2017–18 LSU Tigers basketball team

The 2017–18 LSU Tigers basketball team represented Louisiana State University during the 2017–18 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. The team's head coach was Will Wade, in his first season at LSU. They played their home games at the Pete Maravich Assembly Center in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, as a member of the Southeastern Conference. They finished the season 18–15, 8–10 in SEC play to finish in a tie for ninth place. They lost in the second round of the SEC tournament to Mississippi State. The Tigers received an invitation to the National Invitation Tournament where they defeated Louisiana before losing to Utah in the second round.

2017–18 LSU Tigers basketball
NIT, Second Round
Conference	Southeastern Conference
Record	18–15 (8–10 SEC)
Head coach	Will Wade (1st season)
Assistant coaches	Bill Armstrong Tony Benford Greg Heiar
Home arena	Pete Maravich Assembly Center
Seasons ← 2016–17 2018–19 →

2017–18 Southeastern Conference men's basketball standings

v t e	Conf.							Overall
Team	W		L		PCT			W		L		PCT
No. 19 Auburn	13	–	5		.722			26	–	8		.765
No. 13 Tennessee	13	–	5		.722			26	–	9		.743
No. 23 Florida	11	–	7		.611			21	–	13		.618
No. 18 Kentucky †	10	–	8		.556			26	–	11		.703
Missouri	10	–	8		.556			20	–	13		.606
Arkansas	10	–	8		.556			23	–	12		.657
Mississippi State	9	–	9		.500			25	–	12		.676
Texas A&M	9	–	9		.500			22	–	13		.629
Alabama	8	–	10		.444			20	–	16		.556
LSU	8	–	10		.444			18	–	15		.545
Georgia	7	–	11		.389			18	–	15		.545
South Carolina	7	–	11		.389			17	–	16		.515
Vanderbilt	6	–	12		.333			12	–	20		.375
Ole Miss	5	–	13		.278			12	–	20		.375
† 2018 SEC tournament winner Rankings from AP poll

Previous season

The Tigers finished the 2016–17 season 10–21, 2–16 in SEC play to finish in a tie for 13th place. They lost in the First Round of the SEC tournament to Mississippi State.^[1]

On March 10, head coach Johnny Jones was fired.^[2] He finished at LSU with a five-year record of 90–72. On March 20, LSU hired VCU head coach Will Wade as their next head coach.^[3]

Offseason

Departures

Name	Number	Pos.	Height	Weight	Year	Hometown	Notes
Antonio Blakeney	2	G	6'4"	197	Sophomore	Sarasota, FL	Declared for 2017 NBA draft
Elbert Robinson III	3	C	7'1"	290	Junior	Garland, TX	Left the team for personal reasons
Kieran Hayward	5	G	6'4"	195	Freshman	Sydney, Australia	Transferred to Massachusetts
Branden Jenkins	10	G	6'4"	180	Junior	Maywood, IL	Graduate transferred to Texas Wesleyan
Jalyn Patterson	11	G	6'1"	191	Junior	Atlanta, GA	Left the team for personal reasons
Brian Bridgewater	20	F	6'5"	282	Senior	Baton Rouge, LA	Graduated
Craig Victor II	32	F	6'9"	235	Junior	New Orleans, LA	Dismissed from the team due to violation of team rules/2017 NBA draft[4]
Brandon Eddlestone	45	F	6'8"	248	Senior	Slidell, LA	Walk-on; graduated

Incoming transfers

Name	Number	Pos.	Height	Weight	Year	Hometown	Previous School
Daryl Edwards	5	G	6'4"	170	Junior	Fresno, CA	Junior college transferred to Northwest Florida State College
Kavell Bigby-Williams	11	F	6'11"	230	Senior	London, England	Transferred from Oregon. Under NCAA transfer rules, Bigby-Williams will have to sit out for the 2017–18 season. Will have one year of remaining eligibility.
Jeremy Combs	13	F	6'7"	215	Senior	Dallas, TX	Transferred from North Texas. Will eligible to play since Combs graduated from North Texas.
Randy Onwausor	14	G	6'3"	210	RS Senior	Inglewood, CA	Transferred from Southern Utah. Will eligible to play since Onwausor graduated from Southern Utah.

2017 recruiting class

College recruiting information

Name	Hometown	School	Height	Weight	Commit date
Tremont Waters #8 PG	New Haven, CT	Notre Dame High School	5 ft 11 in (1.80 m)	165 lb (75 kg)	Jun 5, 2017
	Recruit ratings: Scout:    Rivals:    247Sports:    ESPN:
Galen Alexander SF	Lafayette, LA	Lafayette Christian Academy	6 ft 7 in (2.01 m)	220 lb (100 kg)	Jul 17, 2016
	Recruit ratings: Scout:    Rivals:    247Sports:    ESPN:
Mayan Kiir #20 PF	Bradenton, FL	Victory Rock Prep	6 ft 9 in (2.06 m)	215 lb (98 kg)	Apr 11, 2017
	Recruit ratings: Scout:    Rivals:    247Sports:    ESPN:
Brandon Rachal #29 SF	Natchitoches, LA	Natchitoches Central High School	6 ft 6 in (1.98 m)	220 lb (100 kg)	Oct 12, 2016
	Recruit ratings: Scout:    Rivals:    247Sports:    ESPN:
Overall recruit ranking:
Note: In many cases, Scout, Rivals, 247Sports, On3, and ESPN may conflict in their listings of height and weight. In these cases, the average was taken. ESPN grades are on a 100-point scale. Sources: "LSU 2017 Basketball Commitments". Rivals. Retrieved August 30, 2017. "2017 LSU Basketball Commits". Scout. Retrieved August 30, 2017. "ESPN". ESPN. Retrieved August 30, 2017. "Scout.com Team Recruiting Rankings". Scout. Retrieved August 30, 2017. "2017 Team Ranking". Rivals. Retrieved August 30, 2017.

2018 Recruiting class

College recruiting information (2018)
Name	Hometown	School	Height	Weight	Commit date
Javonte Smart PG	Baton Rouge, LA	Scotlandville Magnet High School	6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)	190 lb (86 kg)	Jun 30, 2017
	Recruit ratings: Scout:    Rivals:    247Sports:    ESPN:
Naz Reid PF	Asbury Park, NJ	Roselle Catholic High School	6 ft 9 in (2.06 m)	220 lb (100 kg)	Sep 12, 2017
	Recruit ratings: Scout:    Rivals:    247Sports:    ESPN:
Darius Days PF	Williston, FL	The Rock School	6 ft 7 in (2.01 m)	218 lb (99 kg)	Oct 20, 2017
	Recruit ratings: Scout:    Rivals:    247Sports:    ESPN:
Emmitt Williams PF	Lehigh Acres, FL	Oak Ridge High School	6 ft 7 in (2.01 m)	215 lb (98 kg)	Jan 26, 2018
	Recruit ratings: Scout:    Rivals:    247Sports:    ESPN:
Overall recruit ranking:
Note: In many cases, Scout, Rivals, 247Sports, On3, and ESPN may conflict in their listings of height and weight. In these cases, the average was taken. ESPN grades are on a 100-point scale. Sources: "LSU 2018 Basketball Commitments". Rivals. Retrieved August 30, 2017. "2018 LSU Basketball Commits". Scout. Retrieved August 30, 2017. "ESPN". ESPN. Retrieved August 30, 2017. "Scout.com Team Recruiting Rankings". Scout. Retrieved August 30, 2017. "2018 Team Ranking". Rivals. Retrieved August 30, 2017.

Roster

2017–18 LSU Tigers men's basketball team
Players	Coaches
Pos. # Name Height Weight Year Previous school Hometown G 0 Brandon Sampson 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 184 lb (83 kg) Jr Madison Preparatory Academy Baton Rouge, Louisiana F 1 Duop Reath 6 ft 11 in (2.11 m) 244 lb (111 kg) Sr Lee College Perth, Australia G 2 Brandon Rachal 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) 215 lb (98 kg) Fr Natchitoches Central High School Natchitoches, Louisiana G 3 Tremont Waters 5 ft 11 in (1.8 m) 167 lb (76 kg) Fr Notre Dame High School New Haven, Connecticut G 4 Skylar Mays 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) 200 lb (91 kg) So Findlay Prep Baton Rouge, Louisiana G 5 Daryl Edwards 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 165 lb (75 kg) Jr Northwest Florida State Fresno, California F 10 Galen Alexander 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 210 lb (95 kg) Fr Lafayette Christian Academy Breaux Bridge, Louisiana F 11 Kavell Bigby-Williams (I)  6 ft 11 in (2.11 m) 230 lb (104 kg) Sr Oregon London, England G 12 Marshall Graves (W) 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 190 lb (86 kg) So Louisiana State University Laboratory School Ponchatoula, Louisiana F 13 Jeremy Combs 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) 215 lb (98 kg) Sr North Texas Dallas, Texas G 14 Randy Onwausor 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 210 lb (95 kg) RS Sr Southern Utah Inglewood, California G 15 Reed Vial (W) 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 189 lb (86 kg) Jr Parkview Baptist High School Baton Rouge, Louisiana F 21 Aaron Epps 6 ft 10 in (2.08 m) 214 lb (97 kg) Sr Tioga High School Ball, Louisiana F 35 Mayan Kiir 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) 201 lb (91 kg) Fr Victory Rock Prep Bradenton, Florida F 44 Wayde Sims 6 ft 6 in (1.98 m) 217 lb (98 kg) So Louisiana State University Laboratory School Baton Rouge, Louisiana	Head coach Will Wade (Clemson) Assistant coach(es) Bill Armstrong (UAB) Tony Benford (Texas Tech) Greg Heiar (Franciscan) Legend (C) Team captain (S) Suspended (I) Ineligible (W) Walk-on Injured Current redshirt Roster

Schedule and results

Date time, TV	Rank#	Opponent#	Result	Record	High points	High rebounds	High assists	Site (attendance) city, state
Exhibition
Oct 31, 2017* 7:30 pm		at Tulane Hurricane relief charity game	L 74–84	–	21 – Reath	13 – Reath	3 – Sims	Devlin Fieldhouse (1,503) New Orleans, LA
Non-conference regular season
Nov 10, 2017* 7:00 pm, SECN+		Alcorn State	W 99–59	1–0	27 – Waters	6 – Rachal	6 – Waters	Maravich Center (11,856) Baton Rouge, LA
Nov 16, 2017* 7:00 pm, SECN+		Samford	W 105–86	2–0	20 – Mays, Sampson	8 – Sampson	8 – Waters	Maravich Center (7,731) Baton Rouge, LA
Nov 20, 2017* 10:30 pm, ESPNU		vs. Michigan Maui Invitational quarterfinals	W 77–75	3–0	21 – Waters	5 – Mays, Reath	4 – Rachal, Waters	Lahaina Civic Center (N/A) Maui, HI
Nov 21, 2017* 9:30 pm, ESPN		vs. No. 13 Notre Dame Maui Invitational semifinals	L 53–92	3–1	14 – Reath	6 – Reath	4 – Onwuasor	Lahaina Civic Center (2,400) Maui, HI
Nov 22, 2017* 7:00 pm, ESPN2		vs. Marquette Maui Invitational 3rd place game	L 84–94	3–2	39 – Waters	7 – Sims	4 – Waters	Lahaina Civic Center (2,400) Maui, HI
Nov 29, 2017* 7:00 pm, SECN+		UT Martin	W 84–60	4–2	18 – Mays	9 – Reath	10 – Waters	Maravich Center (7,396) Baton Rouge, LA
Dec 10, 2017* 4:00 pm, SECN+		UNC Wilmington	W 97–84	5–2	30 – Reath	9 – Waters	10 – Waters	Maravich Center (7,812) Baton Rouge, LA
Dec 13, 2017* 7:00 pm, SECN		Houston	W 80–77	6–2	26 – Epps	16 – Epps	6 – Waters	Maravich Center (8,449) Baton Rouge, LA
Dec 16, 2017* 12:00 pm, SECN		Stephen F. Austin	L 82–83	6–3	19 – Waters	10 – Epps	6 – Mays	Maravich Center (9,695) Baton Rouge, LA
Dec 19, 2017* 7:00 pm, SECN+		Sam Houston State	W 80–58	7–3	13 – Mays, Onwuasor	10 – Sims	5 – Mays	Maravich Center (8,151) Baton Rouge, LA
Dec 22, 2017* 7:00 pm, SECN+		North Florida	W 104–52	8–3	15 – Reath, Waters	9 – Epps	10 – Waters	Maravich Center (8,212) Baton Rouge, LA
Dec 28, 2017* 8:00 pm, CBSSN		at Memphis	W 71–61	9–3	18 – Waters	7 – Sims	8 – Waters	FedEx Forum (9,468) Memphis, TN
SEC regular season
Jan 3, 2018 7:30 pm, SECN		No. 17 Kentucky	L 71–74	9–4 (0–1)	24 – Reath	11 – Waters	4 – Sampson	Maravich Center (11,952) Baton Rouge, LA
Jan 6, 2018 1:05 pm, SECN		at No. 11 Texas A&M	W 69–68	10–4 (1–1)	21 – Waters	10 – Reath	6 – Mays	Reed Arena (10,845) College Station, TX
Jan 10, 2018 8:00 pm, SECN		at Arkansas	W 75–54	11–4 (2–1)	13 – Epps	11 – Epps	8 – Waters	Bud Walton Arena (15,199) Fayetteville, AR
Jan 13, 2018 7:30 pm, SECN		Alabama	L 66–74	11–5 (2–2)	19 – Waters	4 – Epps, Rachal, Onwuasor	5 – Waters	Maravich Center (13,600) Baton Rouge, LA
Jan 16, 2018 6:00 pm, ESPNU		Georgia	L 60–61	11–6 (2–3)	17 – Sampson	7 – Mays	5 – Waters	Maravich Center (13,215) Baton Rouge, LA
Jan 20, 2018 12:00 pm, SECN		at Vanderbilt	L 71–77	11–7 (2–4)	31 – Reath	13 – Reath	4 – Waters	Memorial Gymnasium (8,760) Nashville, TN
Jan 23, 2018 5:30 pm, ESPNU		Texas A&M	W 77–65	12–7 (3–4)	21 – Reath	8 – Reath	9 – Waters	Maravich Center (8,528) Baton Rouge, LA
Jan 27, 2018 5:00 pm, SECN		at No. 19 Auburn	L 70–95	12–8 (3–5)	18 – Reath	4 – Mays	5 – Mays	Auburn Arena (9,121) Auburn, AL
Jan 31, 2018 5:30 pm, SECN		at No. 18 Tennessee	L 61–84	12–9 (3–6)	21 – Reath	7 – Epps	3 – Onwuasor, Waters	Thompson–Boling Arena (13,425) Knoxville, TN
Feb 3, 2018 2:30 pm, SECN		Arkansas	W 94–86	13–9 (4–6)	27 – Waters	6 – Sims	11 – Waters	Maravich Center (9,272) Baton Rouge, LA
Feb 7, 2018 5:30 pm, SECN		at Florida	L 64–73	13–10 (4–7)	17 – Sampson	7 – Waters	6 – Waters	O'Connell Center (9,833) Gainesville, FL
Feb 10, 2018 3:00 pm, ESPNU		Ole Miss	W 82–66	14–10 (5–7)	26 – Reath	9 – Epps	8 – Waters	Maravich Center (8,545) Baton Rouge, LA
Feb 13, 2018 8:000 pm, ESPNU		at Alabama	L 65–80	14–11 (5–8)	21 – Edwards	9 – Mays	4 – Waters	Coleman Coliseum (11,154) Tuscaloosa, AL
Feb 17, 2018 1:00 pm, ESPN2		Missouri	W 64–63	15–11 (6–8)	21 – Waters	9 – Epps	4 – Mays, Waters	Maravich Center (9,635) Baton Rouge, LA
Feb 20, 2018 8:00 pm, SECN		Vanderbilt	W 88–78	16–11 (7–8)	28 – Waters	8 – Epps	9 – Waters	Maravich Center (7,517) Baton Rouge, LA
Feb 24, 2018 1:00 pm, ESPNU		at Georgia	L 82–93	16–12 (7–9)	25 – Waters	6 – Sampson	3 – Waters	Stegeman Coliseum (9,518) Athens, GA
Feb 28, 2018 5:30 pm, SECN		at South Carolina	L 74–83 OT	16–13 (7–10)	19 – Waters	13 – Rachal	6 – Mays	Colonial Life Arena (11,269) Columbia, SC
Mar 3, 2018 12:00 pm, SECN		Mississippi State	W 78–57	17–13 (8–10)	16 – Epps, Sampson	8 – Reath	10 – Waters	Maravich Center (9,067) Baton Rouge, LA
SEC Tournament
Mar 8, 2018 6:00 pm, SECN	(10)	vs. (7) Mississippi State Second Round	L 77–80	17–14	28 – Waters	9 – Rachal	6 – Waters	Scottrade Center (11,752) St. Louis, MO
NIT
Mar 14, 2018* 6:00 pm, ESPN3	(3)	(6) Louisiana First Round – Saint Mary's Bracket	W 84–76	18–14	26 – Reath	11 – Reath	7 – Waters	Maravich Center (6,846) Baton Rouge, LA
Mar 19, 2018 8:00 pm, ESPNU	(3)	at (2) Utah Second Round – Saint Mary's Bracket	L 71–95	18–15	19 – Waters	6 – Epps	8 – Waters	Jon M. Huntsman Center (5,528) Salt Lake City, UT
*Non-conference game. #Rankings from AP Poll. (#) Tournament seedings in parentheses. All times are in Central Time.

Source^[5]