Mark Few didn’t bother with the usual coach-speak when he sized up LSU’s roster. The Gonzaga coach sees a team loaded with talent, and he put it plainly ahead of this weekend’s matchup.
“I’ve gotten to know Will over the years. We played him in the NCAA tournament a couple of years back.
And I think he’s done a great job. Every place he goes, he wins.
He’s adapted to this current state of college basketball as good as any... Guys, I’m telling you, he’s got a heck of a roster now.
I mean, they might not be as talented as Duke, but it’s probably the second-most talented roster maybe in college basketball with who they have. I mean, I don’t think everybody knows the level of play that the kids they got from international ranks.”
That’s the kind of endorsement that turns heads, especially for a LSU team that still feels like a mystery to a lot of people. Will Wade has assembled a group with a strange but intriguing blend: power-conference experience, European pro seasoning and plenty of upside.
The ceiling looks high. The floor is still hard to pin down.
The backcourt starts with Donovan Dent and Skyy Clark, who were together at UCLA. Mo Dioubate brings a reputation as a tough defender after stops in the SEC.
Saliou Niang arrives as a former NBA draft pick. Michael Ruzic gives LSU an ultra-skilled seven-footer who could end up among the best centers in the country.
And there’s more talent beyond that.
The results have been encouraging so far. LSU is 3-0 and hasn’t had much trouble getting there, but the Tigers still haven’t cracked the AP Poll.
They did pick up three votes in the Coaches Poll, which at least gives them a foothold. Part of the reason for the muted national reaction is timing: the roster wasn’t officially assembled until just before the season, and there’s still plenty of uncertainty about how it all fits.
That’s why this game matters. Even making Gonzaga sweat would say something about what LSU has built.
The Bulldogs are No. 14 in the country after the latest poll, and Wade knows exactly how steep the test is. He said, “We’re getting out of the little kiddie pool with our floaties on and going into the deep end,”
He expanded on that challenge with even more bluntness:
“I think I was the only one dumb enough to go up there and play them. They tried to get everybody else, and we were the only ones dumb enough to sign up for it.
It’s gonna be one of the biggest challenges of our entire season when you look at our schedule. They’re a great team, great program, Hall of Fame coach.
They got great personnel. So they got big guys; it’ll be the first time we’ve gone against true bigs.”
The matchup also puts LSU’s personnel under a brighter spotlight. Sophomore guard Davis Fogle has been the toughest individual assignment they’ve faced so far. The 6-foot-7 guard is averaging 22.0 points, 4.5 rebounds, 4.0 assists and 2.0 steals while shooting 45.2/36.4/85.7.
Inside, LSU has shown flashes from Ruzic and Brice Dessert, but Gonzaga brings a different level of size. Braden Huff checks in at 6-foot-10 and 250 pounds and has averaged 17.5 points per game since the start of last year. Massamba Diop stands 7-foot-1, and Izan Almansa adds another 6-foot-10 body to the mix.
For LSU, the meeting is more than just another game. It’s a chance to show that the talent Few praised is real.
In Other News...
LSU Brings One Dangerous Edge Into Texas Clash Despite Clear Concerns
LSU heads into its matchup with Texas carrying the kind of offensive profile that can make a game feel dangerous in a hurry. The Tigers have been productive enough to rank near the top nationally in yards per game and third-down conversions, which means drives can stay alive and pressure can build even when the rhythm is uneven. For Texas, coming off a win over Missouri and now heading on the road, the challenge is less about stopping LSU from moving the ball and more about keeping those possessions from turning into momentum swings.
The concern for LSU is that the same offense has not always finished the job, with red zone scoring and the running game still leaving room for improvement. On the other side of the ball, the Tigers bring a defense built to disrupt, led by a nation-best sack percentage, but one that can also be exposed by explosive plays. That combination gives this matchup a sharp edge: LSU has enough firepower and pass-rush pressure to tilt the night, even if the cracks in its profile leave Texas with openings if it can stay patient and capitalize. [Read more 🡒]
LSUs Playoff Hopes Just Took Another Hit After Alabama
LSUs path back into the College Football Playoff conversation got a lot steeper after the loss to Alabama, a defeat that left the Tigers with three losses and pushed them into an uncomfortable spot in the rankings. They are sitting at No. 14 for now, but the committees next update is expected to send them sliding well outside that range, a reminder that the margin for error has all but disappeared.
Even so, LSU is still likely to hang around the top 25, which says as much about the committees history as it does about the Tigers season. Three-loss teams have not been automatic afterthoughts in this process, but for LSU the bigger issue is whether there is enough left on the schedule to make the ranking matter again. [Read more 🡒]
LSU Faces A Dangerous Texas Mindset In Tiger Stadium
Texas arrives in Baton Rouge with a road-tested edge that has become part of Steve Sarkisians program identity since he took over in 2022. The Longhorns have been tough away from home, and that matters with No. 24 LSU waiting in Tiger Stadium, where the atmosphere, the visiting locker room and the logistics of roster travel all add another layer to an already difficult assignment.
Lane Kiffins team is also coming off a home loss, which only raises the pressure to clean things up quickly in front of a crowd that rarely makes things easy on visitors. LSU will need to respond with sharper execution and a better sense of urgency, because Texas is walking in with the kind of confidence that comes from handling big games on the road and against ranked opponents. [Read more 🡒]