SEC Basketball: Early grades for each teams 2023 offseason moves
By Bryan Mauro
LSU Tigers – Grade: B+
LSU was terrible within the conference last year and what better way to get the sour taste out of your mouth from last season is to go and secure a brand new starting five in the transfer portal. That could be a good thing and a bad thing at the same time. It will take some time to build the chemistry and for everyone to figure out their roles. LSU did lose a lot of their production from the team a year ago but as mentioned that team was not good. Justice Hill, Adam Miller, Shawn Phillips, and Cam Hayes are all gone.
To replace the new starting five the Tigers went and got much better everywhere especially in the backcourt. Jalen Cook and Carlos Stewart are two dynamic guards from high-scoring offenses who can play both guard spots. Cook is one of the best guards in the country and will have zero problems adjusting to the new league. Will Baker and Hunter Dean are interesting as they are both big men who bring different things to the table. Baker is a 7 footer and Dean is 6’10.” Hard to say if they will both start. Jordan Wright is a scoring wing who previously played for Vanderbilt. Wright should be a good piece for the Tigers. LSU will be much improved at least in their starting five.
Mississippi State Bulldogs – Grade: C-
It is only a matter of time until head coach Chris Jans gets the Mississippi State program built up to a consistent NCAA tournament team. The Bulldogs may even make it back again this year. There were a ton of seniors last season but Mississippi State has a big recruiting class and needed to supplement in the transfer portal. The Bulldogs needed a backup big man and a scorer in the portal to round out the team. Tolu Smith announcing his return was a huge win for coach Jans as the Bulldogs look to get back to the tournament.
The Bulldogs succeeded in adding both pieces to their roster but the big man wasn’t a guy that I expected to be the guy they went after. Jimmy Bell Jr from West Virginia didn’t do much and will likely still continue to be a backup even if Tolu Smith doesn’t return. The scorer is the pickup that moved the needle for Bulldog fans. Andrew Taylor from Marshall averaged over 20 points per game and is a great shooter. He has the ability to carry a team but I do have questions about how the rest of this roster comes together outside of Taylor and Smith. The guard from Marshall is going to lead the team in most offensive categories.