re: State of LSU Basketball & what’s needed

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He’s got another year after this one guaranteed.

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I don't think that is true. Last year wasn't expected to be a good season. It was worse than even the most pessimistic fan could have expected. At the moment, the data reflects this team is trending to be worse than last year's team. If that becomes a reality, then keeping McMahon for another year would be a complete waste of time. It's not like he would have a "young" roster that took its lumps this season but was building towards the next. He would be having to replace 50% (or more) of this roster once again coming off of two seasons where he would have failed miserably at doing so.

This season his HS signing class was largely unremarkable (2 sub-100 players) and he was mostly left with transfer options who had ties to Louisiana. Ties that were probably a stronger draw than joining a winning program with a lot of momentum. If he has another bad season even the transfers/recruits with Louisiana ties won't want to come to LSU. When that becomes the case what would be the point in delaying the inevitable? To save a few million? Saving that would probably be mitigated by a tremendous lack of revenue generated when fans wouldn't show up to the PMAC.

So no, I don't think he had another year "guaranteed". I don't think the bar to get that third year is terribly high (winning 5-7 games in SEC and showing a pulse in most of the others would probably be just enough). But he can't have another disasterous season and expect to have a 3rd season just rubber stamped given the nature of college basketball

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My concern is that CMM is close to losing any momentum his hiring brought to the program.

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He didn't really bring any momentum to the program. Part that wasn't his fault. The 5 years of momentum that had built up before his arrival was extinguished the moment Wade was fired. Basically, he was left with trying to recreate and build momentum which he hasn't done...at all.

He had low expectations going into last year. He failed to even come close to those low expectations. Still, most fans (even if begrudgingly) were willing to give him a mulligan given the circumstances at the time he took over if the program showed significant sings of progress this season. So far it hasn't. In fact, AT BEST, it looks like LSU just picked up where they left off from last year. Struggling to beat what should be vastly overmatched mid-major teams. Getting a win over a lower tiered major conf. opponent (ironically, Wake Forest again), but then quickly getting blown out by another major conf. team in Syracuse. Just like LSU did so many times in SEC play last season.

What's more worrisome is this year's team could be worse than last year. Last year's LSU team didn't lose to a mid-tier Southland Conf. opponent. They didn't get destroyed in non-conf. play by what will likely be a lower 1/4 ACC team. It's sounds a bit hyperbolic and premature to say, but this week could effectively close the book on LSU this season. If they go out and get trounced by K-State (home) and Texas I suspect not only will whatever fans are left completely check out, but the players might as well. When you are losing to Nichols St, struggling to close out teams like North Florida and SLU, then getting housed by ACC and Big 12 teams, there is not going to be a lot of confidence LSU can compete with SEC opponents

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So we can blow up the program again and officially bury it?

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You can't blow it up. Woody and Tate have it buried so deep we can't find the bottom.

Once Mulkey retires they will probably destroy what she has built.

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My concern is that CMM is close to losing any momentum his hiring brought to the program

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Momentum?!?!?! What momentum did he bring ? His boring speech or librarian like energy on the sidelines? Serious question