Reese’s numbers have been so good, it’s starting to resemble the Tiger Woods effect.
“Remember that year when Tiger only won three tournaments?”
“Yeah, he wasn’t good that year.”
I covered LSU’s 2001 NCAA tournament game at Purdue when Marie Ferdinand scored 34 points. I remember thinking it was an amazing, signature performance.
For Reese, it’s just the latest greatest. She’s had double-doubles in 30 of LSU’s 32 games. Michigan was her sixth game with at least 20 points and 20 rebounds.
A critic can say Reese rebounds a lot of her own misses. But she still shoots 53.6% from the field. And she rebounds like a Dennis Rodman, tipping the ball to herself which then seems to stick to her hand like adhesive tape.
“I think you guys know the numbers,” Utah coach Lynne Roberts said. “Obviously, her rebounding is elite. The amount of times she gets her own misses and keeps going back up, she’s just kind of pogo sticks.
“She’s the type of player where you can’t just say, ‘All right, you’ve got her, get it done.’ It’s got to be a collective team effort.”
Utah has its own post centerpiece in forward Alissa Pili, who averages 21.0 points and 5.6 rebounds per game. The Utes like to get out and run, filling the air with 3-pointers (they average 8.3 made treys per game) and getting to the free-throw line where they shoot an impressive 78.0%. LSU will have to score to win, but the Tigers will also need to play defense (which Utah doesn’t do well, 223rd in D-I in points allowed; LSU is 27th).
That’s where Reese comes in.
“I respect Pili’s game,” LSU point guard Alexis Morris said. “She’s a versatile post player. But I feel like I’ve got the best post players in the country. I’m sitting right next to her (Reese), and one is in the locker room (LaDazhia Williams).”
As big a name as Reese, the “Bayou Barbie,” has become since transferring from Maryland to LSU almost a year ago, she isn’t the biggest name here. No. 1 South Carolina is in the Greenville 1 regional, led by Aliyah Boston, the reigning national player of the year who appears likely to lead the Gamecocks to a second-straight NCAA title.
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