Matt McMahon explains what has led to strong stretch from Cam Hayes

The LSU Tigers have put together a six-game winning streak as they head into SEC play, and during that stretch they’ve seen some impressive play from guard Cam Hayes. In the Tigers’ last few games, Hayes has been one of the most consistent players in LSU’s backcourt, which head coach Matt McMahon spoke about.

“The word that comes to mind would be stability, I think a guy who started many games in the ACC over his career, very talented,” McMahon said. “I think he’s a smart player, he’s been very efficient which for us has been a weakness at the guard position.”

Hayes played two seasons at NC State before transferring to LSU this offseason, and his role on the Tigers was smaller at first, but he’s earned more and more minutes week after week thanks to solid play on both ends of the floor.

“He’s shooting I think 65% from two-point range which is a credit to his selection there and then he’s been very efficient from behind the three-point line. He’s improved our defensive rebounding at the guard position and he has improved taking care of the basketball,” McMahon said.

Early in the season McMahon did not play Hayes that much and didn’t even play him at all in the team’s second game of the season versus Arkansas State.

“And I think it’s a great lesson, I’ve said this for everyone on our team, I’ve said it from day one I think our rotation, minutes, roles will evolve more on this team than any team I’ve been a part of just because every player’s new,” McMahon explained. “And he had a DNP early in the season, was not in the rotation.”

McMahon was tasked with a new-look roster in his first season as the Tiger’s head coach, having to figure out his rotation and which players deserved how much playing time, and after nine games, he inserted Hayes into the starting lineup. Hayes has started for LSU in their last three games, and now ranks third on the team in points per game despite still ranking sixth on the team in minutes per game.

“Practice habits were really good, he was consistent on the court there and then amazingly those great practice habits and performance in practice carried over to the games when he got his opportunity and he’s taken off and run with it. So for us we need his leadership on the floor, always just come back to that word stability, I think he’s really helped us in a lot of different areas,” McMahon said.

Hayes has scored in double figures in three of his last four games, and hopefully, he can continue to be a consistent force for the Tiger as they enter their conference schedule with a tough test. Hayes and LSU open up their SEC schedule on Wednesday as they take on No. 9 ranked Arkansas at 9:00 p.m. ET airing on ESPN2