LSU’s first look at its full roster came with plenty to like, even if the Tigers walked away from Saturday’s exhibition against Florida State with an 89-87 loss.
For Will Wade, the bigger takeaway wasn’t the final score. It was finally getting the whole group on the floor together and seeing several players immediately show why this roster has generated so much buzz. The Tigers fought throughout, and a few new faces wasted no time putting themselves on the radar with this fanbase.
The clearest sign of that came from the starting backcourt. Donovan Dent and Skyy Clark, the former UCLA teammates LSU fans had been waiting to see together, looked every bit like the centerpiece of this team’s early identity. They opened alongside Mo Dioubate, Saliou Niang and Brice Dessert, a five-man group that could very well be the Tigers’ starting lineup when the season begins.
Dent is supposed to be the engine here, and through three exhibition games, he’s already looking the part. After once stepping away from the sport following his time with the Bruins, he returned with another year of eligibility and seems ready to lean into the spotlight.
Against Florida State, he put up 24 points and nine assists. In the previous exhibition, he came close to a triple-double.
Clark made his LSU debut and gave the Tigers exactly the kind of punch they were hoping for. He finished with 21 points, eight rebounds and three assists while shooting 7-of-12 from three. Last season, he proved he could really stretch the floor, and that shot is clearly going to matter again this year.
Off the bench, Abdi Bashir Jr. looks poised to handle plenty of the scoring load. He went 4-of-10 from deep, and LSU won’t mind that kind of volume if it keeps falling at a 40% clip on double-digit attempts.
At center, Dessert got the nod over Michael Ruzic to start, though both figures should be heavily involved once the games count. Dessert flashed some real touch and scoring ability around the basket, even if his usage stayed modest. Ruzic brings a different look with more defense, rebounding and shooting, which gives LSU a useful one-two option in the middle.
Niang’s first outing was quieter than some of the others, but he still left his mark. He ended with a team-best plus-12 and showed enough to hint at the defensive upside he shares with Dioubate.
Florida State forward Shon Abaev did create some problems at times, but there should be useful tape for LSU to study. Niang and Dioubate combined for 13 rebounds and four turnovers, a number the Tigers should be able to live with and even improve on as the season goes on.
LSU now turns its attention to the real thing. The Tigers open the season Tuesday, November 3, against the LSU New Orleans Privateers.
In Other News...
LSU Just Changed The Playoff Conversation With This Road Breakthrough
LSU's trip to Auburn brought more than a needed conference win. The Tigers walked out with a 38-17 victory that ended a frustrating skid of more than two years without an SEC road win, and it came with the kind of balance that has been missing at times this fall. Quarterback Sam Leavitt and receiver Jackson Harris helped drive the offense, while the defense kept Auburn quarterback Byrum Brown from finding much rhythm.
At 6-2, LSU still has a live path in the College Football Playoff discussion, and this was the sort of result that can change how the rest of the season feels. Road wins in the SEC are never easy, and this one mattered not just because of the standings, but because it suggested the Tigers can travel, execute and hold up on both sides of the ball when the stakes rise. [Read more 🡒]
LSU Heads To Auburn With Playoff Pressure And A Key Boost
LSU heads to Auburn on Saturday with the kind of November pressure that turns every snap into a referendum on a season, and Jordan-Hare Stadium figures to be a difficult place to manage it. Both teams are carrying two losses and trying to keep their College Football Playoff hopes in view, which gives this one a sharper edge than a typical SEC road trip. The game will air on ABC with an 11 a.m. CT kickoff, setting up an early test for a Tigers team that can no longer afford to waste chances.
A key piece of help is coming back, too, with tight end Trey'Dez Green expected to return from injury. LSU has been working through the final stretch of the regular season without much margin for error, and getting Green back adds another option as the offense tries to navigate a game that could shape the rest of the conversation around its postseason path. Auburn is in the same position, which only raises the stakes for a matchup that already feels like it belongs in the must-win category. [Read more 🡒]
LSUs New-Look Lineup Raised One Immediate Concern Before The Opener
LSUs first exhibition look offered a clear glimpse of how much change this roster is carrying into the season. In the 89-87 loss to Florida State, the Tigers started three recently eligible newcomers in Skyy Clark, Saliou Niang and Brice Desser, while Donovan Dent set the tone offensively with 24 points and nine assists. It was the kind of early test that can reveal both promise and pressure, especially for a team trying to sort out roles before the games start counting.
The concern that came out of it was just as obvious as the talent on the floor. LSU still had pieces unavailable, with Gilad Levy sidelined because of eligibility and Austin Nunez out with an injury, leaving the rotation thinner than it will need to be once SEC play rolls around. For a new-look group trying to find chemistry quickly, the opener hinted at how much the Tigers may have to manage in the backcourt and beyond before the lineup is fully settled. [Read more 🡒]