CBS Sports Unveils 2018-19 College Basketball Rankings

CBS Sports college basketball columnist and analyst Gary Parrish unveiled his 2018-2019 rankings and pegged LSU at No. 20. Here's what he had to say about the Tigers and 2nd-year head coach Will Wade.

*Parish lists Brandon Sampson under the "Notable players expected to return" category but will not be back with the Tigers next season as he is entering the NBA Draft and has signed with an agent.

quote:

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20. LSU

Coach: Will Wade

2017-18 record: 18-15

Notable players definitely gone: Duop Reath, Aaron Epps, Randy Onwuasor, Jeremy Combs, Mayan Kiir, Galen Alexander

Others expected to leave: None

Notable players expected to return: Tremont Waters, Skylar Mays, Brandon Sampson, Daryl Edwards, Wayde Sims, Brandon Rachal,

Expected additions: Naz Reid, Ja'Vonte Smart, Darius Days, Emmitt Williams, Kavell Bigby-Williams

Why the Tigers are ranked here: Will Wade's effective recruiting has totally rebuilt LSU's roster and made it one of the SEC's most talented. Tremont Waters is terrific and should be an SEC Player of the Year candidate. And the arrival of a top-five recruiting class highlighted by Naz Reid and Emmitt Williams gives the Tigers a real chance to go from the bottom half of the SEC to somewhere near the top in a span of just one year.

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