LSU updates mask recommendation for basketball season

Following Gov. John Bel Edwards announcement to lift Louisiana’s statewide mask mandate, LSU announced updated mask policy for home men’s and women’s basketball games at Pete Maravich Assembly Center.

“Following the lifting of the statewide indoor mask mandate and after consultation with campus officials, LSU Athletics will encourage, but not require, mask wearing for all guests inside the Pete Maravich Assembly Center for men’s and women’s basketball games this season,” the school said in a statement. “These protocols are consistent with SEC guidance and will be evaluated throughout the season to ensure a safe and enjoyable experience for all PMAC guests.”

The LSU women’s basketball team has a pair of home exhibition games before the season begins, as it will take on Langston on Saturday and Loyola New Orleans on Nov. 4. Those will be the first basketball games to take place on campus this season.

The Tigers men’s and women’s basketball teams will open the season on Nov. 9 with the women hosting Nicholls, while the men will face UL Monroe.

It’s a new era for LSU’s women’s team as Louisiana native Kim Mulkey returns to her home state to lead the Tigers as the eighth head coach in LSU women’s basketball history. Considered the most successful player-turned-coach in college basketball history, Mulkey, who has won three national championships as a head coach, is the only person in college basketball history – men’s or women’s – to win national championships as a head coach, assistant coach and a player. Mulkey was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame as part of the legendary class of 2020 that also featured Kobe Bryant, Kevin Garnett and Tim Duncan.

Mulkey comes to Baton Rouge after 21 years as the head coach at Baylor. Mulkey led the Lady Bears to four Final Fours and three national titles. Her teams reached the Elite Eight six times and the Sweet 16 on five other occasions. In all, she led Baylor to 19 NCAA Tournament appearances in 20 years. In conference play, she guided Baylor to a combined 23 Big 12 regular-season and tournament titles.

The Tigers men’s team enters the season with a whole new roster, returning just one starter and four overall players who played meaningful minutes. The Tigers brought in three high-profile transfers in Xavier Pinson from Missouri, Adam Miller from Illinois and Tari Eason from Cincinnati. In addition, LSU landed four-star center Efton Reid and four-star guard Brandon Murray from IMG Academy.