2019–20 LSU Tigers basketball team

The 2019–20 LSU Tigers basketball team represented Louisiana State University during the 2019–20 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. The team's head coach was Will Wade, in his third 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 21–10, 12–6 in SEC play to finish in a tie for second place. They were set to be the No. 3 seed in the SEC tournament with a bye to the quarterfinals. However, the SEC Tournament and all other postseason tournaments were cancelled amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

2019–20 LSU Tigers basketball
ConferenceSoutheastern Conference
Record21–10 (12–6 SEC)
Head coach
Assistant coaches
Home arenaPete Maravich Assembly Center
Seasons
2019–20 Southeastern Conference men's basketball standings
ConfOverall
TeamW L PCTW L PCT
No. 8 Kentucky153 .833256 .806
No. 20 Auburn126 .667256 .806
LSU126 .6672110 .677
Mississippi State117 .6112011 .645
Florida117 .6111912 .613
South Carolina108 .5561813 .581
Texas A&M108 .5561614 .533
Tennessee99 .5001714 .548
Alabama810 .4441615 .516
Arkansas711 .3892012 .625
Missouri711 .3891516 .484
Ole Miss612 .3331517 .469
Georgia513 .2781616 .500
Vanderbilt315 .1671121 .344
Note: The 2020 SEC tournament was canceled after the first round due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Rankings from AP poll

Previous season

The Tigers finished the 2018–19 season 28–7, 16–2 in SEC play to finish as regular season SEC champions. They lost in the Quarterfinals of the SEC tournament to Florida. The Tigers received an invitation to the NCAA tournament where they defeated Yale in the First Round and Maryland in the Second Round before losing to Michigan State in the Sweet Sixteen. Head coach Will Wade was briefly suspended at the end of the season due to NCAA concerns.

Offseason

Departures

NameNumberPos.HeightWeightYearHometownReason for departure
Naz Reid0F6'10"240FreshmanAsbury Park, NJDeclare for 2019 NBA draft
Tremont Waters3G5'11"167SophomoreNew Haven, CTDeclare for 2019 NBA draft
Daryl Edwards5G6'3"165JuniorFresno, CALeft the team for personal reasons
Noah Thomas10G6'4"185FreshmanCypress, TXWalk-on; left the team for personal reasons
Kavell Bigby-Williams11F6'11"230RS SeniorLondon, EnglandGraduated
Will Reese13G6'4"190RS SophomoreLeesville, LAWalk-on; didn't return
Danya Kingsby20G6'1"165JuniorMilwaukee, WITransferred to Bradley

Incoming transfers

NameNumberPos.HeightWeightYearHometownPrevious School
Parker Edwards3G6'3"195SophomoreMandeville, LASoutheastern Louisiana
Charles Manning, Jr.11G6'5"180JuniorRiverhead, NYFlorida Southwestern State
Caleb Starks20G6'4"195JuniorLafayette, INLSU-Eunice

2019 recruiting class

US college sports recruiting information for high school athletes
NameHometownHigh school / collegeHeightWeightCommit date
Trendon Watford
PF
Mountain Brook, ALMountain Brook High School6 ft 8 in (2.03 m)210 lb (95 kg)May 20, 2019 
Recruiting star ratings: Scout:    Rivals:    247Sports:    ESPN:
James Bishop
SG
Baltimore, MDMount St. Joseph High School6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)170 lb (77 kg)Sep 18, 2018 
Recruiting star ratings: Scout:    Rivals:    247Sports:    ESPN:
Overall recruiting rankings:
  • Note: In many cases, Scout, Rivals, 247Sports, 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 2019 Basketball Commitments". Rivals.com. Retrieved August 18, 2019.
  • "2019 LSU Basketball Commits". Scout.com. Retrieved August 18, 2019.
  • "ESPN". ESPN.com. Retrieved August 18, 2019.
  • "Scout.com Team Recruiting Rankings". Scout.com. Retrieved August 18, 2019.
  • "2019 Team Ranking". Rivals.com. Retrieved August 18, 2019.

2020 recruiting class

US college sports recruiting information for 2020 recruits
NameHometownHigh school / collegeHeightWeightCommit date
Jalen Cook
PG
Walker, LAWalker High School6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)185 lb (84 kg)Jun 18, 2019 
Recruiting star ratings: Scout:    Rivals:    247Sports:    ESPN:
Overall recruiting rankings:
  • Note: In many cases, Scout, Rivals, 247Sports, 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:

Preseason

SEC media poll

The SEC media poll was released on October 15, 2019.[1]

Media poll
Predicted finishTeam
1Kentucky
2Florida
3LSU
4Auburn
5Tennessee
6Alabama
7Mississippi State
8Ole Miss
9Georgia
10South Carolina
11Arkansas
12Texas A&M
13Missouri
14Vanderbilt

Preseason All-SEC teams

The Tigers had one player selected to the preseason all-SEC teams.

Roster

2019–20 LSU Tigers men's basketball team
PlayersCoaches
Pos.#NameHeightWeightYearPrevious schoolHometown
F0Darius Days6 ft 6 in (1.98 m)240 lb (109 kg)SoIMG AcademyRaleigh, FL
G1Javonte Smart6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)205 lb (93 kg)SoScotlandville Magnet HSBaton Rouge, LA
F2Trendon Watford6 ft 9 in (2.06 m)235 lb (107 kg)FrMountain Brook HSBirmingham, AL
G3Parker Edwards (W)  6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)190 lb (86 kg)SoSoutheastern LouisianaMandeville, LA
G4Skylar Mays6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)205 lb (93 kg)SrFindlay PrepBaton Rouge, LA
F5Emmitt Williams6 ft 6 in (1.98 m)230 lb (104 kg)SoOak Ridge HSFort Myers, FL
G10James Bishop6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)190 lb (86 kg)FrMount Saint Joseph HSBaltimore, MD
G11Charles Manning Jr.6 ft 5 in (1.96 m)200 lb (91 kg)JrFlorida SouthWestern State CollegeRiverhead, NY
G12Marshall Graves6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)195 lb (88 kg)SrLSU Laboratory SchoolPonchatoula, LA
G14Marlon Taylor6 ft 6 in (1.98 m)210 lb (95 kg)SrPanola CollegeMount Vernon, NY
F15Aundre Hyatt6 ft 5 in (1.96 m)225 lb (102 kg)RS FrMiller SchoolThe Bronx, NY
G20Caleb Starks (W)6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)205 lb (93 kg)JrLSU-EuniceLafayette, LA
F21Courtese Cooper6 ft 9 in (2.06 m)220 lb (100 kg)RS SoTriton CollegeElgin, IL
Head coach
Assistant coach(es)

Legend
  • (C) Team captain
  • (S) Suspended
  • (I) Ineligible
  • (W) Walk-on

Roster
Last update: October 12, 2019

Schedule and results

Date
time, TV
Rank#Opponent#ResultRecordHigh pointsHigh reboundsHigh assistsSite (attendance)
city, state
Exhibition
November 2, 2019*
4:00 pm
No. 22 at Louisiana Tech
Hoops 4 Disaster Relief
W 83–70 
 18  Smart  10  Watford  4  Tied Thomas Assembly Center (6,832)
Ruston, LA
Regular season
November 8, 2019*
7:00 pm, SECN+
No. 22 Bowling GreenW 88–79 1–0
 21  Tied  8  Smart  5  Smart Pete Maravich Assembly Center (9,622)
Baton Rouge, LA
November 13, 2019*
5:00 pm, ESPN2
No. 23 at VCUL 82–84 1–1
 23  Mays  8  Mays  3  Tied Siegel Center (7,637)
Richmond, VA
November 16, 2019*
3:00 pm, SECN+
No. 23 NichollsW 75–65 2–1
 18  Mays  12  Williams  5  Smart Pete Maravich Assembly Center (8,833)
Baton Rouge, LA
November 19, 2019*
6:00 pm, SECN
UMBCW 77–50 3–1
 16  Manning Jr.  12  Watford  4  Bishop Pete Maravich Assembly Center (8,783)
Baton Rouge, LA
November 22, 2019*
6:00 pm, CBSSN
vs. No. 15 Utah State
Jersey Mike's Jamaica Classic
L 78–80 3–2
 30  Mays  8  Williams  4  Smart Montego Bay Convention Centre (1,452)
Montego Bay, Jamaica
November 24, 2019*
1:30 pm, CBSSN
vs. Rhode Island
Jersey Mike's Jamaica Classic
W 96–83 4–2
 27  Williams  9  Tied  6  Tied Montego Bay Convention Centre 
Montego Bay, Jamaica
November 29, 2019*
7:00 pm, SECN+
Missouri StateW 73–58 5–2
 20  Days  10  Days  9  Smart Pete Maravich Assembly Center (9,892)
Baton Rouge, LA
December 3, 2019*
7:00 pm, SECN
New OrleansW 90–54 6–2
 18  Tied  10  Tied  8  Smart Pete Maravich Assembly Center (8,608)
Baton Rouge, LA
December 8, 2019*
4:00 pm, SECN
Northwestern StateW 109–59 7–2
 17  Smart  10  Williams  3  Tied Pete Maravich Assembly Center (9,483)
Baton Rouge, LA
December 18, 2019*
7:00 pm, SECN
East Tennessee StateL 63–74 7–3
 16  Williams  11  Williams  7  Smart Pete Maravich Assembly Center (8,556)
Baton Rouge, LA
December 21, 2019*
8:00 pm, FS1
vs. USC
Basketball Hall of Fame Classic
L 68–70 7–4
 21  Mays  11  Days  4  Tied Staples Center (8,296)
Los Angeles, CA
December 29, 2019*
2:00 pm, SECN
LibertyW 74–57 8–4
 14  Days  8  Watford  6  Smart Pete Maravich Assembly Center (9,193)
Baton Rouge, LA
January 4, 2020
11:00 am, ESPNU
at TennesseeW 78–64 9–4
(1–0)
 21  Smart  11  Days  4  Smart Thompson–Boling Arena (18,653)
Knoxville, TN
January 8, 2020
8:00 pm, ESPNU
ArkansasW 79–77 10–4
(2–0)
 21  Watford  16  Days  3  Tied Pete Maravich Assembly Center (8,662)
Baton Rouge, LA
January 11, 2020
7:00 pm, ESPN
Mississippi StateW 60–59 11–4
(3–0)
 17  Williams  8  Days  6  Smart Pete Maravich Assembly Center (10,364)
Baton Rouge, LA
January 14, 2020
7:00 pm, SECN
at Texas A&MW 89–85 OT12–4
(4–0)
 19  Tied  11  Watford  8  Mays Reed Arena (7,068)
College Station, TX
January 18, 2020
7:00 pm, ESPN2
at Ole MissW 80–76 13–4
(5–0)
 20  Smart  10  Watford  4  Mays The Pavilion at Ole Miss (8,043)
Oxford, MS
January 21, 2020
6:00 pm, SECN
FloridaW 84–82 14–4
(6–0)
 19  Williams  11  Taylor  7  Tied Pete Maravich Assembly Center (10,479)
Baton Rouge, LA
January 25, 2020*
1:00 pm, ESPN
at Texas
Big 12/SEC Challenge
W 69–67 15–4
 22  Watford  7  Tied  5  Mays Frank Erwin Center (11,287)
Austin, TX
January 29, 2020
6:00 pm, ESPN2
No. 22 AlabamaW 90–76 16–4
(7–0)
 23  Williams  15  Watford  4  Smart Pete Maravich Assembly Center (10,871)
Baton Rouge, LA
February 1, 2020
11:00 am, ESPN2
No. 22 Ole MissW 73–63 17–4
(8–0)
 21  Smart  11  Taylor  3  Smart Pete Maravich Assembly Center (11,112)
Baton Rouge, LA
February 5, 2020
8:00 pm, SECN
No. 18 at VanderbiltL 90–99 17–5
(8–1)
 26  Watford  11  Williams  3  Tied Memorial Gymnasium (9,256)
Nashville, TN
February 8, 2020
11:00 am, ESPN
No. 18 at No. 11 AuburnL 90–91 OT17–6
(8–2)
 30  Mays  7  Tied  8  Mays Auburn Arena (9,121)
Auburn, AL
February 11, 2020
8:00 pm, SECN
No. 25 MissouriW 82–78 18–6
(9–2)
 23  Mays  10  Days  2  Tied Pete Maravich Assembly Center (10,990)
Baton Rouge, LA
February 15, 2020
3:00 pm, ESPN2
No. 25 at AlabamaL 82–88 18–7
(9–3)
 24  Mays  10  Williams  4  Smart Coleman Coliseum (12,479)
Tuscaloosa, AL
February 18, 2020
8:00 pm, ESPN
No. 10 KentuckyL 76–79 18–8
(9–4)
 17  Mays  11  Days  7  Smart Pete Maravich Assembly Center (13,260)
Baton Rouge, LA
February 22, 2020
5:00 pm, ESPN2
at South CarolinaW 86–80 19–8
(10–4)
 18  Tied  10  Watford  6  Mays Colonial Life Arena (15,979)
Columbia, SC
February 26, 2020
8:00 pm, ESPN2
at FloridaL 66–81 19–9
(10–5)
 25  Williams  11  Watford  2  Tied O'Connell Center (10,002)
Gainesville, FL
February 29, 2020
11:00 am, ESPN2
Texas A&MW 64–50 20–9
(11–5)
 24  Mays  8  Mays  3  Tied Pete Maravich Assembly Center (13,215)
Baton Rouge, LA
March 4, 2020
6:00 pm, SECN
at ArkansasL 90–99 20–10
(11–6)
 28  Mays  7  Smart  6  Mays Bud Walton Arena (15,169)
Fayetteville, AR
March 7, 2020
1:00 pm, ESPN2
GeorgiaW 94–64 21–10
(12–6)
 30  Taylor  11  Watford  10  Smart Pete Maravich Assembly Center (11,697)
Baton Rouge, LA
SEC Tournament
March 13, 2020
8:30 pm, SECN
(3)vs.
Quarterfinals
Cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic[2]Bridgestone Arena
Nashville, TN
*Non-conference game. #Rankings from AP Poll. (#) Tournament seedings in parentheses.
All times are in Central Time.

Schedule Source[3]

Rankings

Ranking movements
Legend: ██ Increase in ranking ██ Decrease in ranking
— = Not ranked RV = Received votes
Week
PollPre12345678910111213141516171819Final
AP2223RVRVRVRVRV221825RVRVRVRVNot released
Coaches2424^RVRVRVRVRVRVRV2418RVRVRVRVRVRV

*AP does not release post-NCAA Tournament rankings
^Coaches did not release a Week 2 poll

References