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re: Was McMahon hired because he was the only option?
Posted on 2/23/26 at 12:53 pm to drizztiger
Posted on 2/23/26 at 12:53 pm to drizztiger
He’s not only had trouble identifying what his teams are he’s had difficulty with players roles on his teams. For example year 2 we had the best 3pt shooting team since 09 at LSU but we were bottom 3 in attempts. On the player side he had Trae Hannibal for 3 years and only realized his best value was at PG a couple weeks before the end of his career. And he only made that move because Cook quit.
This post was edited on 2/23/26 at 12:55 pm
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Posted on 2/23/26 at 12:56 pm to Tiger Ugly
quote:Yep.
We've been soft for 4 years - that's indisputable. I tried to dial it back this year because I've harped on it ad nauseum, but it really is IMHO the biggest recurring issue with is teams, and it affect about every aspect of the game outside free throw shooting.
If you're not the most skilled, then you need to be physical. If you aren't physical, you need to finesse. We have no identify.
People excusing this 4 year run are likely never to earn any credibility from me.
Posted on 2/23/26 at 1:43 pm to drizztiger
(no message)
This post was edited on 2/23/26 at 1:48 pm
Posted on 2/23/26 at 1:57 pm to Domeskeller
quote:
Good summation. Not absolving Woodward because the contract has become a disaster. But it was probably necessary to land McMahon, who actually wasn't a bad candidate. When McMahon was hired, not too many people were saying he had only been successful because of Ja Morant. And he had won a game in two different NCAA tournaments while with Murray State. Pretty good candidate, on paper.
I know people find this hard to believe, but from coaching to hiring, sometimes coaches and administrators make a choice that's good and reasonable that, in hindsight, just doesn't work out.
And I'm not in the camp that he deserves to come back next year. It hasn't worked out here, and won't work out here.
Yeah, I don't understand people trying to dispute that.
McMahon didn't work out here, it's been bad.
But it was considered a very good hire at the time. Wasn't considered a downgrade from Wade at all, in fact some people thought maybe McMahon would be the guy who could beat Oats at Bama (who owned Wade).
It just didn't work, and it's now past time to move on.
Posted on 2/23/26 at 2:09 pm to Scoob
“Wasn't considered a downgrade from Wade at al”
Whoever thought this didn’t watch his teams at Murray State
Whoever thought this didn’t watch his teams at Murray State
Posted on 2/23/26 at 2:26 pm to Madking
quote:McMahon's teams generally made it as far as Wade's in the tourney, despite being a mid-major instead of a major conference team with some history of success.
“Wasn't considered a downgrade from Wade at al”
Whoever thought this didn’t watch his teams at Murray State
Wade seemed to have peaked at making the 2nd rd. And Wade couldn't handle Oats. And by far the biggest thing, he lawyered up and refused to speak to the BoS.
Lots of people thought we were lucky to land McMahon at the time, thought he'd avert the impending collapse after it all burned down under Wade at the end.
It didn't work out that way. Time to move forward.
Posted on 2/23/26 at 2:30 pm to Scoob
quote:
in fact some people thought maybe McMahon would be the guy who could beat Oats at Bama (who owned Wade).
Wade was 2-4 vs. Oats, with the two splitting 3 point wins at home in Wade's final season. The "owned" Wade is a bit of a misperception borne largely from the game in 2021 when Alabama had a ridiculous 3 point shooting performance to blow out LSU. Otherwise, the games between the two were generally 1-2 basket games...most notably the 3 game that season where LSU had a shot rim out at the buzzer that would have beaten Alabama in the SEC Tournament finals (the first Final for LSU in 28 years)
When McMahon was hired the thought was that he was probably about as good of a hire as LSU could have reasonably hoped for given the circumstances. There was concern that he was just a byproduct of a great mid-major program that churned out major conf. hires...but the EXACT same thing could have been said about Wade when he was hired from VCU.
Unfortunately, it was at the opening press conference when we got signs things might be very, very different. Whereas Wade was energetic, inspiring, and laid out a great vision for the program in his introductory conference, McMahon appeared nervous, overwhelmed, and just spoke in general platitudes.
Posted on 2/23/26 at 3:02 pm to Alt26
quote:
He's not the first mid-major HC hire who couldn't hack it at the major conf. level and won't be the last
I appreciate your passion for the game and you spend a lot of time analyzing basketball issues. However, you are the king of " yeah, but " to the extent whenever a positive comment is made about the basketball program for any reason you immediately show up with comments minimizing or demeaning the positive comments. It would be nice if you, for one time used your yeah, but skills to admit that entering the job with the NCAA cloud hanging over the program was a daunting task.
Compounding this was the loss of Reed and Ward last year when things were trending up after 2024. The losss of Reed and Thomas this year was even more devestating. Please spare me the shite comment that some mockingly make that I am alleging they lost the next Isiah Thomas and Larry Bird. These are two talented and experienced players whose absence was devestating. No one claimed they are All Americans or future pro stars. I don't know whether McMahon could be successful at this elvel or not. His prior success indicates he knows what he is doing. Yes, he may have still failed, but it would have been great if he could have competed with a complete roster including his most talented players. The performance in 2024 was encouraging when they finished in the first half of the league. ( I know, yeah but they were seeded 8th in the SEC tournament, but they still tied for the top half based on overrall record.)
Posted on 2/23/26 at 3:06 pm to tigersbb
quote:
I appreciate your passion for the game and you spend a lot of time analyzing basketball issues. However, you are the king of " yeah, but " to the extent whenever a positive comment is made about the basketball program for any reason you immediately show up with comments minimizing or demeaning the positive comments. It would be nice if you, for one time used your yeah, but skills to admit that entering the job with the NCAA cloud hanging over the program was a daunting task. Compounding this was the loss of Reed and Ward last year when things were trending up after 2024. The losss of Reed and Thomas this year was even more devestating. Please spare me the shite comment that some mockingly make that I am alleging they lost the next Isiah Thomas and Larry Bird. These are two talented and experienced players whose absence was devestating. No one claimed they are All Americans or future pro stars. I don't know whether McMahon could be successful at this elvel or not. His prior success indicates he knows what he is doing. Yes, he may have still failed, but it would have been great if he could have competed with a complete roster including his most talented players. The performance in 2024 was encouraging when they finished in the first half of the league. ( I know, yeah but they were seeded 8th in the SEC tournament, but they still tied for the top half based on overrall record.)
Imagine typing all of this drivel to defend:
52 CONFERENCE LOSSES in less than four years
ZERO TOURNAMENT APPEARANCES &
ZERO PLAYERS DRAFTED
Posted on 2/23/26 at 3:12 pm to Sheriff Brackett
McWoodward sat on his big fat arse and let Florida hire Golden about a week before he settled on McHallman.
Florida got a NC in Year 3 under Golden and yall know what we got.
Florida got a NC in Year 3 under Golden and yall know what we got.
Posted on 2/23/26 at 3:33 pm to semjase
quote:
cWoodward sat on his big fat arse and let Florida hire Golden about a week before he settled on McHallman.
I think it's been discussed in this thread or another, but McMahon had a better resume than Golden. Not trying to defend Scott but that's a fact.
Now maybe Golden interviewed better when he wasn't sending pics to co-eds I don't know but if you just look at the records and where they coached and what they did - most would have picked CMM over Golden.
Posted on 2/23/26 at 3:38 pm to Circle K Beggar
quote:
Circle K Beggar
You are an even bigger stalker than Todd Golden.
This post was edited on 2/23/26 at 4:07 pm
Posted on 2/23/26 at 3:53 pm to Alt26
quote:
It was at the opening press conference when we got signs things might be very, very different. Whereas Wade was energetic, inspiring, and laid out a great vision for the program in his introductory conference, McMahon appeared nervous, overwhelmed, and just spoke in general platitudes.
I agree with this 100 percent. LSU knew what it had with Will Wade.
His introductory news conference was held in the atrium the LSU Union, and there were cheerleaders and Mike the Tigers and maybe even the band. It was open to the public, and I left believing the future was very bright after the Trent Johnson and Johnny Jones years.
Matt McMahon's introductory news conference was held in the usual spot in the LSU athletics building, and there was nothing about the news conference that said, this is the guy who's going to pick up where Will Wade left off and take the program to even greater heights.
Posted on 2/23/26 at 4:06 pm to EscambiaTiger
[quote]
Matt McMahon's introductory news conference was held in the usual spot in the LSU athletics building, and there was nothing about the news conference that said, this is the guy who's going to pick up where Will Wade left off[quote]
Whose fault is that. Did McMahon schedule his own fricking introductory conference? Some of you people just look for shite to criticize.
Matt McMahon's introductory news conference was held in the usual spot in the LSU athletics building, and there was nothing about the news conference that said, this is the guy who's going to pick up where Will Wade left off[quote]
Whose fault is that. Did McMahon schedule his own fricking introductory conference? Some of you people just look for shite to criticize.
Posted on 2/23/26 at 4:10 pm to Sheriff Brackett
Basketball was in a lot of trouble when he got hired. They aren’t many high level BB coaches lining to coach a team sanctioned by the NCAA due to no fault of their own.
Posted on 2/23/26 at 4:11 pm to Alt26
quote:
The "owned" Wade is a bit of a misperception borne largely from the game in 2021 when Alabama had a ridiculous 3 point shooting performance to blow out LSU.
So when the opponent has a great game from three point land its a ridiculous night, but its the coach's fault when its McMahon, right?
Posted on 2/23/26 at 4:13 pm to Will2nd
quote:
Basketball was in a lot of trouble when he got hired. They aren’t many high level BB coaches lining to coach a team sanctioned by the NCAA due to no fault of their own.
If only the sanctimious assholes on this board would admit what they know is true, but they jsut love to have a villain.
Posted on 2/23/26 at 4:16 pm to tigersbb
quote:
Whose fault is that. Did McMahon schedule his own fricking introductory conference? Some of you people just look for shite to criticize.
I'd be willing to bet - No. 1 - WW's presser location - WW had something to do with how it was presented. And I'd be willing to be CMM did not even consider such a thing.
Posted on 2/23/26 at 4:19 pm to tigersbb
quote:
If only the sanctimious assholes on this board would admit what they know is true, but they jsut love to have a villain.
52 conference losses in less than four seasons.
Ouch! Tough to defend.
Posted on 2/23/26 at 4:21 pm to tigersbb
quote:
It would be nice if you, for one time used your yeah, but skills to admit that entering the job with the NCAA cloud hanging over the program was a daunting task.
Even if we assume for the sake of argument there was a "cloud" hanging over the program unlike every coach in the history of college basketball who took over a program under investigation McMahon had access to something they didn't...a large pool of experienced players who could transfer in with immediate eligibility. That is a total game changer compared to the previous era where the only options available to immediately overhaul a roster were Freshmen signees and JUCO players.
From all outside indications McMahon didn't do a poor job of mitigating the change. He retained 3 players from the LSU roster. He added 3 starters from his Murray St team. He signed at top 50 HS prospect in Ward, as well as future All American, Reed. To the extent its relevant, his transfer class was ranked as a top 15 class.
Anyone and everyone who follows college basketball for a living looked at the roster, looked at MM's success with Murray St the season he was hired by LSU, and projected LSU to be a middle of the pack SEC team with an outside chance of making the NCAA Tournament. He then promptly proved he was overmatched in this league. That LSU didn't make the NCAA Tournament was not surprising nor unexpected. That they were so thoroughly dominated in conf. play raised clear red flags that have proven to be 100% accurate.
It's been FOUR years. FOUR different rosters. FOUR chances to win to any significant degree. Yet, here LSU is, AGAIN, at the bottom of the SEC. The apathy surrounding this program is deeper than at any point in probably 50 years. Go to the games. NO ONE cares! While Brady, Johnson, and Jones all had their shares of really bad seasons, this program has not experienced this level of sustained losing in decades. Retaining McMahon is only going to continue to increase that apathy. Donors aren't going to want to give big money to a guy who has done nothing but lose at a remarkable level. Top assistants aren't going to uproot their families to coach for peanuts on a 1 year deal. Highly touted players aren't going to want to come to LSU to play in anonymity for a losing program.
Instead of searching for every excuse under the sun to explain a historic level of losing and, even more insanely, suggest continuing to follow the same path, MOVE ON! Give students, fans, donors, hell, even the red panda reason to think this program might be good.
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