Reports: LSU guard Adam Miller suffers major injury

LSU guard Adam Miller suffered an ACL tear and will miss the 2021-2022 season, according to multiple reports. The 6-foot-3 combo guard transferred to LSU after one season at Illinois, where he played off the ball for coach Brad Underwood.

Miller averaged 8.3 points and 2.8 rebounds, starting all 31 games as a freshman.

The Journal Star previously interviewed Miller, who cited positional conflict as the primary reason his offseason move. A self-proclaimed combo guard, Miller did not see point guard minutes available next to emerging star Andre Curbelo, despite the departure of veteran guard Ayo Dosunmu.

He developed a good relationship with LSU head coach Will Wade, who promised to fulfill the positional needs of the young star. Adam Miller was set to split ball handling duties with returning guard Spencer Mays and Missouri transfer Xavier Pinson before the ACL tear.

SEC basketball primer

Ahead of the 2021-22 basketball season, the Southeastern Conference has released the preseason All-SEC teams and conference awards. The 2021 season officially begins on Tuesday, Nov. 9. Kentucky gets the action going with a top-25 game versus Duke in primetime on ESPN.

Kentucky leads the SEC with four first and second-team selections. However, the Alabama Crimson Tide is the only team with two first-team picks.

The Kentucky Wildcats struggled to a 9-16 overall record and an 8-9 mark in the SEC last season. Despite that, John Calipari has built a strong record and a rebound should be expected this season. Behind Kentucky, Arkansas added talent through the NCAA Transfer Portal while Tennessee and Alabama added talent through their recruiting classes.

Mississippi State returns its top scorer in Iverson Molinar from last year’s team that lost in the NIT Championship game. Some key transfer additions could help the Bulldogs fight their way back into the NCAA Tournament. LSU came just one shot away from winning the SEC Championship last season, but a lot of veteran talent was lost in the offseason.

Florida also lost talented players to the NBA in Scottie Lewis and Tre Mann. Missouri does not bring in a lot in this year’s recruiting class, while Ole Miss brings in its first McDonald’s All-American in Daeshun Ruffin.

South Carolina only won a single game after the initial week of February last season. After a disappointing 6-15 season, expectations are not high for the Gamecocks. Vanderbilt returns Scotty Pippen Jr., but the Commodores are just 12-58 SEC record over the last four seasons.