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re: MBB Offseason '26 Transfer Portal / HS Tracker
Posted on 7/20/26 at 11:25 am to Alt26
Posted on 7/20/26 at 11:25 am to Alt26
quote:
I don't think any of us know how necessary the roster construction was or not. As far as retaining key players, the bottom line is those players were good enough as a unit to be the worst team in the SEC. Certainly, under a better HC they would have been better. But there is no guarantee running a roster out next year of the past year's players would have produced results.
The bottom line is the LSU program was broken under McMahon. It was collectively the worst program in the SEC over McMahon's 4 year tenure. While some guys from last year's roster, on an individual basis, could potentially have been key players for LSU this season, I'm ok with a new HC starting from scratch.
Of course it wouldn't make sense to run out a roster of last year's players, but if he could've retained a few key players, then it wouldn't have been as big of a gamble. He has the budget to have immediate big success without gambling, and that would've been a far less risky way to get there.
1
Posted on 7/20/26 at 12:40 pm to Lapaz
It's pretty commonplace now for teams to have significantly, if not complete new rosters from year to year. The majority of Michigan's top rotation were all first year transfers. Outside of Thomas, and even that may be a bit of a stretch, no one eligible to return was a surefire good player. Regardless, you are saying it is "risky" from the perspective of a fan. We aren't privy to all, or even a majority of the information the staff is privy to. While things may seem risky based upon what WE, the fan, knows (which is very little) that doesn't mean the staff isn't confident in its plan.
The roster building that has taken place this offseason is very unorthodox based upon prior years. But that is because these are unorthodox times in college sports. Just four years ago people thought is was a death knell for a team to have to replace basically its entire roster in one offseason. Now, we see teams can have success, immediately, with that plan.
Wade has been a HC for 12 years at 5 schools. He's won at every stop, and in four of those jobs he took over a program that had a losing season prior to him accepting the job. The point is that he has earned the benefit of the doubt until proven otherwise. While I would agree there were some guys on last year's roster that showed flashes of being able to contribute on a better coached team, I'm also fine with just totally ending the McMahon waste of time, coaches, players and all.
If come November 1 LSU only has 4-5 D1 level players then I will worry. But I'm not going to panic on July 20...even if I don't know all of what is going on behind the scenes. That comes with the context that I'm not expecting this to be a Final Four/championship team. But that would be the case, maybe even moreso, if the roster had guys on it from last year's last place team.
The roster building that has taken place this offseason is very unorthodox based upon prior years. But that is because these are unorthodox times in college sports. Just four years ago people thought is was a death knell for a team to have to replace basically its entire roster in one offseason. Now, we see teams can have success, immediately, with that plan.
Wade has been a HC for 12 years at 5 schools. He's won at every stop, and in four of those jobs he took over a program that had a losing season prior to him accepting the job. The point is that he has earned the benefit of the doubt until proven otherwise. While I would agree there were some guys on last year's roster that showed flashes of being able to contribute on a better coached team, I'm also fine with just totally ending the McMahon waste of time, coaches, players and all.
If come November 1 LSU only has 4-5 D1 level players then I will worry. But I'm not going to panic on July 20...even if I don't know all of what is going on behind the scenes. That comes with the context that I'm not expecting this to be a Final Four/championship team. But that would be the case, maybe even moreso, if the roster had guys on it from last year's last place team.
Posted on 7/20/26 at 1:47 pm to slutiger5
I agree, I thought Reece showed some real potential especially on the speed and quickness side. Looked like he was becoming comfortable on offense and even showed he was capable of being a good defender at times. Also agree with Ugo, he’s big, long and athletic for a guard. He isn’t a fluid ball handler but there’s some comp with guys like Copeland and Smart who played for Wade, weren’t traditional PGs, could look a little awkward handling the ball but were very effective doing it. Now he’s way more athletic than those guys but you could see those two had played with the ball in their hands so much even though it didn’t always look clean they knew how to get the job done. With Ugo we may have growing pains there but Bashir is there to help and I could see a Smart/Mays combo situation for us. As far as Bashir struggling with the ball in his hands I would point to the fact that he was always the primary until he got to K-State last season. If you go watch his games at Monmouth vs Michigan State or against Dylan Harper and Ace Bailey he was the best player on the floor and lit those teams up to the tune of 38 ahd 20 points without any help from teammates. He also had 25 vs a very good Nebraska team and he’s had 21 games of 20 points or more in 50 college starts. Some of our fans see the high 3pt% and assume he’s a catch and shoot guy but if you go watch his games he’s creating most of his shots off the dribble. He’s not an explosive athlete but he’s 6-7 with a very good handle and a dead eye shooter. I agree with you on Dioubate, he’s very versatile and pairs really well with Niang at the forward spots. Diou can put it on the floor, has a back to the basket game, is relentless on the offensive glass and can hit a spot up 3. Our forwards are guys who will have 10-15 points at the end of a game and you won’t even notice it type players.
This post was edited on 7/20/26 at 1:51 pm
Posted on 7/20/26 at 4:05 pm to tigersham
I doubt there's a bigger Will Wade fan than myself in this thread...but my goodness this roster build is stressing me out. Likely a one time deal with the Euro eligibility uncertainty, 5th seniors suing for eligibility, scrambling for a PG to reclass, etc...but it makes it pretty stressful.
All that said, I'd bet the house we're in the NCAA tournament one way or another.
All that said, I'd bet the house we're in the NCAA tournament one way or another.
Posted on 7/21/26 at 9:58 am to Alt26
Having Reece, Thomas and Miller from last year's team would make this roster complete. If the additions get cleared, then we shouldn't need Miller, and we may still acquire a PG if some become eligible after the 5 for 5 rulings, but Thomas and Reece have proven to be SEC quality PGs, and Miller has huge potential that he's occasionally exhibited, so they definitely should've been retained. Wade may have tried to retain them, but evidently not hard enough. Regardless, those 3 are very talented, and should've been prioritized. If we had kept them, we could be hoping for gravy from acquiring another good guard, and wouldn't have to worry about eligibility, but we wouldn't have to outbid everyone else for whatever becomes available. We also wouldn't have to project people into positions which may not be their strengths.
Posted on 7/21/26 at 10:22 am to Lapaz
quote:
Thomas and Reece have proven to be SEC quality PGs
We lost every SEC game that Thomas started.
quote:
Miller has huge potential that he's occasionally exhibited
This program doesn’t have time for “potential”. We’re four years behind everyone already.
I for one am more than happy to clear all remnants of the McMahon error from this program. Newsflash: Will Wade knows more about basketball than EVERYONE on this board. Let it play out.
Posted on 7/21/26 at 12:35 pm to Circle K Beggar
Some people love their hell and can’t let go of it. No different than losing, they’d rather hang onto something familiar than take any risk and win. Thats the last administration to a T and it’s a disease we constantly grapple with at LSU for some strange reason.
Posted on 7/22/26 at 8:30 am to Lapaz
quote:
but Thomas and Reece have proven to be SEC quality PGs,
Thomas maybe. Reece is still TBD. But Thomas also comes with a degree of risk. He's missed significant parts of the last two seasons due to injury.
quote:
and Miller has huge potential that he's occasionally exhibited
I was a bullish on Miller as anyone. But despite good physical attributes, he just doesn't have the fire to compete. Like Reed, there were many games where he just looked totally checked out.
quote:
should've been prioritized.
While I think a big reason was because of awful coaching, when you are part of a last place program at the school you don't necessarily get the benefit of the doubt for a new HC. Even if it is just simply the new HC deciding he wants to wipe the slate totally clean from what was a losing culture.
Don't get me wrong. I would NOT have been against Wade keeping any of those guys. But I don't think any of the three, particularly Reece and Miller, were so good that they had to be pay-any-amount priorities for a new HC.
Posted on 7/22/26 at 9:34 am to Circle K Beggar
quote:
I for one am more than happy to clear all remnants of the McMahon error from this program
Just because you don't like the coach and the team was not successful does not mean there weren't some good players who could havve been starters or key contributors. In Wade's first stint at LSU he inherited three future NBA players and a fourth who was a G league player prior to a long overseas caree, all of whom played on a team with a losing record resulting in the termination of Johnny Jones.Thomas and Nwocko have the potential to be drafted, Reece could develop into an NBA player and Reed will get an invite to a team camp if he recovers from two devestating injuries. Its unknown whether Wade made offers to any of them and they just decided to move on. All of them could have been contributors as either starters or key backups. Wade probably thought he would sign more players from the portal, I don't believe his grand plan was to sign as many foreign players and hope they are cleared to play. Max Mckinnon and Marquel Sutton may be available if the fifth year becomes retroactive and both are proven double figure scorers which is in short supply with the current signees.
Posted on 7/22/26 at 9:44 am to tigersbb
quote:
Max Mckinnon and Marquel Sutton may be available if the fifth year becomes retroactive and both are proven double figure scorers which is in short supply with the current signees.
I would take MacKinnon back. I’ll pass on Sutton.
Posted on 7/22/26 at 10:05 am to Circle K Beggar
quote:
I would take MacKinnon back. I’ll pass on Sutton.
Sutton's scoring was inconsistent but he always maintained good rebounding numbers and could be a quality rotational piece. Even if the fifth year portal opens there will be only a handful of really good college players who were not drafted or have already committed to play in Europe. You can throw a blanket over the next 60 to 80 players and Sutton would be squarely in that number. Max might be in that top group and would be phenominal with a team where he did not have to carry the load and score 20 plus every night. Regardless, they need some quality depth even if all of the signees are cleared and hopefully with proven ability to score.
Posted on 7/22/26 at 10:13 am to tigersbb
quote:
n Wade's first stint at LSU he inherited three future NBA players and a fourth who was a G league player prior to a long overseas caree, all of whom played on a team with a losing record resulting in the termination of Johnny Jones
I'm trying to figure out who you are talking about. Mays, Sampson, Reath, and....
Regardless, that was a different time. The players didn't have any option to transfer to a different school where they would be immediately eligible. The coach didn't have a large pool of potential transfers he could bring in that would be immediately eligible. Who's to say if the rules today were in place in 2017 that Wade would have kept all of those guys?
quote:
Wade probably thought he would sign more players from the portal,
I think there is probably some truth to that.
quote:
I don't believe his grand plan was to sign as many foreign players and hope they are cleared to play.
I do think there was a focus on signing international players from the outset. That's why Rick Stansbury was brought on early as an assistant coach. Wade is not the only HC mining the international leagues for pros. Far from it. He's just (A) the guy we as LSU fans focus on and (b) he was more aggressive in doing so that many others.
Again, while I would not have been upset if Wade retained some players from last year's team, I don't think anyone was a "must keep".
Posted on 7/22/26 at 10:22 am to Alt26
quote:
I'm trying to figure out who you are talking about. Mays, Sampson, Reath, and....
Epps
quote:
Who's to say if the rules today were in place in 2017 that Wade would have kept all of those guys?
I wasjust making the point that good players can play on teams which are not successful and ther eis no reason to throw the baby out with the bath water if he is a good baby. When healthy Thomas is better than any PG currently on the roster and likely better than anyone they might sign. If Reece takes the next step he can be a high level player. He had some nice moments last season and had an exellent asist to turnover ratio.
Posted on 7/22/26 at 10:41 am to Circle K Beggar
quote:
Will Wade knows more about basketball than EVERYONE on this board. Let it play out.
More than Kelvin Sampson, I suppose?
The only ones on this board who wouldn't be welcoming to the 3 players mentioned are either so anti-McMahon that they wouldn't be able to stomach having to say he produced any good players, or they're so pro Wade that they think he's perfect in every way and hasn't made a mistake up to this point.
Both are stupid.
Posted on 7/22/26 at 11:39 am to JWill409
quote:
More than Kelvin Sampson, I suppose?
The only ones on this board who wouldn't be welcoming to the 3 players mentioned are either so anti-McMahon that they wouldn't be able to stomach having to say he produced any good players, or they're so pro Wade that they think he's perfect in every way and hasn't made a mistake up to this point.
Both are stupid.
There is a difference between saying one would have been welcoming to some returning players on this year's team, vs suggesting Wade was somehow negligent for not having any returning players. Such as this statement....(which was the topic of discussion)
quote:
Wade may have tried to retain them, but evidently not hard enough. Regardless, those 3 are very talented, and should've been prioritized.
I take the comment you are addressing more in the sense that Wade gets the benefit of the doubt in whatever his decisions are in terms of roster construction relative to the opinions of anyone on the board.
I also can understand the sentiment that McMahon's 4 year tenure was undisputably awful. Thus, even though there may have been some good individual aspects of his rosters, some fans are ok with just completely moving on and starting from scratch. When things are that bad, and they were, it's often human nature to say let's just throw everything away and start anew.
Posted on 7/22/26 at 11:59 am to Circle K Beggar
quote:
I would take MacKinnon back. I’ll pass on Sutton.
Both MacKinnon and Sutton would be quality backups. I don't think either are premier players, but they are SEC caliber players. The problem is they shouldn't be the alphas. I would be happy to get either one of them back.
Posted on 7/22/26 at 12:04 pm to Lapaz
Sutton is not an SEC quality player. But yet our previous failed leadership gave him around $1M if I’m not mistaken. A total misappropriation of funds.
Posted on 7/22/26 at 12:15 pm to Circle K Beggar
quote:
Sutton is not an SEC quality player
He’s about to get a 2 way nba deal lol
Posted on 7/22/26 at 12:34 pm to Lapaz
Miller was extremely disappointing. Won't miss him.
Posted on 7/22/26 at 1:46 pm to SoloTiger
ESPN posted their latest roster updates, LSU is up to 8 players
They have Luis and Dessert as in limbo and we know Madar is staying international
Bender - not sure how much he will contribute, probably more of a bottom of the roster player at this point
LSU Tigers
Departed or expected to depart: Max Mackinnon (15.7 PPG), Dedan Thomas Jr. (15.3 PPG), Mike Nwoko (13.4), Marquel Sutton (13.1 PPG), Jalen Reed (9.5 PPG in six games), Pablo Tamba (7.9 PPG), Robert Miller III (6.1 PPG), Jalen Reece (5.8 PPG), Rashad King (5.8 PPG), PJ Carter (4.0 PPG), Ron Zipper (2.2 PPG), Mazi Mosley (1.8 PPG), Matt Gilhool (redshirt), Marcus Vaughn (redshirt)
In limbo: RJ Luis Jr. (18.2 PPG at St. John's in 2024-25), Yam Madar (international), Brice Dessert (international)
Expected to return: None
Incoming transfers: Abdi Bashir Jr. (13.2 PPG at Kansas State), Austin Nunez (9.8 PPG at UTSA), Mouhamed Dioubate (8.8 PPG at Kentucky), Divine Ugochukwu (5.1 PPG at Michigan State)
Incoming freshmen: Jordan Bender (NR), Marcio Santos (international), Saliou Niang (international), Michael Ruzic (international),
Coach: Will Wade
They have Luis and Dessert as in limbo and we know Madar is staying international
Bender - not sure how much he will contribute, probably more of a bottom of the roster player at this point
LSU Tigers
Departed or expected to depart: Max Mackinnon (15.7 PPG), Dedan Thomas Jr. (15.3 PPG), Mike Nwoko (13.4), Marquel Sutton (13.1 PPG), Jalen Reed (9.5 PPG in six games), Pablo Tamba (7.9 PPG), Robert Miller III (6.1 PPG), Jalen Reece (5.8 PPG), Rashad King (5.8 PPG), PJ Carter (4.0 PPG), Ron Zipper (2.2 PPG), Mazi Mosley (1.8 PPG), Matt Gilhool (redshirt), Marcus Vaughn (redshirt)
In limbo: RJ Luis Jr. (18.2 PPG at St. John's in 2024-25), Yam Madar (international), Brice Dessert (international)
Expected to return: None
Incoming transfers: Abdi Bashir Jr. (13.2 PPG at Kansas State), Austin Nunez (9.8 PPG at UTSA), Mouhamed Dioubate (8.8 PPG at Kentucky), Divine Ugochukwu (5.1 PPG at Michigan State)
Incoming freshmen: Jordan Bender (NR), Marcio Santos (international), Saliou Niang (international), Michael Ruzic (international),
Coach: Will Wade
This post was edited on 7/22/26 at 1:49 pm
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