LSU men’s basketball used to be a historic dynasty, but in recent years, the program has been struggling to stay afloat. In 2025, however, head coach Matt McMahon is determined to turn the program around.
Way back in Tigers basketball history, the Tigers were the gold standard of SEC men’s basketball. Every LSU basketball fan knows about Pete Maravich and Shaquile O’Neal and the success they brought to the program. History wrote itself after the Dale Brown era because the Tigers stayed near the top.
But lately, the program has suffered a bit with wins and fan attendance.
This is why McMahon looks to improve the Tigers team in 2025 in two ways: through the transfer portal and by developing his athletes like never before.
McMahon is a self-proclaimed lover of athlete loyalty. He said in the 2025 preseason press conference that he loves to develop players throughout their career.
In an effort to turn the tables for the Tigers, he leaned into recruitment through the transfer portal. His player development will be on display this season as he looks to gel new faces with old talent to provide a new spark for LSU.
“I’m biased, really, player development’s my favorite part of coaching,” McMahon said on media day. “I think there was obviously the need for us to go out in the portal and get more experience.”
McMahon has done just that, recruiting enough athletes from the portal to boost the average age of the team to over 22. The transfers have stood out significantly at practice so far this season as well.
Omaha transfer Marquel Sutton has looked right at home on the court in the PMAC. He has been a clear leader for the team throughout preseason, and has been as dominant as they come on both sides of the ball so far.
Sutton is joining the Tigers as a fifth-year senior, and he is showing his age on the court in the best possible ways.
In addition to Sutton’s dominance on the court, Mississippi State transfer Mike Nwoko has come out of his shell during preseason. McMahon said in the press conference that he has been impressed with Nwoko’s performance so far this season, but it was truly only a shell of what is yet to come from Nwoko.
In practice, Nwoko was using his mind and body to help gel and pull this team together. He wasn’t afraid to be physical, but he was also extremely communicative on the court and helped lead when he wasn’t in the air or landing shots.
Sutton’s leadership and dominance on both sides of the ball led to positive chemistry between him and Nwoko. Big shots were sunk and solid blocks were made by both players.
In the preseason press conference, McMahon said that Nwoko could be as good as he wants to be, and it appears that Nwoko has run with that.
McMahon has picked up great additions through the transfer portal to support veteran players Jalen Reed and Rob Miller III, but there’s still work to be done before the season starts. Like he says, his true passion as a coach is to develop players, so these new transfers are expected to take their game to another level.
Reed is entering his senior season as a Tiger, and he said that McMahon has truly enjoyed having returning athletes and loves investing in them.
“I love how Matt [McMahon] has really invested in me all four years and trusted me and welcomed me back every year… I’m going to ride with him,” Reed said at media days.
With how much McMahon loves to develop his athletes, the 2025-26 basketball season could be the return of the men’s basketball dynasty at LSU. It all begins on Nov. 5 against Tarleton State in the PMAC.
