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NCAA Basketball: 5 breakout teams to watch in 2018-19

By Brian Rauf

LAHAINA, HI - NOVEMBER 21: Head coach Will Wade of the LSU Tigers discusses a call with an official during the second half of the game against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish during the Maui Invitational at the Lahaina Civic Center on November 21, 2017 in Lahaina, Hawaii. (Photo by Darryl Oumi/Getty Images)
LAHAINA, HI - NOVEMBER 21: Head coach Will Wade of the LSU Tigers discusses a call with an official during the second half of the game against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish during the Maui Invitational at the Lahaina Civic Center on November 21, 2017 in Lahaina, Hawaii. (Photo by Darryl Oumi/Getty Images) /
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LAHAINA, HI – NOVEMBER 21: Tremont Waters #3 of the LSU Tigers tries to aviod Temple ‘T.J.’ Gibbs Jr. #10 of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish as he shoots during the second half of their game during the Maui Invitational at the Lahaina Civic Center on November 21, 2017 in Lahaina, Hawaii. (Photo by Darryl Oumi/Getty Images)
LAHAINA, HI – NOVEMBER 21: Tremont Waters #3 of the LSU Tigers tries to aviod Temple ‘T.J.’ Gibbs Jr. #10 of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish as he shoots during the second half of their game during the Maui Invitational at the Lahaina Civic Center on November 21, 2017 in Lahaina, Hawaii. (Photo by Darryl Oumi/Getty Images) /

1.  LSU Tigers

Don’t worry about that failed Ben Simmons year – LSU is the picture-perfect candidate to be a breakout team in 2018-19.

They have a budding superstar in Tremont Waters. They have the stellar recruiting class headlined by two five-stars in Naz Reid and Emmitt Williams. And, they have one of the best young coaches in the sport in Will “American Gangster” Wade.

The talent is all there for the Tigers and it appears to fit together perfectly. Waters averaged 15.9 points, 6.0 assists and 2.0 steals per game a year ago and puts a ton of pressure on opposing defenses with his quickness and unlimited range. He’ll be LSU’s go-to scorer, but he’s not selfish – he knows how and when to make plays for others.

Reid and Williams will likely start alongside each other in the frontcourt as Reid’s versatility, ball-handling ability, and shooting touch make him a great complement to Williams’ athleticism and rebounding. Newcomers Ja’Vonte Smart, Darius Days, and Marlon Taylor are also expected to have major roles.

Of course, the Tigers also have plenty of returning talent as well and will provide that young group with quality depth and leadership. As good as all of those newcomers promise to be, Wade said on the SEC men’s basketball summer teleconference that those experienced players will be the key for them this season.

"“I like the mix we have with those two groups of newcomers. It’s huge to just have some experience. We’ve got a good mix of talented newcomers and young guys, but if we’re going to be a really good team this year, a lot of it’s going to be on the shoulders of guys who’ve been in our program, who were in our program last year. “You need guys that have been in your program, been a part of it. We’ve got guys who’ve been through a season with myself and my staff, we’ve got guys who have been through a season in the SEC. It’s important those guys help lead the way.”"

The program did take a major emotional hit last week when wing Wayde Sims was shot and killed. It is a tragedy the team will carry with them all season and something the program will carry for a significant amount of time. LSU wants to honor him, and the Tigers plan to do so by winning – and that starts with their experienced leaders.

Just how good do I think LSU will be? I think they’ll be SEC co-champs with Kentucky (their schedule sets up perfectly for it). How about that for a breakout season?

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