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Posted on 7/13/26 at 1:33 pm to jamarr
quote:
topic is basketball recruiting not other posters and your petty disputes. please don't do this in every thread
I swear tigersbb has to be your alt at this point.
As for basketball, this obviously excludes jamarr. How do y'all think WW will approach the lack of true PGs? Do y'all think Divine gets the start or Wade slides Bashir to PG and goes a little big with Niang at SG? We could still find someone else but probably not starter caliber at this point.
Posted on 7/13/26 at 2:49 pm to RoyalWe
Wish there was a blocking option on here. This would fix many of the issues. This way you could only chat with people who are chatting about the sports and not drama.
Posted on 7/13/26 at 2:55 pm to BillyBobfan24_7
quote:
Do y'all think Divine gets the start
I think so.
Wade has won with guys who aren't necessarily "pure PGs". Copeland didn't really fit that mold last year. You could say the same about Pinson and Smart.
My concerns with Wade's teams will be the same concerns I've always had...will they play defense? Right now that 2022 team is still the big outlier in that respect.
Posted on 7/13/26 at 3:54 pm to BillyBobfan24_7
I think it's safe to assume that in the next week or two, ALL of the players that completed their 4th year of eligibility that are suing will be granted a 5th year.
These players should number in the dozens, and we only need to sign a few of them. Most teams appear to be close to full now with their rosters, so the competition should be minimal.
I believe Wade has always kept this as a last option in case he needed it. You've gotta believe he can find 3-5 players in this group, AND will put a really good team on the floor, as his past proves he does.
I wouldn't be so quick to assume that none or few of these guys are starter quality.
These players should number in the dozens, and we only need to sign a few of them. Most teams appear to be close to full now with their rosters, so the competition should be minimal.
I believe Wade has always kept this as a last option in case he needed it. You've gotta believe he can find 3-5 players in this group, AND will put a really good team on the floor, as his past proves he does.
I wouldn't be so quick to assume that none or few of these guys are starter quality.
This post was edited on 7/13/26 at 3:55 pm
Posted on 7/13/26 at 5:00 pm to tigahlovah
It's really too early to speculate, but that's what this place is for...
Point guard by committee, and that's not a good thing.
Divine has potential, but he has not proven that he can consistently break down SEC defenses, control tempo, and create quality shots late in the clock. He is a combo guard being asked to become a lead guard—not an established floor general. Nunez is another possible ball handler, but he is even less proven at this level. Bashir is primarily a scorer whose value comes from stretching the defense and punishing help, not running the offense.
Wade may be able to reduce the need for a traditional pass-first point guard by using five-out spacing, ball screens, guard-to-guard screens, and multiple initiators. He has built strong offenses that way before. However, his best teams still had someone such as Tremont Waters, Javonte Smart, Xavier Pinson, or another guard who could reliably create an advantage.
The concern will surface against elite pressure defenses and late in close SEC games. If opponents trap Divine, deny the first action, and force LSU deep into the shot clock, who creates the good shot? LSU can survive without a conventional point guard, but its ceiling against elite teams probably depends on Divine making a significant leap as a playmaker—or Wade adding another proven creator.
Defensively, the wings appear to be a strength, particularly with Dioubate. The larger questions are rim protection, defensive rebounding, and whether LSU has a true interior anchor.
Honestly, we still need clarity on the international players and any additional eligibility cases. The roster has some useful pieces, but it also has obvious holes that still need to be filled.
Point guard by committee, and that's not a good thing.
Divine has potential, but he has not proven that he can consistently break down SEC defenses, control tempo, and create quality shots late in the clock. He is a combo guard being asked to become a lead guard—not an established floor general. Nunez is another possible ball handler, but he is even less proven at this level. Bashir is primarily a scorer whose value comes from stretching the defense and punishing help, not running the offense.
Wade may be able to reduce the need for a traditional pass-first point guard by using five-out spacing, ball screens, guard-to-guard screens, and multiple initiators. He has built strong offenses that way before. However, his best teams still had someone such as Tremont Waters, Javonte Smart, Xavier Pinson, or another guard who could reliably create an advantage.
The concern will surface against elite pressure defenses and late in close SEC games. If opponents trap Divine, deny the first action, and force LSU deep into the shot clock, who creates the good shot? LSU can survive without a conventional point guard, but its ceiling against elite teams probably depends on Divine making a significant leap as a playmaker—or Wade adding another proven creator.
Defensively, the wings appear to be a strength, particularly with Dioubate. The larger questions are rim protection, defensive rebounding, and whether LSU has a true interior anchor.
Honestly, we still need clarity on the international players and any additional eligibility cases. The roster has some useful pieces, but it also has obvious holes that still need to be filled.
Posted on 7/13/26 at 6:31 pm to RoyalWe
quote:
The concern will surface against elite pressure defenses and late in close SEC games. If opponents trap Divine, deny the first action, and force LSU deep into the shot clock, who creates the good shot? LSU can survive without a conventional point guard, but its ceiling against elite teams probably depends on Divine making a significant leap as a playmaker—or Wade adding another proven creator.
If this year's seniors get an extra year Max Mckinnon would be great in this role.
Posted on 7/13/26 at 6:37 pm to Misterkleenmillenium
quote:
This way you could only chat with people who are chatting about the sports and not drama.
Your point is well taken, but needs to go a step further. Every basketball thread does not need to dissolve into comments about how bad you think the coach is or negativity about a player. If you want to open that door you can't bitch about who walks in..
Posted on 7/13/26 at 7:07 pm to RoyalWe
Based on your response, you sound skeptical that the other 4 year guys will get a 5th year. Which means ONLY the 24 in Ohio will. Do you believe this?
If you don't, Wade will have plenty of other potentially signable options, including a main player that he ran his offense through at McNeese and NC st, Qadir Copeland.
If this goes through (and I don't see any way it can't), he'll have dozens of players to choose from with little to no other college competition for them. This could explain why he was at the PIT when no other HCs apparently were.
I think it's likely there would be better PGs available from this pool than we currently have committed.
If you don't, Wade will have plenty of other potentially signable options, including a main player that he ran his offense through at McNeese and NC st, Qadir Copeland.
If this goes through (and I don't see any way it can't), he'll have dozens of players to choose from with little to no other college competition for them. This could explain why he was at the PIT when no other HCs apparently were.
I think it's likely there would be better PGs available from this pool than we currently have committed.
Posted on 7/13/26 at 7:30 pm to tigahlovah
I was just commenting on the current lineup. I wasn’t expressing skepticism about whether the other four-year players will receive a fifth year. I was simply evaluating LSU’s point guard situation based on the roster as it currently stands.
If that ruling opens up another pool of experienced players, Wade may very well add a better lead guard—including someone like Copeland. But until those players are actually available and LSU signs one, I don’t think we can assume the current weakness has been solved.
If that ruling opens up another pool of experienced players, Wade may very well add a better lead guard—including someone like Copeland. But until those players are actually available and LSU signs one, I don’t think we can assume the current weakness has been solved.
Posted on 7/13/26 at 7:33 pm to tigersbb
quote:I don't know if you're just getting hate because of *drama*, but I like Max Mckinnon. Is he elite? I don't think I would put that label on him, but he sure surprised the hell out of a lot of people myself included.
If this year's seniors get an extra year Max Mckinnon would be great in this role.
Posted on 7/13/26 at 8:04 pm to RoyalWe
quote:
I don't know if you're just getting hate because of *drama*, but I like Max Mckinnon. Is he elite? I don't think I would put that label on him,
There are some on this board who must have a villain to attack, its the oxygen that keeps them going. When you call them on it they act so sanctimious with pithy comments. There is a groupf 5 or so wo live in their own little echo chamber.
Mckinnon did show an ability to drive to the hoop and get his own shot and was also good curling off of screens. He may have already decided to pursue a career in a foreign country, but if not he would be someone to bring some fire power. Hopefuly Wade can land a solid group of fifth year players to fill out the roster and provide some firepower. Only one signee from the portal or the European leagues averaged double figures so they will need a few to step up thier offensive output. There is some rim protection which will help if they will be more of a grind it out team in the mode of Buzz Williams teams at A&M.
This post was edited on 7/13/26 at 10:31 pm
Posted on 7/14/26 at 1:05 am to TigerIce
Great list just exchange Dessert for Ruzik and I believe Santos finds his way into the starting lineup somehow.
Posted on 7/14/26 at 9:41 am to RoyalWe
quote:
He is a combo guard being asked to become a lead guard
Smart was the same and LSU had top 5 offenses as the lead guard. Copeland was in that mold as well. NC State was a top 25 offense last season.
Wade has proven more often than not that he can adjust his offensive approach to fit his personnel. The data over the course of nearly 10 years reflects that. While having a great pure PG appeared to be a "must" under whatever McMahon was trying to do on offense, that's hasn't been the case with Wade.
quote:
but its ceiling against elite teams probably depends on Divine making a significant leap as a playmaker—or Wade adding another proven creator.
Basketball is more of an "offensive" game compared to sports like football and baseball, which is why fans focus so much more on offense. But the reality is DEFENSE still wins championships in basketball and (outside of 2022) the ceiling on Wade's teams have been because of bad defense...NOT offensive struggles.
Until proven otherwise, I give Wade the benefit of the doubt he will have an efficient/high scoring offense. There is a chance it won't look pretty to the basketball "purists" on the board, leading to cries of "streetball". But he's been effective.
Posted on 7/14/26 at 9:54 am to Alt26
That's fair. Wade has earned the benefit of the doubt offensively, and I probably stated the Divine issue too absolutely.
Modern championship teams usually have elite offenses and good-to-elite defenses. The 2021 Baylor team was an outlier with their 41.3% 3P%. The last five years the Champions have all been above 35%, but not much more.
Wade has also produced elite offenses without elite three-point percentages or a textbook pass-first point guard. So I agree that offense is more likely than not to be effective, even if it occasionally looks like “streetball.”
I still think late-clock creation is a legitimate question until Divine proves he can handle it, but it may be a limitation Wade can manage rather than a fatal flaw. The bigger concern is probably the one you identified: whether LSU can defend and rebound well enough to keep an efficient offense from being wasted.
Modern championship teams usually have elite offenses and good-to-elite defenses. The 2021 Baylor team was an outlier with their 41.3% 3P%. The last five years the Champions have all been above 35%, but not much more.
Wade has also produced elite offenses without elite three-point percentages or a textbook pass-first point guard. So I agree that offense is more likely than not to be effective, even if it occasionally looks like “streetball.”
I still think late-clock creation is a legitimate question until Divine proves he can handle it, but it may be a limitation Wade can manage rather than a fatal flaw. The bigger concern is probably the one you identified: whether LSU can defend and rebound well enough to keep an efficient offense from being wasted.
Posted on 7/14/26 at 10:04 am to tigahlovah
That's a great point. I keep forgetting about the 5 for 5 guys. I'm just anxious to see what it's all going to look like. I'm a fan of WW so I trust him. Posted on 7/14/26 at 10:51 am to BillyBobfan24_7
It's all conjecture on my part, I'm just trying to follow along his possible plans from home.
It makes sense to me that he's kinda slow played the commitments to now we're about to likely have a situation with a new pool of prospects, and very few coaches with openings for those players.
It seems like a Wade type, 2 steps ahead move.
It makes sense to me that he's kinda slow played the commitments to now we're about to likely have a situation with a new pool of prospects, and very few coaches with openings for those players.
It seems like a Wade type, 2 steps ahead move.
Posted on 7/14/26 at 11:08 am to RoyalWe
quote:
Modern championship teams usually have elite offenses and good-to-elite defenses.
It's actually the other way around.
Every champion since 2002 was in the top 40 in offensive efficiency and the top 25 in defensive efficiency. It was the top 20 in defensive efficiency until Baylor slightly bucked that trend in 2001.
Ultimately, you have to have BOTH. But if you are going to be elite on only one side of the ball, data has shown defense is the more important side in terms of winning championships.
Posted on 7/14/26 at 12:50 pm to Alt26
quote:I don't think those numbers establish that defense is more important. Those are end-of-season rankings, which include the six NCAA Tournament games. Baylor entered the 2021 tournament ranked third offensively but only 44th defensively, then improved to 22nd after its title run.
It's actually the other way around.
Using pre-tournament KenPom numbers, 23 of the previous 24 champions were in the top 21 offensively, while 21 of 24 were in the top 31 defensively. The average champion ranked about eighth offensively and 16th defensively. So elite offense has actually been the slightly more consistent prerequisite going into the tournament.
The final numbers mostly tell us that champions tend to finish very good on both ends. They do not prove that an elite defensive team with an average offense has a better championship chance than an elite offensive team with an average defense. You would have to compare all teams fitting those profiles—not just look backward at the winners—to demonstrate that.
I agree with your larger point about Wade, though.
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