2025-2026 LSU Men’s Basketball Preview

Tigers Look to Roar Back with a Roster Overhaul

It’s a new day in Baton Rouge, and the LSU Tigers are rolling into the 2025-26 basketball season with a completely retooled squad and a point to prove. Head coach Matt McMahon has hit the reset button — hard — after last year’s ups and downs, assembling a roster that blends experience, athleticism, and plenty of scoring punch.

This year’s mission? Get LSU back into SEC contention and make a real run at the NCAA Tournament. With 11 — yes, eleven — new faces on the roster, McMahon and his staff have been living in the transfer portal, grabbing proven producers who can step in and make noise right away.

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🔥 Roster Overhaul: Fresh Faces, Big Expectations

The 2025-26 Tigers are practically a brand-new team. Between battle-tested transfers and talented freshmen, LSU is betting big on chemistry and depth coming together fast.

Key Transfer Additions

The portal was kind to the Tigers this offseason. McMahon didn’t just add depth — he added firepower.

Rashad King

Guard/Wing 6”6 217

18.5 PPG, 6.1 RPG, 3.3 APG

Smooth, confident scorer who can light it up from anywhere. LSU hasn’t had a wing like this in a while.

Dedan Thomas Jr.

Point Guard 6”1 178

15.6 PPG, 4.7 APG

A steady, high-IQ point guard who knows how to control tempo and create for others. Exactly what LSU’s offense needed.

Marquel Sutton

Forward 6”9 225

18.9 PPG, 7.9 RPG

Physical, relentless forward with a scorer’s mindset. Expect him to make an immediate impact down low and from the wing.

Max Mackinnon

Guard/Wing 6”6 195

14.5 PPG, 4.8 RPG, 40.7% from 3

Knockdown shooter who spreads the floor and can handle the ball. LSU fans will love his range.

Mike Nwoko

Forward/Center 6”10 261

6.1 PPG, 4.6 RPG

Legit SEC size and strength. He’ll handle the dirty work in the paint and make life tough for opposing bigs.

Returning Pillars

Amid all the new names, a couple of returning Tigers will be key to keeping some continuity and leadership on the floor.

Jalen Reed

Forward 6”10 245

11.1 PPG, 6.5 RPG (in 8 games before injury)

Back from an ACL tear, Reed’s return could be a game-changer. A healthy Reed means a dynamic, versatile frontcourt.

Robert Miller III

Forward 6”10 230

4.5 PPG, 3.1 RPG, 61.5% FG

Freakish 7’5” wingspan and big upside. If his offseason growth matches the hype, he could be a breakout player.

💪 Building the Frontcourt Muscle

McMahon clearly had a type this offseason: big, strong, and tough. With Reed and Miller back, and the additions of Nwoko and Sutton, LSU suddenly looks big. Like, “finally-can-rebound-consistently” big.

That size should pay off right away — improving interior defense, cleaning up the glass, and allowing LSU to dictate the physical tone of games. In the SEC, where size and toughness matter, that’s a major step forward.

🔮 Season Outlook

This is the year for Matt McMahon to show his long-term vision for LSU basketball. The roster looks deeper, tougher, and more skilled than any he’s had in Baton Rouge.

With Rashad King and Dedan Thomas Jr. leading the backcourt, and a front line full of size and energy, LSU could surprise a lot of people. If the chemistry clicks early, this team has all the ingredients to finish in the top half of the SEC — and hear its name called on Selection Sunday.

Buckle up, Tiger fans. This year’s squad might just be ready to roar again.