Our biggest takeaways from LSU’s 66-42 win against Michigan in the second round of the NCAA tournament on Sunday night.
1. WHAT WE LEARNED
LSU won 28 regular-season games mostly on the strength of its offense, which came into the NCAA tournament averaging 84 points per game. The Tigers have won two games are heading to the regional semifinals mostly because of their defense. LSU clamped down on Hawaii in a 23-point win and was in many ways even more stingy in Sunday’s 66-42 win over Michigan. Just imagine what the Tigers might do if they shoot the ball well.
2. TRENDING NOW
LSU’s rebounding. When you start with Angel Reese, who Sunday had her 30th double-double with 25 points and 24 rebounds — a school record in an NCAA tournament game — you’re going to do well. But with the Tigers shooting only 35.3% from the field, they had to make up for it on the boards and did, outrebounding Michigan 46-26. The Tigers had 15 first-half offensive rebounds compared to 14 the entire game in last year’s second-round loss to Ohio State.
3. FINAL THOUGHTS
Unlike the loss to Michigan’s archrival that eliminated LSU from last year’s NCAA tournament, the Tigers had plenty enough defense and rebounding this time to do the job. LSU’s outside shooting is still a major liability going forward in March, but the program took a major step forward nonetheless: 30 wins for the first time since 2008 and a first trip to the NCAA’s second weekend since 2014. On to the Sweet 16.
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