Will Wade gives injury update on Xavier Pinson following Alabama win

Unranked LSU picked up a huge win to finish its regular-season campaign with a 21-10 (9-9) record, as Will Wade and the Tigers knocked off the No. 25 Alabama Crimson Tide by an 80-77 final — but it came at a cost, as senior guard Xavier Pinson went down with an injury in the process.

Pinson has been a significant contributor for LSU this season, averaging 10.4 points, 2.7 rebounds, 4.6 assists and 1,8 steals per contest, while playing an average of 27.3 minutes per game. However, LSU heads into postseason play with a huge question mark on its roster, as Pinson’s status — at least at the moment — remains unclear. In overtime of Saturday’s contest, Pinson banged knees with Alabama Crimson Tide guard JD Davison. He was helped to the sideline and did not return to the contest, ultimately logging eight points and eight assists in 39 minutes played.

Wade provided some clarity on Pinson, one of his most consistent guards, after the victory, and provided some welcome news for LSU fans: it appears that Pinson is OK.

“He’s fine,” Wade said, shrugging off a question about Pinson’s injury status. “He got knocked around and his knee popped. He’ll be fine.”

Though Wade’s answer, word-for-word, was a bit unclear, his tone was quite the opposite. Wade expressed confidence when he said that his guard was “fine,” and it appears that LSU might have Pinson moving forwards after all.

Pinson, a senior, may not have played until the game’s final whistle due to injury, but he helped LSU to an overtime win when it mattered most. Not only was LSU able to continue to make some noise before the SEC Tournament, but Pinson was able to do it on Senior Day. LSU honored its seniors before the game, and Pinson received a standing ovation from the crowd in Baton Rouge when he came onto the court.

Xavier Pinson is honored for senior day pic.twitter.com/jojybkXrJm

— Peter Rauterkus (@peter_rauterkus) March 5, 2022

Pinson is spending his first and only season at LSU, after transferring from Missouri following the 2020-21 season. In three years at Mizzou, Pinson contributed most in his second and third seasons; in 2019-20, he averaged 11.1 points, 2.8 rebounds and 2.8 assists per contest in 24 minutes per game, and in 2020-21, he scored 13.6 points per contest, along with 2.7 rebounds and 2.9 assists per contest, while playing 25.6 minutes per contest.

Pinson was a three-star recruit coming out of Simeon High School in Chicago, IL.