The biggest story hitting the SEC basketball media days was straight-up wild: LSU’s men’s and women’s teams were total no-shows. Yeah, you heard that right. While Florida’s Rueben Chinyelu was out there guaranteeing a national title, the Tigers couldn’t even make it off the ground, literally.
“Dense Fog” and a Zoom Clash: LSU’s Epic Bailout
So, what happened? LSU blamed “dense fog” in Baton Rouge on Tuesday, claiming their private jet couldn’t take off. Skeptics were immediately on high alert, but meteorologists apparently had the evidence to back up the ground stop. Still, with an exhibition game waiting Wednesday night for Will Wade’s program, you’d think they could figure something out. It’s only about a 25-minute flight from Baton Rouge to Birmingham, for crying out loud. But nope, LSU and the SEC just couldn’t find a quick workaround for the interview schedule.
Wade eventually hopped on a Zoom call with reporters as a make-good, but it didn’t exactly clear things up. Instead, he got into a verbal clash with one of the reporters on the call. Seriously, what a mess. The whole situation left LSU’s status even cloudier than it was heading into the week. You’ve got to wonder what’s going on down there.
The Lawsuit That Nobody Wants to Talk About
But wait, there’s more. Beyond the no-show, there’s a contentious federal lawsuit between LSU and the SEC still hanging over the conference like a dark cloud. Expulsion from the league is even simmering as an “extremely unlikely backdrop threat.” Nothing like a federal lawsuit to get those holiday vibes going, right? Commissioner Greg Sankey spoke to the media on Wednesday and, predictably, totally sidestepped any questions about the litigation or LSU, or his conversations with Wade.
When pressed, Sankey said, “I’d like to not be in court, but as I said, those legal filings speaking for themselves.” He later agreed to a sit-down with CBS Sports, but under one big condition: he couldn’t, and wouldn’t, speak on the unresolved case. Apparently, the lawyers told him to zip it, and he’s more than happy to oblige. It just shows you how serious this whole thing is, with the conference trying to keep a lid on it.
What’s next for LSU? They’ve got to submit their roster to the SEC less than three weeks before their November 3 game against LSU. Yeah, that’s what the schedule says. The legal battle is still unresolved, and the whole situation feels like it’s teetering on the edge. You’ve got to keep an eye on this; it’s going to be a wild start to the season for the Tigers, on and off the court.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by CBS Sports.
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