Prestige Rankings: The Best SEC Men’s Basketball Programs

Mar 13, 2015; Nashville, TN, USA; LSU Tigers guard Tim Quarterman (55) keeps the ball away from Auburn Tigers guard TJ Lang (23) during the third round of the SEC Conference Tournament at Bridgestone Arena. Mandatory Credit: Don McPeak-USA TODAY Sports

4. LSU Tigers

NCAA Tournament Appearances: 21

Sweet Sixteens: 4

Elite Eights: 3

Final Fours: 2

National Championship Appearances: None

National Championships: None

SEC Tournament Championships: 1

The LSU Tigers don’t have as many NCAA Tournament appearances as some teams in the SEC, but they’ve made several deep runs in the tournament.

LSU didn’t miss a tournament from 1985 to 1993, advancing to the Final Four in 1986 and the Elite Eight in 1987. The Tigers didn’t make it back till 2000 when they made it to the Sweet Sixteen. Then in 2006, LSU made it to another Final Four, losing to UCLA. The Tigers earned their 1st berth since 2009 in the 2015 field this season.

Although the Tigers have made deep runs, they also have had mixed results and have been bounced in the 1st and 2nd round more times than not. But their two Final Fours speak more to their history.

LSU won the SEC Tournament in 1980, but that is their lone tournament title. They appeared in the championship game in 1987 and 1993, but have failed to make a large impact in the tournament since then.

A lackluster SEC Tournament history keeps LSU from ascending into the top 3 of the SEC, but they still largely have a more successful postseason history than the majority of the conference.