5 Things To Know About The LSU Tigers

Tonight at 8 p.m., Kentucky (9-4) hosts the LSU Tigers (12-1) in the SEC home opener at Rupp Arena. What we’ll see from the Wildcats is uncertain following last week’s loss to Missouri and win over Louisville. What about the Tigers? Brandon Ramsey will have a detailed scouting report for you in a bit, but first, here are five things you need to know.

1. Matt McMahon, formerly of Murray State, is their coach

Among all the new hires in the SEC this season is a familiar name. Matt McMahon left Murray State for LSU to take over for the ousted Will Wade in March. McMahon was the head coach at Murray State for seven seasons, leading the Racers to a 154-67 record, including five OVC regular-season titles, three OVC Tournament championships, and three NCAA Tournament appearances. Thus far in Baton Rouge, McMahon is 12-1 (.923). This will be his first game against Kentucky.

2. Transfer Portal roster

Roster turnover is to be expected when a new coach comes on board, especially in the transfer portal era. Not counting walk-ons, LSU returns just three scholarship players from last season, including Adam Miller, who missed the 2021-22 season with an ACL injury. Six players transferred in this year, three following McMahon to LSU from Murray State, including last year’s OVC Player of the Year KJ Williams. He leads the Tigers in scoring (18.5 PPG) and rebounding (8.0 RPG). Four of those players start, along with Miller, the team’s second-leading scorer (13.0 PPG, 2.2 RPG, 1.5 APG).

LSU Incoming Transfers

• #12 – KJ Williams* – F – Murray State – 18.5 PPG, 8.0 RPG
• #1 – Cam Hayes* – G – NC State – 8.4 PPG, 2.2 APT, 2.2 RPG
• #3 – Justice Hill* – G – Murray State – 8.2 PPG, 3.9 APG, 1.9 RPG
• #20 – Derek Fountain* – F – Mississippi State – 7.8 PPG, 5.7 RPG
• #0 – Trae Hannibal – G – Murray State – 5.6 PPG, 4.2 RPG
• #4 – Kendal Coleman – C – Northwestern State – 2.7 PPG, 2.5 RPG

• * Denotes starter

3. KJ Williams is the star

As mentioned, former OVC Player of the Year KJ Williams leads the Tigers in scoring (18.5 PPG) and rebounding (8.0 RPG). Williams ranks second in the SEC in scoring and, at 6’10” 250 lbs., is big and versatile enough to give the Cats fits. He’s shooting 55.2% from the field this year on an average of 13.4 attempts per game, by far the most on LSU’s roster. He’s also making 1.9 threes per game this season at a clip of 49.0%. Williams hit seven threes in LSU’s win over Wake Forest on Dec. 10 and is 7-14 from the outside in his last three games.

Guard Adam Miller also averages in double figures scoring (13.0 PPG), but containing Williams will be the toughest task for Kentucky tonight.

4. This is LSU’s first true road game of the season

The Tigers have played four games away from the Pete Maravich Assembly Center, all at neutral sites. LSU beat Illinois State and Akron in the Cayman Islands Classic before falling to Kansas State 61-59 in the finals. In December, they beat Wake Forest 72-70 in the Holiday Hoopsgiving in Atlanta. Tonight will be their first true road game.

5. They’re good in close games

So far this season, LSU is 5-1 in games decided by four or fewer points. In many of those wins, the Tigers have come from behind, including the 60-57 victory over then-No. 9 Arkansas last Wednesday.

• vs. Wofford – Wofford up five, 71-66, with 4:26 left in the game, LSU rallied to win, 78-75
• vs. UT Arlington – UTA up four, 6:49 left in the game, LSU rallied to win, 63-59
• vs. Wake Forest – WF was up 39-19 with 4:16 to go in first half; down 8 at the half; rallied to win 72-70
• vs. Arkansas – Ark was up six twice midway through 2nd half, LSU rallied to win, 60-57

Let’s hope tonight’s game doesn’t join that list.