LSU MBB adds SMU to non-conference schedule for two years
LSU and SMU have agreed to a two-year neutral site agreement as part of their non-conference schedules, first reported by Made For March on X.
The first matchup takes place this year on Saturday, Dec. 14 in Fort Worth, Texas, in Dickies Arena. The following matchup is during the 2025-26 season which will be in the Smoothie King Center in New Orleans.
The Mustangs just finalized a move to the ACC in hopes of elevating their athletics to the high-major standard and continue to make progress in hoops with the hiring of new head coach Andy Enfield from USC. SMU went 20-13 overall last year and 11-7 in the AAC under head coach Rob Lanier, but quickly moved on from Lanier once the season ended in hopes of bringing in a bigger name.
As for LSU, Matt McMahon as the Tigers primed for a postseason push in his third season at the helm, with a roster loaded with transfer talent and home-grown players looking to take the next step. LSU already has Florida State on the schedule in the non-conference due to the SEC-ACC Challenge, but this adds a second ACC team to the docket this season as well.
LSU’s offseason outlook
The Tigers return key contributors Tyrell Ward, Jalen Reed, Mike Williams, and Derek Fountain from last year’s team, in addition to Corey Chest and Daimian Collins who look to get on the court more in 2024-25. Then you get to the three transfers in Dji Bailey from Richmond, Cam Carter from Kansas State, and Jordan Sears from UT-Martin who all are expected to be starters or rotation pieces on the roster.
Finally, you have three freshmen who were all top-65 players in the country in point guard Curtis Givens, shooting guard Vyctorious Miller, and big man Robert Miller. At the Walk-On spots, Noah Boyde comes in from a JUCO at 7-feet tall, while football player Trey’Dez Green will try to play both sports after a terrific high school career on the hardwood.
LSU went 9-9 in SEC play last year, but 17-16 overall, losing in the first round of the NIT Tournament at home to North Texas. Now, McMahon has his roster set for the upcoming season and the groundwork is already being laid for the Tigers to have a better year than last.
