Tag: LSU Men’s Basketball

Instant Analysis: LSU men’s basketball’s season ends in NIT opener against North Texas

The Tigers’ season came to an end on Tuesday night with a home loss in the NIT opener.

LSU’s stay in the NIT lasted just one game as the fourth-seeded Tigers were ousted in their opener with an 84-77 loss on its home court to defending tournament champion North Texas.

[autotag]Matt McMahon[/autotag] finishes his second year at the helm in Baton Rouge with a 17-16 record and moves to 31-35 overall as the head coach of LSU men’s basketball.

The first 10 minutes or so were back and forth, but LSU was in control. That changed at the eight-minute mark when North Texas began a 13-2 run to take the lead, which it wouldn’t surrender for the rest of the half.

With the Tigers shooting 11 of 31, UNT led by as many as 11 points and ultimately took a 38-30 lead to the locker room.

LSU came out of the game hot in the second half, making five of its first seven shots as it cut the Mean Green lead to four points. But it couldn’t sustain that run, and North Texas quickly regained control and stretched what was at that point a game-high 18-point lead.

The Tigers had one final rally in them, and they cut the lead down to just five in the final minute to make things interesting, but they couldn’t erase the deficit as their season came to an end.

[autotag]Jordan Wright[/autotag] had a huge game in what was ultimately his final collegiate outing, scoring a game-high 25 points. [autotag]Trae Hannibal[/autotag] added 15, but even shooting above 50% in the second half couldn’t get the Tigers out of the hole.

After a disappointing Year 1 for McMahon, who had to rebuild nearly the entire roster from scratch, LSU showed signs of progress in Year 2. Now, however, McMahon’s group will be expected to take another leap and compete for an NCAA Tournament bid next season.

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LSU coach Matt McMahon entering rematch vs. North Texas in NIT opener with a blank slate

This will be the second meeting between the two teams this year, with the Tigers winning the first by five on a neutral court.

When LSU hosts North Texas at the Pete Maravich Assembly Center on Tuesday night to kick off the 2024 NIT, it will pit two teams that have some familiarity with each other head-to-head.

This will be the second matchup of the season between the two teams after LSU won the first 66-61 in Charleston on a neutral court. Both teams have changed a lot since then, however, particularly LSU.

The Tigers hit their stride toward the back end of SEC play, and the Mean Green have improved as well. Coach [autotag]Matt McMahon[/autotag] said he isn’t relying too much on what he learned from the first matchup against UNT.

“I’m not sure how much the familiarity helps with this one,” McMahon said, per On3. “I believe it’s been 125 days since we played. I think we’re a lot different team from that game. Personnel, rotation is a little different. Style of play has certainly evolved since the season has gone along.”

McMahon did say that the team knows how physical North Texas can be, and that will help in preparation.

“Unfortunately, I think they’re an a lot better team as well from when we played them back in November. But I think there probably is a good thing for our players having gone through that game,” McMahon said. “They have immediate respect for the opponent because they know how tough and physical and aggressively they play, how disruptive they are on the defensive end of the floor, their ability to — they hit 12 threes in that game in the first matchup against us. So, I do think there’s some benefits to that familiarity from the first matchup.”

The Tigers are the No. 4 seed in their bracket and would likely face top-seeded Seton Hall with a win. LSU will host North Texas at the PMAC at 6 p.m. CT on Tuesday night.

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LSU men’s basketball earns an NIT bid, will host North Texas in opener

The Tigers’ season will continue as they open the NIT against its defending champion.

After a strong finish to the season, the LSU men’s basketball team isn’t done playing yet.

Despite the team’s first-game exit at the SEC Tournament this week, the Tigers earned a bid to the NIT. It will be a No. 4 seed in the tournament and will host North Texas in its opener. With a win, it would draw the top seed in the bracket, Seton Hall.

The Mean Green are 18-14 on the year and are the NIT’s reigning champions. Under first-year coach Ross Hodge, North Texas finished 10-8 in American Athletic Conference play but exited the conference tournament in the quarterfinals with a six-point loss to Florida Atlantic.

Here’s a look at LSU’s quarter of the bracket.

The Tigers will play either Tuesday or Wednesday. The day and time will be announced later.

UPDATE: LSU will face North Texas on Tuesday at 6 p.m. CT on the SEC Network.

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How to watch the NIT Selection Show on Sunday night for LSU men’s basketball

The Tigers will learn if their season is set to continue on Sunday night.

LSU’s stay in Nashville at the 2024 SEC Tournament didn’t last long as it fell in its first game in what was a seed upset against Mississippi State. The 17-15 Tigers have spent the last few days eagerly awaiting a decision on whether their season will continue. A bid to the NCAA Tournament as an at-large team is out of the question, but coach Matt McMahon’s squad has a chance to hear its name called in the National Invitational Tournament Selection Show on Sunday night. Projections indicate it might be a bit of a longshot to make the NIT, but it’s certainly a possibility given the strength of the SEC. Here’s what you need to know to watch as LSU learns if its season will continue in the NIT.

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PHOTOS: LSU men’s basketball ends regular season with Senior Night win over Missouri

The Tigers nearly squandered a 21-point second-half lead, but they survived to finish 9-9 in SEC play.

It was a bit closer than it probably should have been, but LSU’s men’s basketball team took care of business on Senior Night against a Missouri team that hadn’t won a game in SEC play this season.

The Tigers led by as much as 21 in the second half, but they allowed Mizzou to cut it to one possession in the final seconds. Still, LSU hung on to close out the regular season with a win on its home court.

Coach Matt McMahon’s team has clinched the No. 8 seed at the SEC Tournament with a 9-9 finish in league play and will face Mississippi State in its opener on Thursday.

In the meantime, here are the photos from Saturday night’s win.

Instant Analysis: LSU men’s basketball finishes regular season on a high note with Senior Night win over Missouri

LSU will be the No. 8 seed at the SEC Tournament in Nashville next week.

LSU fittingly honored its seniors on Saturday night at the Pete Maravich Assembly Center, beating Missouri 84-80 in the regular season finale.

Coach Matt McMahon’s team will enter the SEC Tournament at 17-14 with a 9-9 record in league play after finishing 2-16 a season ago. Missouri, meanwhile, finishes 0-18 in conference play in what has been a very disappointing campaign after reaching the NCAA Tournament last season.

LSU spent most of the first half playing from behind against Mizzou, which shot just 29% in the frame. However, the Tigers were even worse at 25%, and they found themselves in a 35-29 deficit at the half.

Missouri struggled to maintain that lead, however. LSU retook the lead in the opening minutes of the second half, and it went on to expand upon it. The Tigers led by as much as 21 with less than five minutes to play, and while Mizzou would cut into that lead and even get it within three with four seconds to play after some impressive shooting down the stretch, it was too little, too late.

[autotag]Trae Hannibal[/autotag] led the way with 24 points to go with five rebounds and five assists and [autotag]Jordan Wright[/autotag] scored 10 as LSU went with an all-senior starting five. [autotag]Hunter Dean[/autotag] scored 12 with six rebounds in an elevated role, while [autotag]Will Baker[/autotag] scored seven with 10 rebounds. [autotag]Mwani Wilkinson[/autotag] also got to start, finishing with four points.

Coming off the bench, [autotag]Tyrell Ward[/autotag] scored 14 while [autotag]Mike Williams III[/autotag] totaled 10.

LSU will be the No. 8 seed in the SEC Tournament in Nashville next week and will begin its run on Thursday against No. 9-seeded Mississippi State.

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PHOTOS: LSU men’s basketball’s streak of success interrupted by Arkansas

The Tigers struggled on the road and fall to 8-9 in SEC play with one game remaining.

The Tigers entered Wednesday night game having won four of their last five, but they couldn’t continue that success on the road against Arkansas.

LSU’s men’s basketball team never led after the first three minutes as it took a frustrating 94-83 loss that dropped the team to 16-14 on the season and below .500 in SEC play at 8-9.

[autotag]Jordan Wright[/autotag] (24 points) and [autotag]Tyrell Ward[/autotag] (19) were bright spots, but the Tigers couldn’t buy a stop as Arkansas shot north of 60% for the game.

The Tigers will now look to put the frustrating loss behind them and avoid becoming Missouri’s first SEC win when the two meet to conclude the regular season on Saturday.

For now, here are the photos from the loss.

LSU men’s basketball falls on the road against Arkansas

The Tigers couldn’t continue their winning streak on Wednesday night.

The LSU men’s basketball team has been playing very high-level basketball over the last month, but that stretch came to an end on Wednesday night in Fayetteville against Arkansas.

The Tigers lost 94-83 after winning four of their previous five games, falling to 16-14 on the season and back below .500 in SEC play at 8-9.

The first half was competitive in the early goings, but LSU’s only lead in the game was a 7-6 mark less than three minutes in. The Tigers trailed by seven at the half and by a game-high 14 points in the second frame before ultimately losing by 11.

[autotag]Jordan Wright[/autotag] and [autotag]Tyrell Ward[/autotag] had big games, scoring 24 and 19 respectively. But LSU’s defense didn’t give it a chance to win as the Razorbacks shot over 60% from the field for the game, which helped mask their 15 turnovers.

The Tigers can’t dwell on the loss too much as they’ll now look to finish the season strong on Senior Day Saturday against a Missouri team looking to avoid an 0-18 finish in SEC play.

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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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Checking in on the SEC men’s basketball standings entering final week of the regular season

The Tigers sit at 8-8 in conference play with two games remaining.

With two games to go in the men’s basketball regular season, LSU continues to impress down the stretch.

Winners of four of their last five, the Tigers sit at 8-8 in conference play after winning just two SEC games last season. While an NCAA Tournament bid is likely out of the question barring an impressive run in Nashville next week, an NIT bid is still very much in play, which would be a good sign of progress in Year 2 under [autotag]Matt McMahon[/autotag].

First, though, LSU has two more regular season games against Arkansas and Missouri. It will likely be favored against both and has a good chance of reaching the double-digit win threshold in conference play.

In the meantime, here’s how the standings look with two games to go.