The LSU Basketball season has been underwhelming to say the least as LSU went 9-9 in SEC Play in 2023-24 yet, the Tigers are just 1-8 in SEC Play. This season LSU cut out the horrible losses they suffered out of conference last season and being slightly worse in SEC Play this season still would've sent the Tigers to the NCAA Tournament.
The reoccuring issues and the massive disappointment of the season in many ways resembles what the LSU Football team did this fall. Matt McMahon and Brian Kelly both were in Year Three this season and both will have missed the end of season tournament.
Where Matt McMahon needs to learn from Brian Kelly is by going All In using the transfer portal this offseason. After a disappointing season Brian Kelly realized it was time for a change and the LSU Football team changed transfer portal strategies from their past method of adding smaller pieces often times that didn't command a massive group of schools.
The LSU Football team changed its philosophy going out and landing massive pieces that they typically wouldn't push for when Brian Kelly said the team "wasn't in the market of buying players". Brian Kelly embraced the modern era and he even put $1 Million of his own money on the line matching donations from the fans totaling $3.2 Million used for the program.
Matt McMahon doesn't need to pony up his own money but, he does need to rally support so he can be active in the transfer portal. This offseason, LSU will lose Cam Carter, Jordan Sears, Dji Bailey, and may lose Jalen Reed which would be four of the team's five leading scorers who combine for 60.4 of the teams 77.3 points per game.
The Tigers transfer portal additions have led the team yet, it's still nowhere near contending status in the SEC. Cam Carter has been the headline player for LSU this season and he was a massive transfer get for Matt McMahon but, he was also the 214th ranked player in the transfer class.
If the Tigers are going to dig their way out of the basement in the SEC, it starts with bringing in the players that can get the job done. The Tigers are going to need an abundance of scoring heading into next season and it may be at the point where Matt McMahon can't count on the incoming Freshman class and Mid-Major transfers to be the only solution.