Head Coach’s Future Hangs In The Balance For LSU Hoops

The temperatures in Louisiana might be colder, but the hot seat is warming up in Baton Rouge. LSU Men's Basketball just suffered a catastrophic 80-66 loss to a Mississippi State team that had previously lost five straight games. The Tigers never led in the contest, falling behind by double digits in the first four minute, and failing to match the Bulldogs' physical play on the glass...and it happened at home.

The defeat pushes LSU to a dismal 1-7 record in SEC play, leaving them tied with Oklahoma at the bottom of the conference standings. While the overall record sits at 13-8, the context of those wins is drawing heavy scrutiny from fans.

Paper Tiger Wins

A closer look at the season resume reveals that many of those thirteen victories came against lower-tier competition, early in the season. The Tigers tallied wins against the likes of Tarleton State, UNO, FIU, Alcorn State, and SE Louisiana. While those games padded the stats, they clearly did not prepare the squad for the regular grind of the SEC.

Victories over Prairie View and Omaha also helped bolster the early win count, before conference play exposed significant holes in the roster. Now, with the program spiraling, the conversation has shifted toward whether a mid-season change is necessary to save the recruiting class.

Is Time Running Out For Matt McMahon?

The seat under head coach Matt McMahon is officially scorching after the latest loss. Reports indicate that the administration expects an NCAA Tournament appearance to avoid a total reevaluation of the coaching staff this spring. Right now, the Tournament feels like its about as likely as one of us winning the Powerball jackpot. The voices are getting louder asking about McMahon's performance, and when something needs to be done to possibly save a recruiting class.

LSU will take on some softer opponents, like South Carolina, which could give McMahon a win that might extend his tenure by a couple of weeks...or it could be the type of loss that ends his position in Baton Rouge.