Basketball season creeping closer

[Herb]

https://www.theadvocate.com/baton_rouge/sports/lsu/article_99e4e62e-f699-11e9-87af-a3caedbdbfc2.html

Will Wade leveraging the Auburn football game to showcase the university for basketball recruits.

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LSU basketball staff hosting more potential recruits this weekend as early signing period nears

• BY SHELDON MICKLES | STAFF WRITER

 

 

LSU coach Will Wade, shown in a 2019 game with Alabama, said his team's tour of Spain was a big success —especially offensively — as the Tigers averaged more than 101 points a game in going 3-1 in its exhibition slate.

Associated Press file photo

 

 

 

Sheldon Mickles

With the early signing period less than three weeks away, the LSU men's basketball team will take advantage of a big football weekend to host two prospects — one for 2020 and one for 2021 — this weekend.

According to 247Sports and various sources, Will Wade and his staff will welcome 5-foot-10 point guard Jalen Terry of Mount Morris, Michigan, and 6-9 center Jerrell Colbert of San Antonio to campus for official visits.

Terry will be a senior at Beecher High School this season. A four-star player in the industry-generated 247Sports composite rankings, he’s listed as the 56th overall prospect and No. 10 point guard in the nation.

Terry is scheduled to visit Iowa State on Nov. 9.

Colbert, a five-star prospect, is going into his junior year at Cornerstone Christian in San Antonio. He’s ranked 20th overall in the 2021 class and is currently the fourth-best center, according to 247 Sports.

Colbert also made an official visit to Oklahoma on Sept. 27.

They’re the latest prospects to visit with LSU this fall.

Cameron Thomas, a 6-3 shooting guard from Chesapeake, Virginia, and Oak Hill Academy, visited the campus the weekend of Sept. 13.

Thomas is a five-star prospect who is ranked 24th overall and the No. 6 shooting guard in the 2020 class. Besides LSU, Thomas has visited UCLA, Auburn and NC State.

Also, Mwani Wilkinson, a 6-6 four-star power forward from Bishop Gorman High in Las Vegas, was in the weekend of Oct. 4.

Wilkinson has also visited USC and Vanderbilt and is set to make a stop at Texas Tech next weekend.

Point guard Jalen Cook of Walker High, a three-star prospect, and center Frank Anselem of Suwanee, Georgia, a four-star player, also made official visits the weekend of Oct. 11.

 

Cook, who committed to Wade and his staff on June 18, is expected to make it official when the early, one-week signing period begins Nov. 13.

Anselem is heading into his junior season at Prolific Prep and is in the 2021 class.

LSU 24th in coaches poll

The Tigers, who were 22nd in the Associated Press preseason poll released Monday, are 24th in the USA Today coaches rankings.

In the coaches poll, LSU was sandwiched between two other Southeastern Conference schools as Auburn was 23rd and Tennessee came in 25th.

Kentucky was second and Florida sixth, giving the SEC five teams in the coaches poll.

 

[Herb]

https://www.shreveporttimes.com/story/sports/college/lsu/2019/10/24/lsu-basketball-begins-season-no-24-coaches-poll/4085138002/

 

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LSU basketball to begin season ranked No. 24 in USA Today coaches' poll

 

From Staff ReportsPublished 12:56 p.m. CT Oct. 24, 2019

   

It's the first time he's spoken publicly since March 7. Glenn Guilbeau, USA TODAY Network

BATON ROUGE – The LSU Tigers came in at No. 24 in the preseason coaches’ poll posted Thursday morning in USA Today.

The Tigers received 86 votes in the poll of 32 Division I coaches, all members of the supporting National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC). Michigan State is No. 1 with Kentucky (2), Florida (6), Auburn (23), LSU (24) and Tennessee (25) representing the Southeastern Conference.

The Tigers open the 2019-20 regular season on Friday, Nov. 8, at 7 p.m. against Bowling Green in the Pete Maravich Assembly Center.

LSU was ranked in the final nine coaches’ polls a year ago, including No. 15 in the final poll of 2019, taken following the conclusion of the NCAA Tournament. The Tigers were 28-7 overall and 16-2, winning the SEC regular season championships. LSU defeated Yale and Maryland in the first two rounds of the NCAA Tournament to advance to the NCAA Sweet 16.

More: LSUS begins basketball campaign slack on returnees

LSU has now been ranked in 10 straight coaches’ polls and that is the sixth longest in the history of the poll, which began as the UPI poll and is now a feature of USA Today. This marks the 196th poll as voted on by coaches that LSU has been in the Top 25.

USA Today College Basketball Coaches’ Poll

Rank      Team (1st place votes)/Pts
1              Michigan St (30)/792

2              Kentucky/734

3              Kansas (1)/687

4              Duke (1)/683     

5              Louisville/670

6              Florida/610

7              Gonzaga/544    

8              Maryland/536

9              Virginia/532

10           Villanova/531

11           North Carolina/503

12           Texas Tech/417

13           Seton Hall/403

14           Oregon/344

15           Memphis/331

16           Ohio St./280

17           Arizona/229       

18           Baylor/228

19           Utah St. /218

20           St. Mary's/163

21           Xavier/149

22           Purdue/123

23           Auburn/105

24           LSU/86

25           Tennessee/78

Receiving Votes: Marquette 62; Washington 59; Florida State 47; Michigan 28; Colorado 28; Houston 17; Creighton 13; Davidson 11; Southern California 9; Providence 8; Mississippi State 7; Wisconsin 6; UCLA 6; Texas 6; Syracuse 6; Georgetown 6; Liberty 5; Dayton 5; Harvard 4; Oklahoma 3; Illinois 2; NC State 1.

 

 

[Herb]

https://lastwordonprobasketball.com/2019/10/25/lsu-basketball-season-preview/

 

LSU Basketball Season Preview

By

 Brandon Eisenman

 -

October 25, 2019

 

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ORLANDO, FL - NOVEMBER 22: LSU Tigers guard Skylar Mays (4) during the 2018 AdvoCare Invitational mens college basketball game between the Charleston Cougars and LSU Tigers on November 22, 2018 at the HP Field House in Orlando, FL. (Photo by Mark LoMoglio/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

The LSU Basketball season preview for 2019-20 is here. Coming off an impressive run to the Sweet 16, LSU returns four stars from last season. Skylar Mays, Emmitt Williams, Ja’vonte Smart, and Marlon Taylor all elected to come back. Heading into year three under Will Wade, this team is primed to make another epic run.

LSU Tigers Basketball Preview

The Tigers won 16 conference games last season with only two losses. An impressive run in the SEC Tournament and the NCAA Tournament was guided by Tremont Waters and Skylar Mays. Though Waters left for the NBA, this team returns a lot of gifted talent. Mays averaged 13.4 points per game, 3.4 rebounds, and 2.1 assists. The senior played in all 35 of the Tigers’ contests last year. Going into his senior season, he is destined to be the true leader of the program. Freshman Trendon Watford is likely to have a strong career in the Purple and Gold. The star from Birmingham, Alabama was a highly sought after recruit and committed to the Tigers. With such an elite level of talent, this LSU basketball team knows they can go far yet again.

Though the SEC is one of the best basketball conferences, the Tigers know their quest. Defeat Florida, Kentucky, Tennessee, and South Carolina, along with the other remaining opponents. LSU is coming off of a tremendous season in which they won a total of 25 games. Making the Sweet 16 was certainly a big accomplishment. However, this team wants more. And in the SEC, it just means more.

 

One big factor coming into the season will be to limit the turnovers and make every play count. Tremont Waters carried this team on his shoulders at times last season. With him gone, someone else has to step up. Ja’vonte Smart could take that role. But, many think it will be Skylar Mays. In his final season, he wants to take charge of this team.

Freshman Fever

Freshman Trenton Watford is projected to be a star at LSU. His pivotal shooting range is what sets him apart. He was talented in high school and hopes to carry that over to his collegiate career. After losing Tremont Waters to the NBA, the Tigers are searching for another leader on the team. Skylar Mays will likely take the reigns. However, Watford will be a great addition to an already loaded roster. This LSU Basketball team has high potential for this season. After a strong outing last year, they hope to repeat that. Getting to the NCAA Tournament would be a solid accomplishment. But, Will Wade and his team want more. A National Championship is waiting for LSU. For a team that has been to the Final Four before, earning their first title this year would be stellar.

With a crucial non-conference slate, the beginning of the season isn’t easy. Games against USC, Rhode Island, and VCU will present tough challenges. Will Wade gets the chance to coach against his former team. The Tigers do have a tough schedule this season, though. LSU opens the season at Louisiana Tech on Saturday, November 2nd.