward Omar El-Sheikh, who led the team with 17 points and eight rebounds. However, ASU shot even worse than LSU as a team at just 38.6%.

Early struggles are not unexpected for a team with a new coaching staff and so many fresh faces. The Tigers will hope for a more convincing win in their next outing against New Orleans at the Pete Maravich Assembly Center on Thursday night.

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PHOTOS: LSU takes down Kansas City in Matt McMahon’s debut

The McMahon era started off with a win in Baton Rouge for the Tigers.

The Tigers began the [autotag]Matt McMahon[/autotag] era in Baton Rouge on a high note Wednesday night with a 74-63 win over Kansas City, though it was a bit too close for comfort.

The Roos lost their opener to a Division II program in Lincoln, but they had this one within five with just over five minutes to play. However, LSU ultimately prevailed to avoid a spoiler in McMahon’s first game at the helm.

[autotag]Adam Miller[/autotag], a transfer from Illinois who tore his ACL before last year’s campaign, led the team in scoring with 18 points, while [autotag]KJ Williams[/autotag], a transfer from Murray State and the defending Ohio Valley Conference Player of the Year, finished with a 13-point, 14-rebound double-double.

[autotag]Justice Hill[/autotag], another Murray State transfer, also finished with 13 points in his LSU debut.

The Tigers will need to play better than this moving forward, but a win was a solid way for McMahon to begin his first season. The Tigers next host Arkansas State on Saturday night.

Here were the best photos from the opening win.

LSU basketball gets win over Kansas City in Matt McMahon’s debut

Matt McMahon began his tenure at LSU with a win over Kansas City that was a bit too close for comfort.

A new era of LSU basketball began on Wednesday night with a 74-63 win over Kansas City.

[autotag]Matt McMahon[/autotag] made his LSU debut, as did a slew of newcomers. [autotag]Mwani Wilkinson[/autotag] scored LSU’s first points of the year as LSU jumped out to a 9-2 lead.

From that point on, the Tigers hovered around a five-point lead for the rest of the half.

[autotag]Adam Miller[/autotag] made his long-awaited debut after transferring from Illinois in 2021. The guard was expected to be a top contributor on last year’s team before tearing his ACL in the preseason.

He was LSU’s leading scorer with 18 points.

In the spring, Miller being on the court for LSU was far from a sure thing. He had a smooth recovery, but upon Will Wade’s firing, Miller explored his options in the transfer portal. Miller returning to LSU was one of McMahon’s biggest gets as he’s set to feature in the offense.

Another Tiger making his debut was [autotag]KJ Williams[/autotag], who came with McMahon from Murray State. Williams is expected to be LSU’s top player in the front court and delivered in the opener with a double-double (13 points, 14 rebounds).

It was a win, but it could have been a lot smoother. LSU had a few chances to pull away, but Kansas City hung around. LSU turned the ball over 15 times and committed 23 fouls.

The Tigers will have some growing pains, but that was expected. Very few of these guys have played with each other before and this is a sport where chemistry is of critical importance.

Given some time, McMahon’s track record and the level of talent he has to work with now, it figures this team will improve throughout the year. LSU will try to move to 2-0 on Saturday when the Tigers host Arkansas State.

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LSU forward KJ Williams named to Coaches All-SEC Preseason Second Team

KJ Williams is the reigning Ohio Valley Conference Player of the Year.

The Tigers have a new-look roster heading into the 2022-23 basketball season, the first under coach [autotag]Matt McMahon[/autotag]. They’ve certainly reloaded the depleted depth with a number of transfers and incoming freshmen recruits, but one enters the year with especially high expectations.

[autotag]KJ Williams[/autotag], a fifth-year transfer from Murray State who followed Matt McMahon to Baton Rouge, was named a member of the Preseason All-SEC Second Team, according to the league coaches. Williams is the reigning Ohio Valley Conference Player of the Year and was a two-time First Team All-OVC selection with the Racers.

He joins LSU expected to be one of the top players in the league. Last season, he averaged 18 points per game and 8.4 rebounds per game. He notched 27 career double-doubles during his four years at Murray State.

The Tigers begin the 2022-23 campaign and McMahon era on Wednesday night when they host Kansas City in the season opener.

Here’s the full preseason First and Second Team All-SEC selections.

First Team Preseason All-SEC
Jahvon Quinerly – Alabama
Nick Smith Jr. – Arkansas
Colin Castleton – Florida
Oscar Tshiebwe – Kentucky
Sahvir Wheeler – Kentucky
Tolu Smith – Mississippi State
Kobe Brown – Missouri
Santiago Vescovi – Tennessee
Zakai Zeigler – Tennessee

Second Team Preseason All-SEC
Brandon Miller – Alabama
Wendell Green Jr. – Auburn
K.D. Johnson – Auburn
Kario Oquendo – Georgia
KJ Williams – LSU
Matthew Murrell – Ole Miss
Josiah-Jordan James – Tennessee
Henry Coleman III – Texas A&M

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LSU vs. Kansas City: Stream, injury report, broadcast info for men’s basketball season opener

Here’s what you need to know to follow the Tigers’ season opener Wednesday night.

The [autotag]Matt McMahon[/autotag] era is set to begin on Wednesday night as LSU kicks off the season with a home contest against Kansas City at the Pete Maravich Assembly Center.

Hailing from the Summit League, the Roos are coming off a solid season in which they finished 19-12 and 12-6 in conference play. They earned a four seed in the Summit League Tournament but were upset in their first game by South Dakota. They enter this game at 0-1 on the year having lost the opener to Division II Lincoln (Missouri) 59-56.

The Tigers aren’t the only team debuting a head coach this season, as former UMKC coach Billy Conlon resigned after the season to become an assistant coach at Clemson. His replacement is Marvin Menzies, a coaching veteran who previously helmed the programs at New Mexico State (2007-16) and UNLV (2016-19).

With the former, he finished with a 198-111 record, winning the WAC regular season three times and the conference tournament five times. In five NCAA Tournament appearances, Menzies never won a game. In three years with the Runnin’ Rebels, he went just 48-48 and never made the postseason.

This is a new look LSU roster that features a number of transfers, including three who followed McMahon from Murray State. Perhaps the most significant among them is forward [autotag]KJ Williams[/autotag], the defending Ohio Valley Conference Player of the Year and a two-time First Team All-Conference selection.

There will certainly be a lot to watch for in McMahon’s debut. Here’s what you need to know to watch it.

LSU forward expected to be one of college basketball’s most impactful transfers this season

KJ Williams, the reigning OVC Player of the Year, is expected to make a big impact after following Matt McMahon from Murray State.

When new LSU coach [autotag]Matt McMahon[/autotag] took the job last spring, the task set before him was a daunting one.

Following the firing of coach [autotag]Will Wade[/autotag], the Tigers saw a mass exodus of talent from the basketball program as players flocked to the transfer portal or NBA draft. McMahon managed to keep a couple of those guys around, and he made up for the losses with a fantastic recruiting and transfer class.

The transfers, specifically, are set to make a major impact in McMahon’s first season in Baton Rouge, and one of them was named among the top 25 transfers to watch in college basketball in 2022-23.

[autotag]KJ Williams[/autotag], a fifth-year forward who followed McMahon from his previous post at Murray State, came in at No. 9 in the transfer rankings from On3. Williams saw significant action in each of his four seasons with the Racers, and he spent the last two seasons as a full-time starter.

He’s coming off his best season yet. In 2021-22, Williams averaged 18 points and 8.4 rebounds per game. It was the third straight season that Williams averaged in double-figures scoring with the Racers. He was named the Ohio Valley Conference Player of the Year last season and is a three-time First Team All-OVC selection.

He was considered one of the top transfer portal options available this offseason, and he ultimately made the decision to join his head coach in the SEC. The 6-foot-10 forward — who is originally from Cleveland, Mississippi — is one of three transfers LSU landed from Murray State, alongside [autotag]Trae Hannibal[/autotag] and [autotag]Justice Hill[/autotag].

The Tigers are coming off a first-round NCAA Tournament exit in Wade’s final season (though he didn’t coach in the tournament). It’s hard to know what to expect from this new-look roster, but players like Williams raise the ceiling considerably.

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KJ Williams to withdraw from 2022 NBA draft, transfer to LSU

Williams will reportedly withdraw from the NBA draft and transfer to LSU for next season.

Former Murray State forward KJ Williams will reportedly withdraw from the 2022 NBA draft and transfer to LSU for next season, according to Jon Rothstein of CBS Sports.

Williams declared for the draft in March after a tremendous season with the Racers, in which he was named the Ohio Valley Conference Player of the Year. He then opted to enter the transfer portal while also testing the pre-draft process.

He eventually committed to play for former Racers head coach Matt McMahon at LSU, who took the job on March 21. Williams will now suit up for the Tigers next season after withdrawing from the draft.

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Williams is highly touted for his scoring and rebounding ability. He can score in a variety of ways and has a solid 3-point shot, converting on 32.7% of his 3.3 attempts last season. He also has good size at 245 pounds, which figures to translate well to the SEC next season.

The 22-year-old will now have the opportunity to showcase his abilities next season with LSU on a larger platform in the SEC. The addition of Williams figures to be a big piece for the Tigers next season as they attempt to advance to the NCAA Tournament for a third straight year.

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Predicting LSU basketball’s starting lineup next season

Here’s how things seem to be shaping up for Matt McMahon’s first season.

[autotag]Matt McMahon[/autotag] has done a fantastic job putting a roster together, and that might be an understatement.

Over the last few months, LSU’s roster has been filled out via the transfer portal, some recruiting and even convincing departing players to come back.

At this point, we have a pretty good idea about what that group will look like next year despite not having an official roster posted yet. That means we can start taking a stab at what the starting lineup will be.

This is harder than it is most years as there are so many variables surrounding these players. With talented freshmen, it’s always tough to predict if they will be ready. With transfers making the jump from a weaker conference, you never know how they will fare against consistently tougher competition. In Adam Miller’s case specifically, we don’t know what he will look like coming back from injury.

There will be plenty of competition to see how the minutes should be divided up. I also expect McMahon to play a lot of these guys as a lot of them are similar in talent and skill. There’s not much pressure on McMahon next year which means he can take some time to develop some guys and try out new things.

Here’s how we see the starting lineup breaking down as things currently stand.

Matt McMahon is rebuilding LSU basketball at lightning speed

McMahon has turned the program around in a very short amount of time.

Two months ago, LSU basketball was in shambles. Every scholarship player had entered the transfer portal, and the rebuild ahead looked as messy as any in recent memory.

There was speculation that some big names wouldn’t even accept the job because of the position the program was in. Not only had every player left, but NCAA sanctions were looming (and they still are).

LSU is a big-time athletics program, but in basketball, it’s far from a blue blood. The program doesn’t recruit itself like Duke or Kentucky does.

When [autotag]Matt McMahon[/autotag] took the job, he was staring down the impossible. Nobody expected much out of him for his first year or two on the job — hence the seven-year contract given to him providing security and breathing room.

The roster McMahon was going to be working with during his first season was supposed to be a collection of mid-major transfers, three-star recruits, and maybe a couple of guys that followed him from Murray State. Whatever that expectation was, McMahon has far exceeded it.

McMahon was able to bring three of his players from Murray State in [autotag]Justice Hill[/autotag], [autotag]KJ Williams[/autotag], and [autotag]Trae Hannibal[/autotag].

That trio makes up three of the top four scorers from a Murray State team that went 31-3. Williams led the team in scoring with 18 points/game on his way to winning conference player of the year.

Hill averaged 13.4 points and 5.1 assists per contest as a sophomore and Hannibal proved to be a solid piece as well with 9.2 points and 5.1 rebounds on average.

Murray State didn’t face top competition, but a 31-3 record is a 31-3 record no matter the schedule, and McMahon brought the core with him.

Then there are the guys McMahon has gotten out of high school, which might be his most impressive feat considering how late in the game it is for the 2022 recruiting class. So far, the Tigers have added forwards [autotag]Tyrell Ward[/autotag] and [autotag]Jalen Reed[/autotag].

Ward is a four-star on average, but On3 has him slated as a five-star. Regardless, he’s a top recruit and there were a lot of people who didn’t think LSU would be landing players of Ward’s caliber again for a few years.

Reed was another big get, ranking as one of the 10 best power forwards in his class.

All of this was cemented last week when [autotag]Adam Miller[/autotag] announced he’d be returning to LSU. Miller transferred from Illinois prior to last season but tore his ACL before the year even started. When Miller went down, LSU’s offense took a large hit that was evident throughout the year.

If he was healthy last season, it’s likely that LSU doesn’t go home in the first round. That team was one scorer away from being dangerous. With Miller back in the fold, the talented freshman, and the guys from Murray State, McMahon is now working with a competent roster.

Along with Miller, McMahon also managed to get [autotag]Mwani Wilkinson[/autotag] and [autotag]Justice Williams[/autotag] back from the portal, two players who are likely to contribute next season. Wilkinson, despite having a limited role, was a starter last year.

McMahon has proven he can get the most out of his team, and if he gets the most out of this one, is it crazy to see LSU as an eight or nine seed? Of course, they’d have to avoid a postseason ban, but crazier things have happened in this sport.

McMahon took over a program in dire straits and has already laid a foundation. If this track continues, it’s not hard to see a scenario where he keeps LSU basketball relevant at a time when it looked like that relevancy was fading.

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