SEC Basketball: 10 key questions looming for the 2021-22 season

5. Can the LSU Tigers be a deeper squad in 2021-22?

The LSU Tigers were one of the top offenses in SEC Basketball in 2020-21. They led the conference in scoring offense (81.8 ppg), second in field goal percentage (45.9 percent) and fourth in 3-point field goal percentage. Their production as a team was good enough to finish third in SEC action with an 11-6 record and they made it to the second round of the NCAA Tournament.

With Tremont Waters, Javonte Smart, and Cam Thomas all off to the NBA, the Tigers will have some work to do in reshaping their rotation. With eight newcomers, it’s safe to say Will Wade’s club will look a whole lot different in 2021-22. They should have a much deeper rotation with transfers Adam Miller (Illinois) and Xavier Pinson (Missouri) adding to their backcourt rotation.

Miller finished with 8.3 points and 2.8 rebounds per game this past season while shooting 34 percent from 3-point land, starting in all 31 games as a freshman for the Fighting Illini.

Pinson was quite the two-way presence in 2020-21 at Missouri with13.6 points, 2.9 assists, 2.7 rebounds and 1.1 steals per game across 26 starts this past year. He’s developed quite nicely in the backcourt in the past three seasons with the Missouri Tigers. He’ll add some defensive prowess to the perimeter.

Their starting trio of a year ago did a lot for them offensively. After all, the Tigers finished last in the SEC ranks this past season in bench points per game (11.7), bench assists per game (2.4), and bench 3-point percentage (22.5 percent).

They weren’t the deepest team, to say the least in 2020-21, relying heavily on their starters. Having more weapons on the floor this season could very well be a good thing.