[Photo via LSU Creative]
The 2018-2019 LSU Basketball regular season has provided a wide variety of emotions, some filled with triumph, some with anguish, but on Saturday night in the Maravich Center, it ended with confetti and the conference crown.
(The program’s first regular season conference title since 2009)
No. 10 LSU soundly defeated Vanderbilt 80-59 in front of a tenacious PMAC crowd to capture the Southeastern Conference regular season championship. Without head coach Will Wade, point guard Ja’vonte Smart and forward Naz Reid (injury), the Tigers weathered the storm and narrowed their focus to cut the nets and put a bow on this memorable regular season.
Key Stats:
D. Days: 15 points, 4 rebounds
T. Waters: 14 points, 8 assists
S. Mays: 13 points, 4 assists
In addition, Marshall Graves played 26 minutes and posted 12 points.
Regardless of what hangs over this program’s head, there remains one constant: this season is for Wayde Sims and that shouldn’t be overlooked. If anyone deserves to cut down the nets, it’s Wayde’s parents (Wayne and Faye) and they did just that tonight before a PMAC crowd chanting “44” in unison.
With the win, the Tigers finish the regular season 26-5 overall and 16-2 in SEC play. LSU will be the No. 1 seed in next week’s SEC Tournament in Nashville. LSU will play the winner of Florida/Arkansas at noon CT on Friday.
Interim head coach Tony Benford said Naz Reid should be “ready to go” for the SEC Tournament. Reid was held out tonight for injuries sustained vs. Florida.
What a crazy ride this season has been, but it sure ain’t over yet.
