# 2021–22 LSU Tigers men's basketball team

The 2021–22 LSU Tigers basketball team represented Louisiana State University during the 2021–22 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. The team's head coach was Will Wade, in his fifth (and final) season at LSU. They played their home games at the Pete Maravich Assembly Center in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, as a member of the Southeastern Conference. They finished the season 22–12, 9–9 in SEC Play to finish a five-way tie for fifth place. As the No. 5 seed in the SEC tournament, they defeated Missouri in the Second Round, before losing in the quarterfinals to Arkansas. They received an at-large bid to the NCAA tournament as the No. 6 seed in the Midwest Region, where they were upset in the First Round by Iowa State.
Following the team's loss in the SEC Tournament, the school fired head coach Will Wade after receiving notification of significant NCAA violations by Wade. Assistant coach Kevin Nickelberry coached the team in their NCAA Tournament game. On March 21, 2022, the school named Murray State head coach Matt McMahon the team's new head coach.

## Previous season

In a season limited due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the Tigers finished the season 19–10, 11–6 in SEC play to finish in third place. They defeated Ole Miss and Arkansas in the SEC tournament to advance to the championship game where they lost to Alabama. They received an at-large bid to the NCAA tournament as the No. 8 seed in the East Region where they defeated St. Bonaventure in the first round before losing to Michigan in the second round.

## Offseason
### Departures

| Name | Number | Pos. | Height | Weight | Year | Hometown | Reason for departure |
| Javonte Smart | 1 | G | 6'4" | 205 | Junior | Baton Rouge, LA | Declared for the 2021 NBA draft |
| Trendon Watford | 2 | F | 6'9" | 240 | Sophomore | Birmingham, AL | Declared for the 2021 NBA draft |
| Jalen Cook | 3 | G | 6'0" | 205 | Freshman | Walker, LA | Transferred to Tulane |
| Josh LeBlanc Sr. | 11 | G | 6'7" | 230 | Junior | Baton Rouge, LA | Transferred to UAB |
| Aundre Hyatt | 15 | F | 6'6" | 225 | RS Sophomore | The Bronx, NY | Transferred to Rutgers |
| Charles Manning Jr. | 21 | G | 6'5" | 205 | Junior | Riverhead, NY | Transferred to South Alabama |
| Bryan Penn-Johnson | 22 | C | 7'0" | 260 | Sophomore | Long Beach, CA | Transferred to East Los Angeles College |
| Cameron Thomas | 24 | G | 6'4" | 210 | Freshman | Chesapeake, VA | Declared for the 2021 NBA draft |
| Josh Gray | 34 | C | 6'11" | 255 | Freshman | Brooklyn, NY | Transferred to South Carolina |

### Incoming transfers

| Name | Number | Pos. | Height | Weight | Year | Hometown | Previous School |
| Xavier Pinson | 1 | G | 6'2" | 154 | Senior | Chicago, IL | Missouri |
| Tari Eason | 13 | F | 6'8" | 216 | Sophomore | Seattle, WA | Cincinnati |
| Adam Miller | 44 | G | 6'2" | 185 | Sophomore | Peoria, IL | Illinois |

### 2021 recruiting class

College recruiting information :
| Name | Hometown | High school / college | Height | Weight | Commit date |
| Efton Reid C | Richmond, VA | IMG Academy (FL) | 6 ft 11 in (2.11 m) | 240 lb (110 kg) | May 9, 2021 |
| Star ratings: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN: ESPN grade: 91 ||||||
| Jerrell Colbert C | Houston, TX | Houston (TN) | 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m) | 205 lb (93 kg) | Mar 1, 2020 |
| Star ratings: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN: ESPN grade: 84 ||||||
| Brandon Murray SG | Baltimore, MD | IMG Academy (FL) | 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) | 220 lb (100 kg) | Aug 15, 2020 |
| Star ratings: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN: ESPN grade: 82 ||||||
| Justice Williams SG | Philadelphia, PA | Montverde Academy (FL) | 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) | 170 lb (77 kg) | Jun 17, 2021 |
| Star ratings: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN: ESPN grade: 81 ||||||
| Bradley Ezewiro C | Torrance, CA | Oak Hill Academy (VA) | 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m) | 225 lb (102 kg) | Oct 26, 2019 |
| Star ratings: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN: ESPN grade: 77 ||||||
| Overall recruiting rankings: ||||||
| Note: In many cases, Scout, Rivals, 247Sports, and ESPN may conflict in their listings of height and weight. In these cases, the average was taken. ESPN grades are on a 100-point scale. Sources: "LSU 2021 Basketball Commitments". Rivals.com. Retrieved October 9, 2021. "2021 LSU Basketball Commits". Scout.com. Retrieved October 9, 2021. "ESPN". ESPN.com. Retrieved October 9, 2021. "Scout.com Team Recruiting Rankings". Scout.com. Retrieved October 9, 2021. "2021 Team Ranking". Rivals.com. Retrieved October 9, 2021. ||||||

### 2022 Recruiting class

College recruiting information (2022) :
| Name | Hometown | High school / college | Height | Weight | Commit date |
| Julian Phillips #5 SF | Blythewood, SC | Link Year Prep | 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) | 210 lb (95 kg) | Oct 8, 2021 |
| Star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN: ESPN grade: 91 |||||||
| Devin Ree #26 SF | Terry, MS | Terry High School | 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m) | 185 lb (84 kg) | Dec 10, 2020 |
| Star ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN: ESPN grade: 82 |||||||
| Overall recruiting rankings: |||||||
| Note: In many cases, Scout, Rivals, 247Sports, and ESPN may conflict in their listings of height and weight. In these cases, the average was taken. ESPN grades are on a 100-point scale. Sources: "LSU 2022 Basketball Commitments". Rivals.com. Retrieved October 9, 2021. "2022 LSU Basketball Commits". Scout.com. Retrieved October 9, 2021. "ESPN". ESPN.com. Retrieved October 9, 2021. "Scout.com Team Recruiting Rankings". Scout.com. Retrieved October 9, 2021. "2022 Team Ranking". Rivals.com. Retrieved October 9, 2021. |||||||

## Schedule and results

| Date time, TV | Rank$^#$ | Opponent$^#$ | Result | Record | High points | High rebounds | High assists | Site (attendance) city, state |
| Regular season |||||||||
| November 9, 2021* 7:00 p.m., SECN+ | | Louisiana–Monroe | W 101–39 | 1–0 | 30 – Days | 10 – Eason | 7 – Tied | Pete Maravich Assembly Center (9,969) Baton Rouge, LA |
| November 12, 2021* 7:00 p.m., SECN+ | | Texas State | W 84–59 | 2–0 | 17 – Tied | 10 – Eason | 5 – Gaines | Pete Maravich Assembly Center (11,030) Baton Rouge, LA |
| November 15, 2021* 6:00 p.m., ESPNU | | Liberty | W 74–58 | 3–0 | 26 – Days | 7 – Tied | 7 – Pinson | Pete Maravich Assembly Center (8,940) Baton Rouge, LA |
| November 18, 2021* 7:00 p.m., SECN+ | | McNeese State Emerald Coast Classic campus-site game | W 85–46 | 4–0 | 19 – Eason | 14 – Eason | 8 – Pinson | Pete Maravich Assembly Center (9,062) Baton Rouge, LA |
| November 22, 2021* 7:00 p.m., SECN+ | | Belmont | W 83–53 | 5–0 | 15 – Tied | 9 – Reid | 3 – Tied | Pete Maravich Assembly Center (9,923) Baton Rouge, LA |
| November 26, 2021* 6:00 p.m., CBSSN | | vs. Penn State Emerald Coast Classic semifinals | W 68–63 $^{OT}$ | 6–0 | 20 – Eason | 9 – Eason | 3 – Tied | The Arena at NFSC (2,146) Niceville, FL |
| November 27, 2021* 6:00 p.m., CBSSN | | vs. Wake Forest Emerald Coast Classic championship game | W 75–61 | 7–0 | 14 – Reid | 9 – Fudge | 5 – Pinson | The Arena at NFSC (1,700) Niceville, FL |
| December 1, 2021* 7:00 p.m., SECN+ | | Ohio | W 66–51 | 8–0 | 20 – Eason | 13 – Days | 5 – Gaines | Pete Maravich Assembly Center (11,328) Baton Rouge, LA |
| December 11, 2021* 5:00 p.m., ESPN2 | No. 25 | vs. Georgia Tech Holiday Hoopsgiving | W 69–53 | 9–0 | 23 – Eason | 10 – Days | 6 – Pinson | State Farm Arena (6,137) Atlanta, GA |
| December 14, 2021* 6:00 p.m., SECN | No. 19 | Northwestern State | W 89–49 | 10–0 | 18 – Eason | 10 – Reid | 4 – Pinson | Pete Maravich Assembly Center (8,904) Baton Rouge, LA |
| December 18, 2021* 6:00 p.m., CBSSN | No. 19 | vs. Louisiana Tech Bossier City Showcase | W 66–57 | 11–0 | 21 – Eason | 18 – Days | 2 – Tied | Brookshire Grocery Arena (6,868) Bossier City, LA |
| December 22, 2021* 6:00 p.m., SECN | No. 17 | Lipscomb | W 95–60 | 12–0 | 21 – Days | 9 – Reid | 6 – Gaines | Pete Maravich Assembly Center (10,767) Baton Rouge, LA |
| December 29, 2021 6:00 p.m., ESPNU | No. 16 | at No. 11 Auburn | L 55–70 | 12–1 (0–1) | 13 – Pinson | 7 – Eason | 3 – Pinson | Auburn Arena (9,121) Auburn, AL |
| January 4, 2022 6:00 p.m., ESPN | No. 21 | No. 16 Kentucky | W 65–60 | 13–1 (1–1) | 13 – Eason | 7 – Days | 4 – Pinson | Pete Maravich Assembly Center (11,808) Baton Rouge, LA |
| January 8, 2022 5:00 p.m., ESPN2 | No. 21 | No. 18 Tennessee | W 79–67 | 14–1 (2–1) | 24 – Eason | 12 – Eason | 7 – Pinson | Pete Maravich Assembly Center (12,881) Baton Rouge, LA |
| January 12, 2022 6:00 p.m., ESPN2 | No. 12 | at Florida | W 64–58 | 15–1 (3–1) | 20 – Days | 8 – Wilkinson | 2 – Tied | O'Connell Center (10,110) Gainesville, FL |
| January 15, 2022 1:00 p.m., ESPN2 | No. 12 | Arkansas | L 58–65 | 15–2 (3–2) | 14 – Gaines | 6 – Gaines | 5 – Gaines | Pete Maravich Assembly Center (12,734) Baton Rouge, LA |
| January 19, 2022 6:00 p.m., ESPN2 | No. 13 | at Alabama | L 67–70 | 15–3 (3–3) | 26 – Eason | 10 – Eason | 3 – Wilkinson | Coleman Coliseum (10,368) Tuscaloosa, AL |
| January 22, 2022 5:00 p.m., ESPN | No. 13 | at No. 24 Tennessee | L 50–64 | 15–4 (3–4) | 16 – Eason | 7 – Days | 3 – Tied | Thompson–Boling Arena (21,061) Knoxville, TN |
| January 26, 2022 8:00 p.m., SECN | No. 19 | Texas A&M | W 70–64 | 16–4 (4–4) | 21 – Murray | 9 – Eason | 3 – Tied | Pete Maravich Assembly Center (10,929) Baton Rouge, LA |
| January 29, 2022* 11:00 a.m., ESPN2 | No. 19 | at TCU Big 12/SEC Challenge | L 68–77 | 16–5 | 16 – Eason | 12 – Days | 6 – Gaines | Schollmaier Arena (6,539) Fort Worth, TX |
| February 1, 2022 8:00 p.m., SECN | No. 25 | Ole Miss | L 72–76 | 16–6 (4–5) | 21 – Days | 13 – Days | 3 – Tied | Pete Maravich Assembly Center (9,707) Baton Rouge, LA |
| February 5, 2022 5:00 p.m., SECN | No. 25 | at Vanderbilt | L 66–75 | 16–7 (4–6) | 16 – Eason | 11 – Days | 2 – Tied | Memorial Gymnasium (7,381) Nashville, TN |
| February 8, 2022 6:00 p.m., SECN | | at Texas A&M | W 76–68 | 17–7 (5–6) | 25 – Eason | 12 – Eason | 5 – Murray | Reed Arena (6,636) College Station, TX |
| February 12, 2022 7:00 p.m., ESPN2 | | Mississippi State | W 69–65 | 18–7 (6–6) | 23 – Eason | 7 – Days | 5 – Gaines | Pete Maravich Assembly Center (10,975) Baton Rouge, LA |
| February 16, 2022 7:00 p.m., SECN | | Georgia | W 84–65 | 19–7 (7–6) | 21 – Eason | 12 – Days | 10 – Pinson | Pete Maravich Assembly Center (9,064) Baton Rouge, LA |
| February 19, 2022 2:30 p.m., SECN | | at South Carolina | L 75–77 | 19–8 (7–7) | 21 – Eason | 10 – Eason | 8 – Pinson | Colonial Life Arena (11,292) Columbia, SC |
| February 23, 2022 8:00 p.m., ESPN | | at No. 6 Kentucky | L 66–71 | 19–9 (7–8) | 26 – Pinson | 8 – Days | 8 – Pinson | Rupp Arena (20,199) Lexington, KY |
| February 26, 2022 7:30 p.m., SECN | | Missouri | W 75–55 | 20–9 (8–8) | 18 – Eason | 7 – O'Neal | 3 – Pinson | Pete Maravich Assembly Center (9,304) Baton Rouge, LA |
| March 2, 2022 8:00 p.m., ESPN2 | | at No. 14 Arkansas | L 76–77 | 20–10 (8–9) | 24 – Eason | 7 – Tied | 5 – Pinson | Bud Walton Arena (19,200) Fayetteville, AR |
| March 5, 2022 11:00 a.m., CBS | | No. 25 Alabama | W 80–77 $^{OT}$ | 21–10 (9–9) | 24 – Days | 9 – Eason | 8 – Pinson | Pete Maravich Assembly Center (11,237) Baton Rouge, LA |
| SEC Tournament |||||||||
| March 10, 2022 1:00 p.m., SECN | (5) | vs. (12) Missouri Second Round | W 76–68 | 22–10 | 19 – Eason | 8 – Days | 8 – Murray | Amalie Arena Tampa, FL |
| March 11, 2022 1:30 p.m., ESPN | (5) | vs. (4) No. 15 Arkansas Quarterfinals | L 67–79 | 22–11 | 15 – Eason | 10 – Days | 4 – Murray | Amalie Arena Tampa, FL |
| NCAA tournament |||||||||
| Mar 18, 2022 6:20 p.m., TBS | (6 MW) | vs. (11 MW) Iowa State First Round | L 54–59 | 22–12 | 18 – Eason | 12 – Days | 7 – Pinson | Fiserv Forum (17,500) Milwaukee, WI |
| *Non-conference game. $^#$Rankings from AP Poll. (#) Tournament seedings in parentheses. All times are in Central Time. |||||||||
Schedule Source

## Rankings

Ranking movements Legend: ██ Increase in ranking ██ Decrease in ranking — = Not ranked RV = Received votes :
| | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week |
| Poll | Pre | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | Final |
| AP | RV | RV | RV | RV | 25 | 19 | 17 | 16 | 21 | 12 | 13 | 19 | 25 | RV | | | | | | | Not released |
| Coaches | RV | ^ | RV | RV | 24 | 20 | 16 | 16 | 21 | 12 | 16 | 18 | 25 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
*AP does not release post-NCAA Tournament rankings ^Coaches did not release a Week 2 poll