Tag: Will Wade

NCAA says LSU basketball coach Will Wade involved in ‘impermissible payments’ scheme

The NCAA says Wade was involved in an “impermissible payments” scheme.

The NCAA says that LSU basketball coach Will Wade was involved in a scheme in which he provided or helped to provide at least 11 prospective athletes or people within their circle with “impermissible payments,” according to ESPN.

The documents, obtained by ESPN on Wednesday, show that Wade “arranged for, offered and/or provided impermissible payments, including cash payments, to at least 11 men’s basketball prospective student-athletes, their family members, individuals associated with the prospects and/or nonscholastic coaches in exchange for the prospects’ enrollment at LSU.”

Wade was suspended for part of the 2018-19 season after an FBI wiretap transcript went public, and the coach was heard on recording discussing a “strong-ass offer” to a recruit identified as Javonte Smart.

The documents were part of an NCAA request that the LSU case be handled by the Independent Accountability Resolution Process, according to ESPN. The IARS took form in 2018 to handle complicated cases like the one currently on the table.

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LSU, one of many schools whose basketball programs were being investigated for potential rules violations, told ESPN that it had not received a notice of inquiry or notice of allegations from the NCAA in response to an open records request.

When Wade was reinstated in 2019, his contract was renegotiated with the stipulation that he can be fired if evidence comes to light that he was directly involved in major NCAA violations, per ESPN.

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LSU basketball recruiting: 2021 guard Brandon Murray commits to the Tigers

It didn’t take long for Kevin Nickelberry to land his first recruit as a full-time assistant for the LSU basketball program.

It didn’t take long for Kevin Nickelberry to land his first recruit as a full-time assistant for the LSU basketball program.

On Friday, Brandon Murray, a three-star guard in the 2021 class, made his pledge to LSU.

The 6-foot-5, 200-pounder plays his high school basketball at the IMG Academy in Bradenton, Fla. He is the second recruit in the 2021 cycle for head coach Will Wade and the Tigers.

One major reason Murray picked the Tigers was his relationship with Nickelberry, per Billy Embody of 247Sports.

Coach Nickelberry was the main recruiter. Coach Nickelberry knew that everyone and LSU came late, but they knew that they were going to be one of the hardest recruiting people and Nickelberry made it real clear that they wanted me. Nickelberry, he was the head recruiter and we just built a real good relationship.

With Murray’s commitment, LSU has the No. 22 class in 2021, per 247Sports.

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Two former LSU Tigers make list of Top 100 players in NBA Draft

A pair of former Tigers landed on the list.

The deadline for college players to remove their names from the upcoming 2020 NBA Draft expired on Aug. 3. — and it was a good day for Will Wade’s LSU Tigers as three of his stars returned to Baton Rouge.

Trendon Watford, Javonte Smart and Darius Days all decided to return to LSU for the 2020-21 college hoops season.

However, two former LSU players — guard Skylar Mays and Emmitt Williams — both remain in the draft, which is scheduled for Friday, Oct. 16.

Rookie Wire recently compiled a big board of the NBA Draft’s top 100 players after the deadline and the two former LSU stars made the list.

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Mays, of course, was a four-year starter for the Tigers whose eligibility expired at the conclusion of the 2019-20 season. He averaged 16.7 points per game for LSU last season and finished a stellar career with over 1,600 points scored.

Mays was ranked No. 46 by Rookie Wire, who had this to say about him.

Skylar Mays averaged 16.7 points with 5.0 rebounds per game this season. He led LSU to finish among the top five offenses in Division I, according to KenPom. He is a solid 3-and-D prospect who connected on 1.6 shots from beyond the arc per game while also forcing 1.8 steals per game.

Williams. who had two years of eligibility remaining, was one of Wade’s first big recruits at LSU. A five-star forward from Lehigh Acres, Fla., the 6-foot-6 Williams was ranked No. 73 by Rookie Wire.

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Emmitt Williams won MVP at the Jordan Brand Classic in 2018, scoring 44 points on 22-of-23 attempts. He averaged 13.3 points and 6.6 rebounds as a sophomore and averaged 1.26 points per possession as the roll man in pick-and-roll sets, which ranked among the top 10 of Division I players who had as many opportunities.

Williams took a major leap from his freshman season to his sophomore campaign, almost doubling his scoring average.

With the draft still over two months away, both former Tigers still have an opportunity to climb up boards. The lack of a normal pre-draft process could favor a player like Mays who has four years of experience and film.

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LSU’s best head coaches of the decade: Will Wade

Leading the Tigers to their first NCAA Tournament in a few seasons has helped Wade become one of the best coaches in the SEC.

Will Wade arrived in Baton Rouge in 2017 to become the new head coach for the LSU Tigers basketball team.

Since joining the program, Wade has accounted for a 64-30 record, leading the Tigers to the NCAA Tournament in 2018-19, and the NIT Tournament during his first season.

The 2020 Tigers team would have made the NCAA Tournament, but the coronavirus pandemic put a halt on collegiate sports just as conference tournaments were starting.

During the 2018-19 season, Wade coached the Tigers to a 25-5 record, including a 15-2 record in the SEC.

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LSU would win the SEC regular season title that year and advance to the Sweet Sixteen in the NCAA Tournament.

Wade has coached the likes of Skylar Mays, Emmitt Williams, Marlon Taylor and other great players that the Tigers’ roster has boasted over the past three seasons.

The argument could be made that Johnny Jones may have been the program’s best coach of the decade, and rightfully so. But, what Wade has accomplished in such short time earns him the nod here.

Leading the Tigers to their first NCAA Tournament in a few seasons has helped Wade become one of the best coaches in the SEC.

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Though he has faced scrutiny with a few federal investigations. Wade is determined to take LSU to their first national championship in program history.

In 2018, LSU had the No. 4 recruiting class in the country, and the second best class in the SEC. Heading into 2020, the Tigers currently have the No. 6 ranked class in all of college basketball.

Wade has put the LSU basketball program in a position to win and bring the star players to Baton Rouge to chase championships.

With former LSU legend Shaquille O’Neal’s son Shareef O’Neal, part of the roster now, it will be interesting to see if that commitment from the son of a legend sways future four and five-star recruits to decide to play in Baton Rouge.

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Top LSU basketball target Moussa Cisse to announce commitment decision Wednesday

LSU basketball could add another star to its recruiting class Wednesday.

LSU basketball could add another star to its recruiting class Wednesday.

Moussa Cisse, a 6-foot-10, 220-pound center from Lausanne Collegiate School in Memphis, Tenn., announced on Twitter he would be making his commitment decision this week.

Cisse, who is ranked as the No. 9 overall player for the class of 2020, per the 247Sports composite rankings, is the top-ranked player remaining in the class who has not committed.

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Memphis is considered the leader for Cisse as the Tigers rarely let elite talent leave the city, especially since Penny Hardaway returned and took over as head coach.

However, Cisse has maintained a good relationship with several schools, including LSU, throughout his recruiting process. LSU was at one time considered the leader for Cisse, who delayed his decision in the spring.

Cisse, who is from West Africa and reclassified to the 2020 class, has only played one season in the United States.

A commitment from Cisse would be an amazing victory for Wade and his staff who already have the No. 6 overall class in 2020.

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LSU at Florida college basketball odds, picks and best bets

Analyzing Wednesday’s LSU Tigers at Florida Gators sports betting odds and lines, with college basketball betting picks, tips and best bets.

The LSU Tigers (19-8, 10-4 in SEC) visit the SEC-rival Florida Gators (17-10, 9-5 in Big Ten), at Stephen C. O’Connell Center Wednesday for a 9 p.m. ET tip-off. We analyze the LSU-Florida odds and betting lines, with college basketball betting advice and tips around this matchup.

LSU at Florida: Three things you need to know

  1. Florida fell 65-59 to the Kentucky Wildcats Saturday, snapping a three-game winning streak. The Gators are currently fourth in the SEC standings, which would secure them a double-bye in the SEC tournament.
  2. LSU has struggled of late but stopped a two-game skid by defeating the South Carolina Gamecocks 86-80 Saturday. The Tigers started SEC play by winning eight straight games against conference opponents before losing four of their last six against SEC teams.
  3. LSU defended its home court in the first meeting of the season with Florida, beating the Gators 84-82 Jan. 21. Six of the Tigers’ seven players involved in that game scored in double figures.

Get some action on this college basketball matchup or others by placing a legal sports bet at BetMGM! New customer offer: Risk-free first bet! Visit BetMGM for terms and conditions.

LSU at Florida: Odds, betting lines and picks

Odds via BetMGM; access USA TODAY Sports’ betting odds for a full list. Lines last updated at 1 p.m. ET.

Prediction

LSU 81, Florida 73

Moneyline (ML)

LSU (+180) has a decent chance to pull off an upset against Florida (-223) because their offense is elite and they are a better rebounding team. The Tigers are ranked eighth in the nation in points per game and 24th in field-goal percentage, and they have a plus-6.8 rebound margin per game compared to the Gators’ plus-3.2 rebounds per game.

SPRINKLE ON LSU’S +180 MONEYLINE.

New to sports betting? Bet $50 on LSU (+180) to earn a $90 profit if it wins outright.

Against the Spread (ATS)

LSU (+5, -110) beat Florida (-5, -110) 79-78 in overtime last season but it was just the second time in six games the Tigers beat the Gators in Gainesville. Two of the previous four LSU-Florida games have been decided in overtime with each team getting a victory and their last four games have been decided by five or fewer points. LSU is 5-2-1 against the spread in road games against winning teams and Florida is 3-5 ATS at home against winning teams.

TAKE LSU (+5, -110) for some insurance. New to sports betting? Bet $110 on LSU to earn a profit of $100 if Florida loses or wins by fewer than five points.

Over/Under (O/U)

The OVER 148.5 (-110) is the best bet in the LSU-Florida matchup. Their combined Over/Under record is 31-22-1 and 19-8-1 in SEC games. The previous four LSU-Florida games have gone Over the total and six straight LSU games have gone Over as well.

Want some action on this matchup? Place a bet at BetMGM now. For more sports betting picks and tips, visit SportsbookWire.com.

Follow @Geoffery_Clark and @SportsbookWire on Twitter.

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