Will Wade Sends Strong Message About LSU's Basketball Team After Exhibition Win

Will Wade was fired up about the future of his LSU basketball team following Thursday night's 63-60 exhibition win over McNeese.

Eligibility issues left the Tigers severely shorthanded, with just five players handling most of the minutes. Despite the limited roster, LSU found a way to win, and Wade made it clear afterward that there's plenty more talent on the way.

"(In practice) We look like a team that can compete with just about anybody when we got the full group," Wade said. "We played with five guys tonight. Come to practice, we're damn good."

Wade explained that several players are still waiting on paperwork and NCAA clearance, but he expects to have more players available next week and even more for the October 24 exhibition against Florida State.

"I feel like by next week we'll have another couple, and I feel like by Florida State we'll have another couple, and I feel like by then we'll be hell on wheels. So get ready," Wade said.

The goal is to have the full roster cleared and ready for LSU's November 3 season opener against New Orleans.

When asked about his message to LSU fans, Wade doubled down on his confidence.

"Some of these guys we played tonight, they are good players. But we got some damm good players that weren't out there tonight. You think some of these guys were something? Just wait. Just wait."

Here's Wade's full press conference and comments below:




Q: What were your overall thoughts on tonight's game?

Will Wade:
“Look, we were just trying to be competitive. We had five guys that could play. We played a couple of guys who, you know, weren't expecting to play. So look, I just didn't know what to expect. I thought our guys battled. I knew we'd battle.
“There's a lot for us to grow off of. We've got a lot of work to do, but to come into this environment and win and beat a good team and be shorthanded, I think says a lot about our guys and says a lot about what we're building towards.”

Q: Will you have more players available for the next game?

Will Wade:
“I think we'll have more for the next one.
“We have another couple of kids who were cleared, but we were being extra cautious not to poke the bear. We have another two that are cleared to play, but we wanted to make sure all the paperwork was final before we did it. So we were extra cautious. We have two other guys that are playable. Anybody we played tonight is fully eligible.”

Additional note: Wade revealed that LSU received word at 3:30 p.m. on game day that French-Croatian forward Michael Ruzic was cleared to play against McNeese.

Q: What do your practices look like with a full group?

Will Wade:
“Oh shite, we look good with a full group. We look like a team that can compete with just about anybody when we got the full group. I mean, yeah, we're good. We played with five guys tonight. Come to practice, we're damn good."

“We got two guys that we need to tie up some paperwork. We got one guy that they've asked for one more piece of paperwork. We turned that in this afternoon. The NCAA couldn't turn it around quick enough. I think we'll have him by tomorrow or Friday. I mean, we're about to be loaded up here now. Better watch out.”

Q: Given how shorthanded LSU was, did you consider not playing the exhibition against McNeese?

Will Wade:
“If this wasn't McNeese and what we've done tonight, I'd have pushed this thing back. If this wasn't McNeese and these ticket sales and all that, I would not have come tonight.
“I mean, this was not putting our guys in the best situation to come here and do this. All right? But McNeese sold tickets and told them I was coming, and we're coming. We don't back out.
“If this was anything else, we probably would not have shown up.
“But I feel like by next week we'll have another couple, and I feel like by Florida State we'll have another couple, and I feel like by then we'll be hell on wheels. So get ready.”

Q: What is your message to LSU fans after your first exhibition game?

Will Wade:
“I mean, look, this is the first step in our journey this year, and we're gonna be good. We're gonna be good. We're gonna have a good team.
“And look, some of these guys we played tonight, they're good players. But we got some damn good players that weren't out there tonight. We got some real players that weren't out there tonight.
“You think some of these guys were something? Just wait. Just wait. We're gonna be damn good once we get everything moving.
“And as I've said, our goal is November 3rd to be cleared and ready to go. And I feel like we're moving down the track to where, by November 3rd, we're gonna be cleared and ready to go.
“So hopefully it'll be an exciting season for the Tigers. But McNeese, just appreciate everything.”