Will Wade met with the media Friday afternoon, less than 24 hours before the Tigers final regular season game. He talked about the Tigers’ Wednesday night loss to South Carolina in Columbia, a game in which LSU took the Gamecocks to overtime tied at 72, but managed only two points in the extra period against the Gamecocks’ 11. 
With the loss to South Carolina, the Tigers chances of landing a spot in the NCAA Tournament are even further diminished. It would seem that the only way into the Big Dance for LSU at this point would be a miraculous run in the SEC tournament in St. Louis next weekend, one in which they would have to upset at least one, if not two, NCAA Tournament locks such as Auburn, Tennessee and Kentucky. A bid to the less prestigious but respectable National Invitation Tournament seems much more feasible.
Will Wade did not address the Tigers’ postseason chances in the press conference but he did mention that he wished the Tigers were built tougher. He said it is imperative that players already have either excellent basketball IQ or great toughness instilled in them when they arrive at LSU, so that the Tigers coaching staff can focus on improving the other of the two.
The Tigers close out the regular season Saturday at noon in the PMAC against the Mississippi State Bulldogs.