Will Wade 'comfortable and confident' with how he's run LSU's program

Somehow, Will Wade is still LSU’s coach despite being caught on an FBI wiretap making a ‘strong ass offer’ for Javonte Smart in June 2017. LSU suspended Wade in March, but reinstated him once the season was over, even amid an NCAA investigation. After Wade dodged the topic in an extremely awkward press conference at SEC Basketball Media Day last year, it was only a matter of time before it came up today.

“I felt good about things,” Wade said when asked if he believed he would be here this year. “Obviously, it was a difficult time but I was always in communication with LSU. I was always in communication with our folks.”

…Now feels like a good time to remind everyone that LSU only suspended Wade after he refused to meet with officials…

“I felt like once we could kind of get to the table with everybody that things would work out,” Wade continued. “I’m certainly excited to be here. Excited to be back. Excited to coach LSU and looking forward to doing that for a long time.”

In June, Yahoo Sports listed LSU as one of the six programs expected to receive harsh penalties from the NCAA over the scandal, but Wade told reporters today he feels good about how he’s run his program.

“I have no idea what the NCAA is going to do at this point but we’re very, very comfortable and confident with how we’ve run our program and I’m excited about this season and moving forward.”

If you’re curious, Wade did not handle sitting out the postseason very well.

“I watched on TV. I’m not a very good fan. I’m not a very good fan. I was yelling at the TV. It’s tough. You always tell your guys you’re going to be there for them but it’s something that because of the circumstances, you couldn’t. You never like to let your players down, let your guys down. It was tough for me, but it’s part of it. Now we’re moving forward and I’m looking forward to coaching this team and we’ve got to get this team to the NCAA Tournament.”