What Kim Mulkey said ahead of LSU women's basketball's Sweet Sixteen game vs NC State

USA Today

28-03-2025

What Kim Mulkey said ahead of LSU women's basketball's Sweet Sixteen game vs NC State
LSU women's basketball takes the court against NC State on Friday in the NCAA Tournament's Sweet 16.
In a rematch of a regular season game won by the Tigers, both teams will be fighting to keep their seasons alive. LSU. the No. 3 seed, will need to knock off the ACC Champions and second-seeded Wolfpack to face Ole Miss or UCLA in the Elite Eight.
Though the matchup was in November, head coach Kim Mulkey is convinced both teams haven't changed their style of play all that much. If anything, both teams are better following tough conference slates.
LSU finished third in the SEC and exited in the semifinals of the conference tournament but it reloaded thanks to the returns of Flau'Jae Johnson and Aneesah Morrow from injuries.
The pair got help from teammates in the first two games of March Madness. The Tigers scored over 100 points in each contest and allowed their defense to fuel their offense.
Here's what Mulkey said ahead of the Sweet Sixteen game against NC State.
Mulkey's scout on NC State
While she got familiar with the Wolfpack's personnel in November, Mulkey isn't relying on that game to prepare LSU for the Sweet Sixteen. Instead, she'll look at NC State's path to the ACC Championship, including its clutch play in close games.
"I think both teams are obviously better and we just have a ton of respect."
"We've looked at some film but they're better. We're better. They're ACC champs. We finished third in the SEC. They're supposed to win."
"They've won games on the road that were tough games. They were in tight games. They made the plays to win those games."
Wolfpack improved post play compliments guard-heavy lineups
NC State head coach Wes Moore relies on guard play, particularly leading scorer Aziaha James, to shoot his team to victory. Even with post players like Madison Hayes finding more success in the postseason, Mulkey is still focused on limiting the Wolfpack's backcourt.
"I'm sure their posts have developed and are better but they have four outstanding guards and they're not going to change their philosophy and all of a sudden become a post-dominant team. We know what their strengths are. We know what their improvements are"
"Those guards just have unbelievable range. Those guards can dribble, penetrate. They have to rebound as guards because they usually play their four guards together."
LSU rides team-centered wins into Sweet Sixteen
Every available Tigers saw the floor in the first and second round NCAA Tournament games. From point guards to wings and forwards, the entire roster has found scoring success thus far. Mulkey aims to keep her team confident and motivated to contribute when called upon against NC State with the season on the line.
"They're all playing very good basketball. They're excited. Everybody's looking to score. They're looking to share the ball. I just think having everybody back and everybody healthy. It's fun to watch them right now."
"You have to keep coaching. You have to keep demanding. I think our practices do that. You have to understand there are going to be down moments throughout a season and yet you don't get too high or too low and you just keep coaching them."