The 2024-25 College Basketball season came to a close on Monday Night, and all attention quickly turned toward next season. As team's across the Country gain and lose pieces to the transfer portal, programs continue to shape and adjust their schedules for the 2025-26 season. Next season, the LSU Basketball team was set to play in the Emerald Coast Classic but, there was one place in the tournament that needed to be filled in.
On Wednesday, Drake was the fourth and final team to join the tournament field along with LSU, DePaul, and Georgia Tech.
The field is a solid field that should give LSU two chances to pick up a massive win for their resume. Drake will be under new leadership but, the Bulldogs are an NCAA Tournament team coming off of their 8th appearance of all time. The DePaul Blue Demons are still working their way out of the bottom of the Big East but, should continue their improvements next season. The Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets went .500 last season while also going .500 in Conference Play.
LSU was last in the Emerald Coast Classic in 2021 where LSU led by Will Wade won the tournament. LSU beat Penn State 68-63 in Overtime before demolishing Wake Forest in the tournaments Championship game. Tari Eason won the Tournaments Most Outstanding Player Award while Darius Days was also named to the All Tournament Team.
As LSU continues to load up on talent to fill out the roster, the LSU Basketball team should have a lineup deep and talented enough to win the entire thing. After watching LSU last season, it was clear that LSU needed to play a tougher Non-Conference schedule to prepare for SEC play, and luckily for LSU, this tournament is a step up in competition than a regular season Non-Conference game would be.