Tag: Matt McMahon

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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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.

What two straight ranked wins mean for LSU men’s basketball, Matt McMahon

The Tigers are closing out the season with some momentum on their side.

For a while, it looked like LSU was heading for another rough season under coach [autotag]Matt McMahon[/autotag].

The Tigers men’s basketball team had lost six of seven games, but the last two games have given reason for hope. They’ve notched back-to-back ranked wins over South Carolina and Kentucky, most recently in buzzer-beater fashion against the Wildcats at home.

While an NCAA tournament bid is likely a longshot for this team barring an SEC tournament title, this team is ending the year with some momentum, and that’s what McMahon takes away from the recent success.

“Well, I think it’s certainly a big step for us,” he said, per On3. “It’s not every week, you know, you go on the road down 16 in the second half against the No. 11 team, you’re down by 16 and and come back and and find a way to win in front of 17,000 people, then come back home and play the No. 17 team and be down 15 in the second half and come back and find a way to win at the buzzer and celebrate with all your fans.”

Still, the Tigers can’t afford to rest on their laurels, especially with two more Quadrant 2 games still left on the schedule. They have the opportunity to end the year on a high note, and that begins when they host Mississippi State on Saturday night.

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How to watch, betting odds as LSU men’s basketball hosts Mississippi State on Saturday night

The Tigers have won back-to-back ranked games and look to continue rolling against the Bulldogs.

The Tigers looked like they were heading for another losing season in Year 2 under [autotag]Matt McMahon[/autotag], but the last two games have shown real glimpses of progress.

LSU’s men’s basketball team has recorded back-to-back upsets against ranked opponents in South Carolina and Kentucky, and now it’s back in action at the Pete Maravich Assembly Center against another potential NCAA tournament team in Mississippi State.

The Bulldogs sit at 18-8 and 7-6 in SEC play after a four-game winning streak of their own. Most recently, they beat rival Ole Miss.

Here’s everything you need to know as the Tigers look to win their third game in a row, including the latest odds from BetMGM.

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LSU men’s basketball showing progress in Matt McMahon’s second year

Matt McMahon has LSU basketball trending up in his second year.

LSU men’s basketball upset Kentucky in Baton Rouge earlier this week, giving the Tigers back-to-back wins over ranked opponents.

Matt McMahon needed some momentum. Prior to the last two games, LSU had lost six of seven.

But now, the Tigers are two games over .500 and have already tripled their conference win total from last year. This is what you want to see from a coach in his second year.

This year was rough at times and there have been moments where the progress wasn’t obvious, but now there’s a clear trend up.

Here’s where LSU has shown the most drastic improvement from last year.

Matt McMahon breaks down LSU’s last possession in upset win over Kentucky

Trusting in his players proved to be the right call as the Tigers moved to 14-12 and 6-7 overall in conference play.

Last night, the LSU Tigers took down the Kentucky Wildcats in the Pete Maravich Center. Head coach [autotag]Matt McMahon[/autotag] has taken a team that did not win any conference games last season to a team that has defeated back-to-back ranked opponents.

The Tigers won 75-74 over Kentucky due to a last-second shot that barely beat the buzzer. Kentucky took the lead with less than 10 seconds left and the Tigers had one timeout remaining, so that brought on a big decision for McMahon. Would he trust his team to play it out or would he call a timeout to draw up a play?

“Wish I would’ve called timeout,” McMahon said jokingly, per On3. “But I didn’t want them to get their defense set. I like them playing in transition, just a scramble situation. Trust [autotag]Jordan Wright[/autotag] with the ball there.

“We’ve been searching for some toughness. And [autotag]Tyrell Ward[/autotag] comes flying out of nowhere to put that ball in and win the game, just awesome, man. Awesome.”

Trusting in his players proved to be the right call as the Tigers moved to 14-12 and 6-7 overall in conference play.

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Angel Reese says she was knocked down while storming the court after LSU’s win over Kentucky

One of the many people who were in attendance on Wednesday night was LSU women’s hoops star Angel Reese.

On Wednesday night, the LSU men’s basketball team pulled off a feat that many people deemed impossible. [autotag]Matt McMahon[/autotag] and his team pulled off a last-second shot to beat the Kentucky Wildcats 75-74 at the PMAC.

One of the many people who were in attendance was LSU women’s hoops star [autotag]Angel Reese[/autotag]. When the clock hit triple zeroes and it was announced that the final shot from LSU counted, Tigers fans stormed the court to celebrate the huge win.

The one drawback to that is you run the risk of being run over or getting into an altercation. Reese ended up getting knocked down as the Tigers celebrated their huge victory. Thankfully, she did not suffer any injuries during the ordeal.

What a job McMahon has done this season turning this team around. Last season, his team failed to win any conference games. Now, he has back-to-back wins over ranked conference opponents.

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PHOTOS: LSU men’s basketball comes back to upset No. 11 South Carolina in Columbia

The Tigers rallied from down 16 to upset South Carolina in Columbia on Saturday.

Like in the midweek game against Florida, LSU’s men’s basketball team overcame a major second-half deficit on Saturday against No. 11 South Carolina.

Unlike in that game, however, the Tigers came away with the win this time around.

Trailing by 16 in the second half, coach Matt McMahon’s team erased that lead and forced a key turnover in the final seconds. [autotag]Jordan Wright[/autotag], who had 14 points in the game, was clutch down the stretch.

He made a pair of free throws down one that ultimately set the decisive score at 66-63. LSU moves to 13-12 (5-7 SEC) and will welcome Kentucky to town on Wednesday night for what will be its fifth straight Quadrant 1 game.

For now, here are the photos from the come-from-behind win.