Brief
LSU coach Will Wade says unconventional offseason won’t hinder Tigers
Wade says the Tigers have a clear picture of eligible players as they build toward the Nov. 3 opener.
By Felo News Desk · Published
LSU men’s basketball coach Will Wade told the SEC Network on Tuesday that he is confident in the program despite an "unconventional" offseason and lingering roster questions.
What happened
The Tigers entered the preseason with only four players on the roster, but the squad grew to ten ahead of an exhibition game against McNeese State on Oct. 8, which LSU won 63‑60. Starters Michael Ruzic, Mouhamed Dioubate, Abdi Bashir Jr., Donovan Dent, Divine Ugochukwu and freshmen reserves Jordan Bender and Strake Pearson all saw minutes.
What the reports add
The Associated Press story notes that RJ Luis, a St. John’s transfer who spent time with two NBA teams, received court clearance in August to play, but LSU must still satisfy SEC rules that ban former professional players. The report also mentions eligibility concerns surrounding other transfers, including UCLA’s Donovan Dent, Skyy Clark and several international recruits.
What was said
Wade told the SEC Network, "We had the guys eligible for the McNeese scrimmage on Thursday. We’ve got another scrimmage tomorrow, and we anticipate having a few more guys tomorrow than we had at McNeese." He added, "We’ve got a pretty good idea of who we’re going to play. We’ve got a pretty good idea of who is eligible. We’re pretty secure in who we are, and we’re pretty secure in what we’re doing, and look, we’ll see how it all shakes out." Wade compared the program’s approach to early‑stage models like Uber and Airbnb.
How it came about
Wade was rehired as LSU’s head coach in March 2026 after a four‑year hiatus and missed SEC Media Days in Birmingham because of heavy fog. The offseason saw the football program also grapple with eligibility disputes, highlighting broader compliance challenges across LSU athletics.
Key facts
- LSU’s roster grew from four to ten players before the Oct. 8 exhibition. (winnipegfreepress.com)
- RJ Luis received court clearance in August to play for LSU. (winnipegfreepress.com)
- LSU defeated McNeese State 63‑60 in the exhibition game. (winnipegfreepress.com)
- Coach Will Wade said the program is "pretty secure" in its roster and approach. (winnipegfreepress.com)
Timeline
- 2026-03-30 — Will Wade introduced as LSU basketball coach at press conference.
- 2026-08-01 — Louisiana court cleared transfer RJ Luis to play for LSU.
- 2026-10-08 — LSU beat McNeese State 63‑60 in exhibition game.
Sources
- [1] winnipegfreepress.com — originally reported as “Will Wade confident in LSU despite unconventional offseason and roster questions”
