Yahoo Sports What’s next at LSU with Will Wade in limbo?
WASHINGTON – As the clock ran down on LSU’s season Friday night, athletic director Joe Alleva stood with his arms crossed in Section 111 of the Capital One Center.
No. 3 LSU looked listless and lost in playing with only sporadic energy in a convincing loss to No. 2 Michigan State, 80-63. As the clock struck zero, LSU’s athletic director gazed out onto the court to an uncertain future. “No comment,” Alleva snapped to Yahoo Sports moments after the buzzer when asked about the future of the program. “No comment.”
The suspension of Will Wade and the university’s decision on his future hangs over the Tigers program. Wade has refused to meet with university officials since Yahoo Sports reported that Wade has been heard on a FBI wiretap speaking to a now-convicted felon about a “strong-ass offer” for a recruit.
Alleva’s public comments to Stadium last week seem to indicate the university is ready to part ways with him.
“Will’s refused to talk to us,” Alleva told Stadium. He added: “I wish he’d come in and just tell the truth. Just tell me what went on.”
LSU faces an immediate quandary. Wade has said he’s refusing to meet with university officials until the federal criminal investigation is complete. LSU officials have practically begged Wade to meet with them.
Soon, we’ll find out if LSU wants to wait out the investigation, which appears unlikely considering the tenor of the school’s public comments. More likely is a firing for cause, with the school’s public pleas for Wade to come speak with them seemingly doubling as building a case for some level of contractual insubordination.
The timeline of the decision is tricky. There are two other open SEC coaching jobs – Vanderbilt and Arkansas – which could conceivably be in competition the same coaches. (More likely Arkansas than Vanderbilt.)
There’s also how much Wade’s potential return or dismissal could impact the NBA decisions of guard Tremont Waters and forward Naz Reid.
“Obviously we don’t know what’s going on,” Waters said. “We’re going to keep doing what we’ve been doing. Stay in the gym and talk to our families.”
There’s been speculation that interim coach Tony Benford could join his old boss Buzz Williams if he leaves for Texas A&M, which has been widely expected in coaching circles. Benford declined to answer a question about what happens next at LSU.
“I really don’t know,” Benford said. “We just played a game … I’m not really even thinking about it right now.”
Some logical names for a potential opening at LSU would include former Tigers assistant and current Nevada coach Eric Musselman, Wofford’s Mike Young, Murray State coach Matt McMahon and Northern Kentucky’s John Brannen.
More from Yahoo Sports:
