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What it will take to get LSU basketball back to glory
Posted on 3/12/26 at 11:00 am
Posted on 3/12/26 at 11:00 am
will be dumping a ton of money for a top-tier coach, a large buyout of the existing coach, and lots of NIL money to get quality players for several years. I just don't think this is the right time for all that after doing the same thing for the woman's program a few years ago and for the football team last year.
I'm betting (not wanting) this will be a 2027 shake-up. It sucks, but I don't see LSU making this overhaul until next year. I hope I'm wrong.
I'm betting (not wanting) this will be a 2027 shake-up. It sucks, but I don't see LSU making this overhaul until next year. I hope I'm wrong.
15
Posted on 3/12/26 at 11:07 am to TIGERSby10
quote:
will be dumping a ton of money for a top-tier coach, a large buyout of the existing coach, and lots of NIL money to get quality players for several years.
The current buyout is miniscule compared to money being thrown around now.
TBH, I think the absence of any action on BB right now tells us the longterm plan is not ready yet. If you look across the college athletic landscape right now there is no clear formula to building a championship contender. It would be very easy to just throw money at it and wind right back where we are now. I call this the BK lesson.
Posted on 3/12/26 at 11:16 am to GetmorewithLes
Look at all the coaches who were successful in lsu's basketball history, they all had big personalities. I would start there..someone who can sell the program and get people excited
Posted on 3/12/26 at 11:19 am to TIGERSby10
Didn't know we ever had any "glory" days in men's basketball.
Posted on 3/12/26 at 11:20 am to GetmorewithLes
The buyout may be small in comparison to football, but it still is millions per year. Add that to needing likely $7-8 million for the roster each year and about the same for the salary of the new coach and you are at almost $20 million a year.
Posted on 3/12/26 at 11:20 am to VL Lsutiger
quote:
they all had big personalities. I would start there..someone who can sell the program and get people excited
Certainly key in today’s sportsworld.
Posted on 3/12/26 at 11:23 am to TIGERSby10
1) A fan base that demands success in basketball from the University leadership and suports that demand by spending MONEY on basketball related things (game tickets, NIL support, merch, etc.).
2) University leadership that recognoizes # 1 above and is willing to spend the money time and effiort to make basketball a championship level sport at LSU.
3) A coach that understands all aspects of success and how to acheive them - at a minimum the coach must be good at:
- Program building - facilities, budget, engaging the fan and money base so that #1 can remain true, etc.
- Recruiting, developing, and keeping great players
- The Xs and Os of actually winning basketball games
4) Only when 1-3 are in place, the final piece is getting, developing, and keeping great players
It ain't hard to know what to do. It has proven hard to get the commitments needed to do it .....
2) University leadership that recognoizes # 1 above and is willing to spend the money time and effiort to make basketball a championship level sport at LSU.
3) A coach that understands all aspects of success and how to acheive them - at a minimum the coach must be good at:
- Program building - facilities, budget, engaging the fan and money base so that #1 can remain true, etc.
- Recruiting, developing, and keeping great players
- The Xs and Os of actually winning basketball games
4) Only when 1-3 are in place, the final piece is getting, developing, and keeping great players
It ain't hard to know what to do. It has proven hard to get the commitments needed to do it .....
This post was edited on 3/12/26 at 11:27 am
Posted on 3/12/26 at 11:23 am to TIGERSby10
quote:
Add that to needing likely $7-8 million for the roster each year
Respectfully, I dont think that even gets you in the door now. UK spent $22 mil on roster this season for poor results. I am not sure what other SEC teams spent. Maybe some of our internet lizards on here know…
Edit: a quick google search shows SEC avg this yr at $9.7 mil
This post was edited on 3/12/26 at 11:28 am
Posted on 3/12/26 at 11:28 am to TIGERSby10
Buyouts. New salaries. Facilities. Others have mentioned overhauling the entire recruiting pipeline.
If we're stuck with McM for another year, hopefully that means there's a comprehensive, long term plan to address the matters raised above.
I kinda doubt it.
Posted on 3/12/26 at 11:35 am to TIGERSby10
All these opinions from a board that doesn’t even watch or understand the sport and the place it holds in the college sports world. I hope a 1/3 of them go to a few games next year.
Posted on 3/12/26 at 11:38 am to GetmorewithLes
You will need to be in the $10 - $15 mil to be successful and compete with those that are spending the money. Regardless of what the mouthbreathers say LSU did not get serious about spending until this year which has been stated to be about $9 mil. And sans the injuries to Reed and DJ that investment would have at least got them into the tourney. A number of unbiased experts have said as much. Doesn't mean mcmahon shouldn't have won some of the games he lost but those might have been different with all players healthy. Hell Wade lost to 2 of the 3 worst teams in the ACC at home with a healthy team. So it happens. Still if they can get Wade to come back I don't see them keeping Mcmahon. If not then there is a possibility they keep Mcmahon and give him even more $$ to field another competitive team with the hope that the injury bug doesn't bite him again. With more money you can get better players and maybe the injuries don't affect you as much. The key is finding an Acuff or Philon that cane be a difference maker. Also mcmahon needs to get better on the defensive side. Wade had that issue his first 3 years here but he had superior offensive players that could overcome that.
Posted on 3/12/26 at 11:40 am to TIGERSby10
Talent is huge but having a coach that can attract talent and win with talent is important. Selling the program is also important. McMahon can not do any of that. But I heard he is a real nice guy......
Posted on 3/12/26 at 11:47 am to mcspufftiger7
quote:
If not then there is a possibility they keep Mcmahon and give him even more $$ to field another competitive team with the hope that the injury bug doesn't bite him again. With more money you can get better players and maybe the injuries don't affect you as much. The key is finding an Acuff or Philon that cane be a difference maker. Also mcmahon needs to get better on the defensive side. Wade had that issue his first 3 years here but he had superior offensive players that could overcome that.
McMahon is nothing but a loser. As long as he is the head coach, I will pull for LSU basketball to lose. LSU basketball has become a comedy show for me now. The powers that be treat it like a joke so I will do the same. Only at LSU can a guy like McMahon survive with the kind of record he has. Can’t say I’m surprised.
Have fun next season. You and the dwindling McMahon fan club will be twisting yourselves into a pretzel wondering how it all went wrong (yet again) and I will be care free enjoying life.
My 25+ year fandom is holding on by a thread.
Posted on 3/12/26 at 11:51 am to TIGERSby10
quote:
What it will take to get LSU basketball back to glory
Posted on 3/12/26 at 11:55 am to TIGERSby10
Use Houston’s model. Athletic, defensive team that attacks the glass and plays with max effort. Sampson didn’t build that program with 5* players, his first one was only a couple years ago. Get a coach to fit that model.
Posted on 3/12/26 at 12:05 pm to MrPickle
quote:
Didn't know we ever had any "glory" days in men's basketball.
We’ve had a few exciting seasons. For us, those count as glory days.
Posted on 3/12/26 at 12:06 pm to Madking
Start wearing Duke Jerseys. Then maybe players will think they are good and play better
Posted on 3/12/26 at 12:11 pm to TIGERSby10
quote:
will be dumping a ton of money for a top-tier coach
Since it is evident you know very little about the basketball marketplace, tune into the Tournament next week. You will see the majority of the teams in the top 16 teams who hired their coaches from mid-major programs (or as assistant coaches from major program). NONE of those schools dumped a "ton of money" to hire a "top tier coach". Michigan hired Dusty May from FAU. His initial contract was for $3.8M annually. That's $2M LESS than what Kentucky is paying Mark Pope. Two years later May has Michigan as a No.1 seed and one of the favorites to win a national championship.
quote:
I just don't think this is the right time for all that after doing the same thing for the woman's program a few years ago and for the football team last year.
Are the expenses for those sports going down next year?
quote:
a large buyout of the existing coach
McMahon is not highly paid. It's not a "large buyout" relative to the marketplace.
quote:
and lots of NIL money to get quality players for several years
Kentucky purportedly spent $20M+ on their roster. It got them a 9th place finish in the SEC. 4 years ago Florida hired Tood Golden within a day of LSU hiring McMahon. Golden was not given a massive war chest to sign players. However, he shrewdly brought in good mid-major transfers and 3 star recruits. Within 3 years he won the national championship.
STICK TO FOOTBALL DISCUSSIONS!
Posted on 3/12/26 at 12:35 pm to TIGERSby10
quote:
I'm betting (not wanting) this will be a 2027 shake-up. It sucks, but I don't see LSU making this overhaul until next year. I hope I'm wrong.
Prices in the coaching marketplace will increase next year, cost of doing business in the NIL era, need to take this dead money hit THIS YEAR an set ourselves up for long term basketball success with someone who will energize the donor base immediately.
Posted on 3/12/26 at 12:36 pm to Gen Patton
see if Coach K or Phil Jackson want to come out of retirement
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