In a Saturday film session, Kim Mulkey unveiled her plan for LSU’s second-round NCAA tournament game against Michigan.
It involved an adjustment, a switch in philosophy. It caught her LSU team off guard.
Mulkey told guard Kateri Poole, a transfer from Ohio State, that on Sunday she’d guard Michigan’s top player, wing Leigha Brown. That meant Poole would make only her second start of the season. And it meant sharpshooting guard Jasmine Carson would come off the bench for the first time since Dec. 18.
Mulkey said she made the move with size in mind. With more minutes for Poole, she’d not only have an extra ball handler — to navigate Michigan’s length — but also a stockier, sturdier defender who could help LSU ramp up its physicality.
“I played in the Big Ten before,” Poole said, “so I think that was experience with that. Just being aggressive out the gate.”
From the jump, it was clear: Michigan had the length and size to match LSU. But the Wolverines didn’t have the athleticism. And they surely didn’t have the quickness.
The Wolverines tried to compensate by leaving shooters open. On defense, they were content to overload the strong side of the floor, shade help-side defenders over and clog the lane, leaving freshman guard Flau’jae Johnson open in the corner. In the first quarter, it worked. The Tigers missed all seven of their 3-point attempts.
But then came Carson, trotting in off the bench. Open in the corner, she splashed a 3 with the help of a LaDazhia Williams flare screen and a beautiful Angel Reese skip pass from the post. Open at the top of a key, she knocked down another shot from distance behind Reese’s screen. And open in that same right corner, Carson added three more points, these in transition off a dish from Poole.
When the dust settled, Carson had nine points and her team had built an 11-0 run and a 14-point lead. LSU had firm control of the game. Michigan had no answers.
Leave a Reply