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LSU men’s basketball team shows signs of life in win over Vanderbilt

By John Fye

Feb 22, 2023; Baton Rouge, Louisiana, USA; LSU Tigers forward KJ Williams (12) dribbles against Vanderbilt Commodores guard Jordan Wright (4) during the second half at Pete Maravich Assembly Center. Mandatory Credit: Stephen Lew-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 22, 2023; Baton Rouge, Louisiana, USA; LSU Tigers forward KJ Williams (12) dribbles against Vanderbilt Commodores guard Jordan Wright (4) during the second half at Pete Maravich Assembly Center. Mandatory Credit: Stephen Lew-USA TODAY Sports /
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On Wednesday, the LSU men’s basketball team finally returned to the win column. Such is enormous for a team hoping to extend their season beyond the SEC tournament.

The LSU men’s basketball team entered Wednesday night with a 12-15 record, including a 1-13 record in conference play. However, none of that seemed to matter when the Tigers matched up with Vanderbilt In Baton Rouge. Senior forward KJ Williams went off, dropping 35 points on the Commodores and grabbing ten rebounds. And, in an unfamiliar sequence, LSU controlled most of the contest and pulled away with an 84-77 win.

Tonight’s LSU men’s basketball win at the Pete Maravich Assembly Center snaps a 14-game losing streak. Yes, you read that correctly. LSU was doing their best Cincinnati Reds impression by dropping 14 games in a row. Before tonight, the Tigers’ last victory was a 60-57 win over Arkansas on December 28th. Matt McMahon’s team had come close to victories in recent games, but everything clicked for LSU tonight.

tonight, the Bayou Bengals put together a performance that makes one wonder, are they figuring it out?

It’s an understatement to say this is a rough season for the LSU men’s basketball team. McMahon took over a program in peril following heavy sanctions against LSU for Will Wade-era transgressions. The former Murray State head coach scraped together a recruiting class and roster after both fell apart following Wade’s ouster. Williams followed Wade from Murray State and has served as the Tigers’ marquee player throughout the season. However, LSU’s disjointed lineup has struggled on both ends of the floor. But tonight, the Bayou Bengals put together a performance that makes one wonder, are they figuring it out?

A home win over Vanderbilt might not seem like a big deal to some fans. But the LSU men’s basketball team beat the Commodores in practically every facet of the box score. Offensively, their 84-point performance is the largest over an FBS opponent this season. But, most importantly, the Bayou Bengals proved to themselves that all is not lost; they can win games and make some noise in the SEC tournament.

Next. How LSU men’s basketball can get into March Madness. dark

LSU is now ranked 13th in the SEC standings, with games against Ole Miss, Missouri, and Florida to go. Finishing the season 3-0 must be the LSU men’s basketball target as they eye life after the SEC tournament. An NCAA Men’s Tournament bid is likely out of the question. However, a solid regular season finish and SEC tournament showing might lead the Tigers to an NIT invitation

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