NCAA Basketball: Preseason Top-25 power rankings for 2020-21 season

The Tigers did lose not only Skylar Mays via graduation but also starting forward Emmitt Williams to the NBA Draft. Yet the program has to be happy with the overall results of the early entrants, as both Javonte Smart and Trendon Watford electing to return for this season.

Add double-digit scoring forward Darius Days, and you have a foundation of a roster to build on. And there’s five-star freshman guard Cameron Thomas and top-100 guard Eric Gaines there as well. Senior Charles Manning Jr. provides depth as well to round out the backcourt.

"Suffice to say, it’s looking like LSU is going to be loaded with talent. It remains to be seen how the team will gel together and whether Wade will be able to effectively manage minutes. -Jacob Zinkula (@1PerfectBracket)"

Where things get interesting is in the frontcourt alongside Watford. LSU has three forward transfers, including Josh LeBlanc, Bryan Penn-Johnson, and Shareef O’Neal. LeBlanc, the former All-Big East freshman big has the best chance at playing time among the three but if they can get anything from all three, there’s enough depth and talent overall to be a major factor in the SEC.

The biggest issue on paper that the Tigers need to address is the possible lack of three-point shooting. Both Williams and Mays were by far the best shooters last season and those remaining, have some work to do in that department. But if Watford breaks out as a national sophomore star, the lack of shooting may not affect them as much.