When SEC Media Day begins on Tuesday in Birmingham, Alabama there will be a noticeable absence. LSU coach Will Wade, Kansas State transfer Abdi Bashir Jr. and Kentucky transfer Mouhamed Dioubate won't be in attendance due to "inclement weather," the SEC announced. There was a ground stop in Baton Rouge due to fog on Tuesday morning.
Wade was scheduled to speak second at the event, after Auburn coach Steven Pearl and players Kevin Overton and Tahaad Pettiford took questions from reporters. LSU women's coach Kim Mulkey was also scheduled to appear at SEC Media Day on Tuesday alongside MiLaysia Fulwiley, ZaKiyah Johnson and Mikaylah Williams, but they will also not be in attendance. Due to inclement weather, we are no longer able to attend SEC Tip-Off in person, but you can still catch @LSUwbkb at 9:50am and @LSUBasketball at 10:50am remotely on @SECNetwork! pic.twitter.com/cjUaW5n1c6 The Tigers were picked to finish 14th in the preseason SEC poll release on Monday, with Mississippi State and South Carolina being the only teams selected to finish below them.
LSU fired Matt McMahon after four seasons with the program after the Tigers finished last (3-15) in the SEC last season. Wade's roster construction has been under a microscope this season, due to a handful of his players currently in eligibility limbo. LSU had its exhibition debut last week against McNeese and came away with a 63-60 win despite playing just seven players.
The Tigers had just four players listed on their active roster as of a few days ago, before it was updated to include 10 total players. Notable additions to LSU's roster over the last few days include UCLA transfer Donovan Dent, international big man Michael Ružić and freshman Jordan Bender. Notable players Wade recruited this offseason that still aren't listed on the team's official roster: Former Big East Player of the Year RJ Luis Jr., UCLA transfer Skyy Clark and Gilad Levy, Brice Dessert and Saliou Niang from the international ranks.
Wade has made a handful of media appearances in recent weeks, including his first public remarks about his "unconventional" roster last month, ahead of his team's first scrimmage against McNeese. "What we're doing is unconventional," Wade said last month. But, 20 years ago, Airbnb was unconventional.
Everybody stayed in a hotel. Fifteen years ago, you rode in a taxi everywhere. So, like, just because it's unconventional doesn't mean it's not going to work.
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