The freedom of transfer rules also didn't exist during Pearl's first 3 years either. That is a complete game changer and has expedited the rebuilding process.

In 20-21 TJ Otzelberger took over an Iowa St. team that was the WORST in major conference basketball the year before. 2-22 record (0-18 in Big 12 play). 7 guys from the 20-21 team transferred. He had 3 scholarship players on his roster before bringing in transfers and 1 signee. The team didn't even have the full 13 scholarship players on the roster. All ISU did last season was make the NCAA Tournament (where they beat LSU) and reach the Sweet 16. ONE year after winning two games. Lest you think that was a fluke, Iowa St. is currently ranked #12 and tied for first place in the toughest conference in CBB.

Tied with Iowa St. for first place right now is Kansas St. They are led by first year HC Jerome Tang. Before Tang took over Kansas St had three straight losing seasons. I know we all like to think LSU is the only team that had a mass exodus after a coaching change...but it's not. Nine (9) players transferred out of KSU. Tang had to bring in an ENTIRELY new roster with 10 transfers and 2 freshman signees. Good thing Tang didn't just accept his team had to be horrible in year one, because he is currently 16-2 with wins over Texas, Baylor and Kansas.

Now, are those guys the "high end" of what can happen in just the course of year? Sure. But comparing coaches in the pre freedom to transfer era to the post freedom of transfer era is ridiculous. I have ZERO doubt Pearl's first three years at Auburn would have looked vastly different had he been able to turn over the roster with transfers like coaches can now.

It is equally as ridiculous to give McMahon a complete pass because "he started with zero players". Most first year HCs in this era of CBB are going to have to completely rebuild the roster in their first season. As noted above, Iowa St and Kansas St (like LSU) had just a small handful of player return in their new coaches first season. Florida had to bring in 7 new players this season. Same for Georgia.

I don't care where McMahon started in April. He had a full roster going into the season. A roster that, despite McMahon never coaching a major conference game in his life was though enough of to pick LSU to finish 8th this season in what was expected to be a loaded SEC. That LSU is losing to Kentucky, Auburn, Alabama is not unexpected. Those teams are better. But this LSU team is not only losing, they are not even competitive right now. And that's not just to Alabama and Auburn. That's against A&M and Florida too. Decent, but by no means great teams.

So no, I don't think McMahon should get a 100% pass on what's going on right now just because it is his first season. For all of the constant absurd bitching and complain about LSU's "street ball" offense under Wade, it was NEVER, not even close, to as bad as LSU's offense right now. From an efficiency standpoint this is the worst LSU offense in over a decade. That's not solely on the players. The staff is not getting it done.

I'm not leading the charge to fire McMahon after just over half of his first season. But along with the ability to completely overhaul a roster in one season comes a corresponding decrease in the level of patience that should be afforded to HCs in doing so. You can cry and say that's not fair. And maybe it isn't. But that IS reality.