LSU women’s team isn’t ‘sleeping on’ Hawaii as NCAA tournament play begins

Scott Rabalais: For a deep NCAA run, LSU can't leave it all to Angel Reese, Alexis Morris
Bank Image

The LSU women’s basketball team is the third biggest favorite in the first round of the NCAA tournament at 29 points against Hawaii.

But playing in the program’s second consecutive tournament is more than about winning just the first game. That much was accomplished in last season’s inaugural year under coach Kim Mulkey

The No. 3-seed Tigers said they aren’t “sleeping on” the No. 14-seed Rainbow Wahine, who they tip off against at 4:30 p.m. Friday on ESPN2 in the Pete Maravich Assembly Center. At the same time there is a desire to improve over last year’s 26-6 mark that ended with a second-round loss to Ohio State.

While the Tigers will have the advantage of playing on their home court, Mulkey knows there won’t be a carryover from last year with a new set of faces. The NCAA tournament experience is going to hit them with something new.

“Not many of them have had the experience you need to say, ‘I know what to expect,’” Mulkey said of her players. “They have the experience playing on our court but it’s going to be an awakening for several of them that have to play key roles for us.”

At least this time one of those players will be at full strength. Last year, LSU was hampered by an injury to Alexis Morris that kept her out of games toward the end of the season. She was a shell of herself in the two tournament games, playing 18 minutes in a six-point win against No. 14 seed Jackson State and 14 minutes in the Ohio State loss.

“It hit me this morning,” said Morris, an All-Southeastern Conference first-team selection. “I was injured last year. I’m excited. The last time I really played in the NCAA tournament was at (Texas) A&M and I didn’t get much playing time. So, really the last time was my freshman year (at Baylor). It’s like déjà vu. I’m happy to be here. I want to survive and advance.”

To make that happen, Mulkey has talked to her team about keeping the pressure up when her team has an opponent on the ropes, extending a lead instead of backing off and letting the other team chip away.

That’s what LSU failed to do two weeks ago in an SEC tournament game in which the Tigers lost a 17-point lead in a 69-67 loss to Tennessee. The Vols chipped away and took the lead late. Even then LSU had a chance to win but couldn’t execute a play that could have tied or won the game coming out of a timeout.

Mulkey said All-American forward Angel Reese acknowledged her responsibility for the team’s play against Tennessee and it is part of the deepening motivation she carries into March Madness.

“I have seen that,” Mulkey said. “I attribute that to the Tennessee game. When you are one of the best players in the country, sometimes you take it a little bit harder.

“It gnaws at her. She’s had very good practices. I have been able to say to the staff she’s on another level again right now.”

Reese, whose Maryland team reached the Sweet 16 last year, sees this game as a chance at retribution.

“They’re a really good team; you can’t sleep on them, you can’t sleep on anybody going into the tournament,” she said. “They had an 8-hour flight to get here. They might be jet-lagged, but I’m not taking them for granted.

“They can shoot the 3 really well. I saw that they don’t give up. Just making sure we put our foot on the pedal from the first quarter to the fourth quarter and take care of business.”

Source

About Marc Lemoine 2033 Articles
Marc is an Economist and a well experienced weightlifter who has won many championships. He intends to build a bright career in the media industry as well. He is a sports freak who loves to cover the latest news on sports, finance and economy.

Be the first to comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published.


*