Reinforcements became available three hours before tip-off.
As LSU arrived in Lake Charles for its exhibition with McNeese, the NCAA cleared Croatian addition Michael Ruzic to play. He threw on a jersey and grabbed 16 rebounds in LSU’s 63-60 win over a feisty Cowboys squad.
He and the other four Tiger starters played at least 17 minutes in the second half, while several teammates waited for the NCAA to clear them.
“We have another couple kids who were cleared, but we were being extra cautious not to poke the bear,” LSU head coach Will Wade said. “We have another two that are cleared to play, but we wanted to make sure all the paperwork was final before we did it. We were not trying to do anything towards any acronym. So, we were extra cautious.”
LSU brought nearly a full roster for its exhibition opener. RJ Luis, who won a temporary restraining order against the NCAA on August 24, but has signed with two NBA franchises, and did not travel. Former European professionals Sliou Niang, Gilad Levy and Brice Dessert dressed for the game but did not play.
UCLA transfer Donovan Dent started and played 39 minutes, but his former Bruin teammate Skyy Clark sat on the bench.
On paper, the Tigers look complete. They were far from it Thursday night, and five players had to play nearly the entire game.
“If this wasn’t McNeese, I’d have pushed this thing back,” Wade said. “This was not putting our guys in the best situation to come here and do this. All right. (McNeese coach Bill Armstrong) sold tickets. I told him I was coming, and we’re coming. We don’t back out…If this was just a closed scrimmage or anything like that, we just wouldn’t have. But I feel like by next week we’ll have another couple (of players). And I feel like by Florida State, we’ll have another couple. And I feel like by then we’ll be hell on wheels. So, get ready.”
LSU takes on Central Florida on Wednesday in the Maravich Center and then travels to Tallahassee to take on Florida State on Oct. 24. Ten days later, the opener against LSU-New Orleans looms.
Though he won’t name names in terms of the eligibility process, Wade is confident in what his team will look like by that time.
“We look good with the full group,” Wade said. “I mean, we look like a team that could compete with just about anybody when we got the full group. Yeah, we’re good.”
His Tigers struggled from three-point range for 40 minutes and the free throw line in the first half. After a 4-for-13 first half from the charity stripe, LSU was 18-for-21 to close the game and win by three despite the nearly non-existent bench.
Wade was encouraged by the effort and hopeful for the next month once his roster fills out.
“We played with five guys tonight,” Wade said. “Played five guys 35 plus minutes. I mean, (McNeese) has lost one home game in three years. They’re not going to lose again this year. It’s a good team. I’m one of the only idiots who come over here and do this.
“Come to practice. We’re damn good,” Wade said. “I feel like we got two guys that we’ve got to tie up some paperwork. We got one guy that they’ve asked for one more one more piece of paperwork. We turned that in this afternoon. The NCAA couldn’t turn it around quick enough. I think we’ll have him by tomorrow or Friday. I mean, we’re about to be we’re about to be loaded up here now. Better watch out.”
