LSU’s season is now over after the team’s disappointing loss in the first round of the NCAA Tournament in a No. 6 vs. No. 11 upset against Iowa State.
That means that the focus can now shift entirely to replacing Will Wade, who was fired on March 13 ahead of the Tigers’ postseason. It’s well known that athletics director Scott Woodward likes to make big, splashy hires, but that may not be so easy this time around.
The basketball program doesn’t carry the same level of prestige that football does, and that’s before you take into account potential impending NCAA sanctions. It seems unlikely that LSU will be able to sway a proven head coach from a power conference team, and it makes sense that per ESPN’s Jeff Borzello, the search is now centering around two mid-major prospects.
LSU is the biggest job left on the board, although potential NCAA sanctions have likely dissuaded some of the big-name options from getting involved. One seemingly far-fetched rumor that won’t go away is Tony Bennett going to Baton Rouge, but sources close to Bennett have maintained all week there is nothing of substance to it. Two names that have emerged as potential options for athletic director Scott Woodward are Murray State’s Matt McMahon and North Texas’ Grant McCasland. As the clear-cut best job still available, LSU can afford to take its time and still have a free run at its preferred candidates.
Given the fact that Bennett is in a great situation in Charlottesville, it’s not exactly surprising that the long-time Virginia coach isn’t looking to jump ship for a job that could come with NCAA limitations.
McMahon and McCasland both make a lot of sense. The former has three NCAA Tournament appearances with the Racers (which would have likely been four, had it not been for the COVID-19 pandemic) while the latter made it to the second round of March Madness last year and led his team to the NIT this year. The Mean Green fell in the second round to Bennett’s Cavaliers.
On Sunday, Stadium’s Jeff Goodman also reported that McMahon was “in the mix” for the Tigers gig.
With several jobs around the country beginning to fill, Woodward may be feeling a greater sense of urgency to get things done. Still, as Borzello mentions, LSU is the best job still available and should be able to dictate the terms in the coaching market, even with the ongoing NCAA situation.
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