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LSU Basketball: Why are expectations so high for 2018-19?

By Lukas Harkins

BATON ROUGE, LA - JANUARY 28: Fans of the LSU Tigers celebrate following a victory over the Kentucky Wildcats at the Pete Maravich Assembly Center on January 28, 2014 in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. LSU won the game 87-82. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images)
BATON ROUGE, LA - JANUARY 28: Fans of the LSU Tigers celebrate following a victory over the Kentucky Wildcats at the Pete Maravich Assembly Center on January 28, 2014 in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. LSU won the game 87-82. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images) /
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ATLANTA, GA – MARCH 14: A LSU Tigers cheerleader performs. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
ATLANTA, GA – MARCH 14: A LSU Tigers cheerleader performs. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images) /

Many are projecting LSU basketball to be a top-25 team in the country this year. Why is that and how can the team live up the preseason hype on the court?

LSU basketball has reached the NCAA Tournament just one time in the last nine seasons and has won 20+ games just twice during that stretch. Yet, not only is a Big Dance appearance the expectation this year but many are also projecting the Tigers as a top-25 team in the country this season. So, having said this, it is reasonable to ask: Why?

To put it simply, the roster is prepped for a big year. In addition to head coach Will Wade returning the majority of top contributors from last season, a significant recruiting class is also joining the program. And, for reference, it is not as though LSU basketball was dreadful last season. They may not have received an NCAA Tournament bid but they still turned heads along the path to an 18-15 (8-10 SEC) a year ago.

Now, in an even more competitive SEC, the young Tigers look poised for a monster season. Even though Kentucky, Auburn, and Tennessee look to be the clear top-tier of the conference heading into 2018-19, LSU might not be that far beyond. They have strong on-court leaders, an influx of unique talent, and high-quality head coach in Will Wade.

Although LSU will need to take a sizable jump to go from missing the tournament to a top-25 team, there are multiple reasons to believe. So, let’s dive into the three most important reasons for betting on the Tigers in 2018-19.

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