The No. 9 seed Kentucky Wildcats eliminated the No. 16 seed LSU Tigers 87-82 in the opening round of the SEC Men’s Basketball Tournament on Wednesday in Nashville, Tennessee. Max Mackinnon scored a game-high 28 points for LSU, but a decisive 12-1 Kentucky scoring run in the second half secured the victory.
The defeat officially concludes LSU’s season with a 15-17 overall record and a 3-16 mark against conference opponents. The early tournament exit marks the fourth consecutive season the Tigers will miss the NCAA Tournament under head coach Matt McMahon, representing the longest postseason drought for the program since 1997.
LSU held a narrow 46-43 lead at halftime before the Wildcats tightened their defense. Otega Oweh led Kentucky’s offensive effort with 23 points, while Brandon Garrison contributed 17 points off the bench. Michael Nwoko added 16 points and 12 rebounds for the Tigers in the loss.
The elimination shifts immediate focus to McMahon’s job security. In January, LSU Athletic Director Verge Ausberry stated to local media that the athletic department would “have to reevaluate” McMahon’s tenure if the team failed to qualify for the NCAA Tournament. McMahon currently holds a 17-56 record against SEC opponents across his four years at the university.
Firing McMahon and his staff requires an estimated buyout of up to $11 million. This financial reality will heavily factor into the university’s upcoming decisions as they evaluate the future of their sports programs.