Will Wade’s LSU team looked sharper Wednesday night, but the bigger issue around the program didn’t go away: the Tigers still need bodies.
LSU knocked off UCF 85-81 in its second exhibition, and the offense showed more life than it did in the first outing. Even so, only six players actually saw the floor. The same five starters were out there again, and freshman Jordan Bender added 10 minutes off the bench.
That’s not a workable long-term formula, with four players logging at least 38 minutes, but it was a step forward in terms of production.
Abdi Bashir, who was brought in for his shooting, quickly answered questions after opening with a rough 1-of-10 night from three against McNeese St. That first showing was never likely to define him, and Wednesday made that clear.
Bashir played all 40 minutes, scored 26 points, hit 6-of-12 from beyond the arc, and finished with two rebounds, one assist and two steals. If LSU is going to have any real success this season, that kind of scoring punch is going to matter.
Donovan Dent nearly stole the show. He finished one rebound shy of a triple-double, putting up 21 points, nine boards, 11 assists, three steals and three blocks. He was everywhere.
Michael Ruzic turned in a strong interior performance with 15 points, 13 rebounds and four blocks. Mo Dioubate wasn’t as efficient offensively, but he still delivered 15 points and seven rebounds while continuing to give LSU value on defense.
The talent on hand is obvious. The problem is what’s not on hand. LSU needs reinforcements, and if the Tigers can’t get a couple more of those missing pieces available, surviving the season is going to be a major challenge.
Skyy Clark, Brice Dessert and Saliou Niang were all listed, but none of them played. Dessert and Niang were newly added after being absent from the previous game’s group, even though they traveled with the team. That at least suggests where Wade stands on their chances of being available this season.
Right now, those three would give LSU an eight-man rotation. That’s still thin, and it’s still risky. But it may be the path the Tigers are forced to take.
In Other News...
LSU's Bigger Worry After This Win Is Hard To Ignore
LSUs exhibition win over Central Florida offered a useful snapshot of where Will Wades roster stands heading into the season: capable of scoring, competitive even while short-handed, but still waiting on the kind of full lineup that can make the Tigers hard to judge. The 85-81 result came with LSU using fewer players than it expects to have once the regular season begins, and senior transfer Abdi Bashir Jr. helped carry the offense with 26 points while point guard Donovan Dent added 21 points and 11 assists.
The broader concern is less about the result than the unfinished nature of the roster this close to November 3. Wade said he is hopeful LSU will have additional players cleared by the NCAA before the opener, which would change both the depth chart and the way this team can be evaluated. Until then, the Tigers are left leaning on a thin rotation and waiting to see whether the version they roll out for the regular season looks anything like the one fans expect to watch. [Read more 🡒]
LSUs Mississippi State Outlook Suddenly Hinges On One Huge Unknown
The first injury report for LSU and Mississippi State added an immediate layer of uncertainty to an already important SEC matchup, with both sides dealing with notable absences and a few names still hanging in the balance. LSU already knows it will be without Trey'Dez Green and Whit Weeks, while Tylen Singleton is listed as questionable, leaving the Tigers to sort through depth issues before kickoff.
For Mississippi State, the spotlight lands on quarterback Kamario Taylor, whose foot injury has him questionable heading into Friday. His status is the biggest variable in the game and the one that could shape how the Bulldogs approach LSU, making the next update feel especially important for both teams as they prepare for a meeting with plenty still unsettled. [Read more 🡒]
UCF Showed Promise But One Late Issue Still Looks Costly
UCF came away with plenty to like from its exhibition trip to the Maravich Assembly Center, where the Knights pushed LSU deep into the closing minutes before falling 85-81. Dior Johnson led UCF with 18 points in a game that stayed tight throughout, while LSU leaned on Abdi Bashir, who finished with 26 to help keep the Tigers afloat when the action tightened.
What stood out for LSU was not just the scoring punch, but the way the game settled into a late-possession fight, exactly the kind of stress test both teams wanted in October. UCF had enough shot-making to stay level, yet one costly late sequence swung the result, leaving the Knights with encouragement and a reminder that the smallest mistakes can decide these exhibition games. [Read more 🡒]