LSU opens vs. UL Monroe, looks to ride late surge from last season

LSU won five of its final seven regular-season games last season, including victories against No. 11 South Carolina and No. 17 Kentucky.

The push enabled the Tigers to qualify for the NIT, finish with a winning record (17-16) and break even in the Southeastern Conference (9-9) after finishing 14-19 overall and 2-16 in the SEC the season before.

Coach Matt McMahon hopes this year's Tigers team continues to surge when it opens the season against visiting Louisiana-Monroe on Wednesday night in Baton Rouge, La.

"We look to capitalize on the momentum that was created in the final months of the season last year with some of those big wins enabling us to finish in the top half of the SEC," McMahon said.

LSU landed a high-school class ranked No. 14 by 247Sports and a transfer class of three senior guards -- Jordan Sears (UT Martin), Dji Bailey (Richmond) and Cam Carter (Kansas State). The newcomers will join six returning players, led by forwards Jalen Reed and Derek Fountain and guards Mike Williams III and Tyrell Ward.

Louisiana-Monroe, meanwhile, is coming off a 111-61 season-opening win Monday over Champion-Christian. Jerry Ngopot led the Warhawks with 16 points, and Renars Sondors came off the bench to contribute a team-high 14 rebounds.

Last season, the Warhawks finished 11-19 overall and 6-12 in the Sun Belt Conference, which placed them 12th in the 14-team league. They were picked to finish last in the conference this season.

But Keith Richard, beginning his 15th season as head coach at his alma mater, said his team is using the prognostication for fuel.

"It's fired up our team, no question about it," Richard said. "They're going to have a chip on their shoulder. ... I can feel it, so I think we have a great chance of being the surprise team. There's no way we're going to finish last in this league."

--Field Level Media