What to Watch: Basketball exhibition versus Loyola-New Orleans

By Hunt Palmer

Matt McMahon’s third LSU basketball team debuts Tuesday in an exhibition game against Loyola-New Orleans in the Pete Maravich Assembly Center.

The team has been assembled with six returning players and seven newcomers.

True freshmen Curtis Givens, Vyctorius Miller and Robert Miller formed a Top 20 signing class. Veteran additions Jordan Sears, Dji Bailey and Cam Carter provide experience and strong backgrounds on the defensive end of the floor.

The returners are headlined by Jalen Reed and Tyrell Ward, both of whom are in their third years in the program. As is graduate Derek Fountain, though he’s banged up and may not play in the contest. Mike Williams enjoyed a solid freshman season and will battle the veteran guards for playing time.

Junior forward Damion Collins is returning from an injury-riddled first season in Baton Rouge, and former four-star recruit Corey Chest is coming off of a redshirt year.

JUCO transfer Noah Boyde is worked toward being cleared from ACL surgery he underwent last winter.

Tuesday’s exhibition won’t be overly competitive. Loyola is an NAIA program. LSU’s physical size and speed will be a massive issue for the visiting Wolfpack. Still, it will be the Tigers’ first time to put on the uniforms and play someone new in front of a crowd.

While only a dress rehearsal, here’s what we’ll be looking for in the PMAC.

JAMMIN’ JALEN

Sources inside the program have absolutely raved about Reed’s development over the offseason, and the expectation is that he’ll be a force for this team on the offensive end.

In his first collegiate season, Reed struggled to adapt to the quickness of the game. He tried to handle the ball the way he did in high school, and opposing guards picked his pocket routinely. Reed also struggled to finish when he got near the rim. Last year some of those issues persisted, but you could see the development. He raised his field goal percentage 12 points, and his scoring average doubled.

Reed is now north of 250 lbs. on his 6-foot-10 frame. He’ll be among the most imposing presences in the SEC this year. If he can continue to shoot the three sparingly at the 39 percent clip he did last year, his driving opportunities will really open up.

If the Tigers are going to make a push for the NCAA Tournament, Reed needs to play at an All-SEC level.

GUARD GAMES

LSU has more point guards than minutes available.

Sears figures to be the starting point guard. He is the only active NCAA Division I men’s basketball player to accumulate at least 650 points, 140 rebounds, 140 assists and 75 made three-pointers in 2023-24. That, along with his 22-plus points per game, earned him First Team All-Ohio Valley honors for the second consecutive year. We already know Mike Williams can handle point guard duties. He shot 39 percent from three-point range in league games last year. And Curtis Givens will absolutely get a look in non-conference play. I’m excited to watch him play in this exhibition, because I think he’s the point guard of the future.

An exhibition game against an NAIA school is not going to provide any concrete insight into rotations, but I am curious to watch how the three ball handlers run the show when given the chance.

HAVE THE CHEST?

Chest was a four-star prospect and Top 100 player coming out of high school. Last season he redshirted. He’s 6-foot-8, 220 lbs., and can really run and jump. I’m just not sure what his role is going to be in terms of minutes. His strengths are defense and rebounding. I’m curious what that looks like Tuesday and whether or not he can provide much of anything on the offensive end.

D-UP

LSU took strides last year, but most of them were on offense. I mentioned Reed’s development. Tyrell Ward shot a sizzling 46 percent from three-point range against SEC competition. Jordan Wright and Will Baker were offense-first guys. So was Jalen Cook. McMahon and the staff really prioritized defense in the offseason. Sears, Carter and Bailey have the potential to be elite level defenders. Sears is a pest at the point. Carter started for two years on a gritty Kansas State team. Bailey led the Atlantic 10 in steals. LSU has got to play better perimeter defense this year.

From LSU Sports Information:

Admission to Tuesday night’s exhibition is free. It’s “Boo Up” Night with free candy for kids, a pumpkin decorating contest, a costume contest and pregame activities in front of the Maravich Center.

Also, it is the first of the Tuesday “Beat The Buzzer” happy hour with discount food and drink purchases prior to each home Tuesday basketball game in the Assembly Center. The Beat The Buzzer promotion begins when the doors open one hour prior to tipoff of Tuesday home games and continues until 10 minutes to tipoff.

The specials will feature Tiger Dogs for $2.50, Nachos $2.75, Tiger Burgers (no Burger Kitchen Burgers) $4, an 85oz bag of popcorn for $2.50 and a 32oz souvenir soda for $3.50. The happy hour also includes select beers for just $5.25.