LSU baseball hoisted the College World Series national championship trophy last summer.

But several of those star players that helped the Tigers achieve the ultimate prize are no longer wearing purple and gold. There was plenty of turnover this offseason for LSU and coach Jay Johnson has been quick to point out that his team isn't defending an NCAA title, but rather attacking another one.

Can the Tigers reach Omaha again? Will it be as dominant in the 2024 season as it was during 2023?

Here are three bold predictions:

LSU baseball star slugger Tommy "Tanks" White will be SEC Player of the Year

If there's any way LSU is going to get back to the College World Series, junior third baseman and power hitter Tommy White will have to play a vital role in the team's climb.

He's a 2024 preseason All-American as he finished last season a first-team All-american. White smashed .374 at the plate in his first year at LSU in 2023. He recorded 105 RBIs along with 24 home runs, 64 runs and 102 total hits.

There's another star player in the league, i.e. Florida's Jac Caglianone, but White will outduel him to take home the SEC's top honor.

LSU will finish outside the top 5 teams in the SEC standings

Arkansas appears to be the class of the SEC West division. Texas A&M added some big transfers, highlighted by Stanford's biggest bat in Braden Montgomery, and Jim Schlossnagle's ballclub is set up for big year.

Florida and Tennessee will be good again on the East side and while they each lost their ace on staff from last season, the offenses are expected to carry the load for their teams.

Everyone seems to have written off Vanderbilt but with pitchers Devin Futrell and preseason All-SEC selection Carter Holton, the Commodores will be better than advertised and will edge out LSU for a top-5 finish among league teams across divisions.

Tigers will reach NCAA super regionals, but will fall short of getting back to College World Series

Trying to replace and replicate what LSU lost will be tall order for Tigers coach Jay Johnson, his staff and players.

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Paul Skenes and Dylan Crews were generational talents and it's impossible for any of the players to put up the seasons that the tandem had in leading the Tigers to their seventh national title in 2023.

LSU's pitching staff will throw solidly this season but the departures will be felt in some pivotal moments in SEC play and the NCAA Tournament.

Cory Diaz covers the LSU Tigers and Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns for The Daily Advertiser as part of the USA TODAY Network. Follow his Tigers and Cajuns coverage on Twitter: @ByCoryDiaz. Got questions regarding LSU/UL athletics? Send them to Cory Diaz at bdiaz@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on Lafayette Daily Advertiser: LSU baseball 2024 season bold predictions Can LSU get back to Omaha?