Kim Mulkey talks about Kailyn Gilbert's block against NC State in Sweet Sixteen win
Kim Mulkey talks about Kailyn Gilbert's block against NC State in Sweet Sixteen win
Down by one with a minute and a half left in Friday's NCAA Tournament Sweet Sixteen game, LSU's Kailyn Gilbert blocked a shot from Zoe Brooks on in the paint after the latter scored four straight points for NC State.
LSU didn't give up a bucket the rest of the game, holding off the Wolfpack for an 80-73 win. Following the contest, the Tigers' head coach Kim Mulkey talked about Gilbert's defensive transformation after transferring in from Arizona.
When Gilbert visited Baton Rouge before committing, Mulkey and associate head coach Bob Starkey got honest with her about her lack of commitment to defense and what it means for a future at LSU.
"We had watched her on film and told her the way she performed defensively wasn't going to fly at LSU," Mulkey said. "'You're never going to see the floor so if you commit to defense, we know what you can do offensively.'
"This is one of those moments in your coaching career. She sat up in her chair and she leaned over toward me and said, 'Coach, now I'm just going to be honest with you... I've never been worried about the defensive end because I've always thought I'm going to get it back for you on the offensive end.'"
By choosing LSU as her transfer destination, Gilbert made a commitment to improving particularly on defense. The hard work came to light throughout the entire season as she started getting more minutes and culminated in her game-changing play on Friday.
"To watch her on-ball defense every day in practice get better and better... like she said, she was getting beat off the dribble there and makes a defensive play," Mulkey said of the block on Brooks. "It's only fitting that we talk about that in this game."
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
USA Today
3 hours ago
- USA Today
What happened to Rosenblatt Stadium? What to know about former College World Series venue
Charles Schwab Field in Omaha, Nebraska, the home of the College World Series, has been open since 2011, when it replaced Johnny Rosenblatt Stadium. One of Arkansas, LSU, Oregon State, Coastal Carolina, UCLA, Arizona, Murray State or Louisville, the eight teams to qualify for the CWS in 2025, will come away with a national championship at Charles Schwab Field, which cost $131 million to build. NCAA baseball tournament winners, losers College World Series full of surprises While Charles Schwab Field gave the CWS a much-needed facelift and allowed for more fans to attend the event, the aura of Rosenblatt Stadium still lives on. But what happened to it? Here's everything you need to know about Johnny Rosenblatt Stadium: What happened to Johnny Rosenblatt Stadium? Johnny Rosenblatt Stadium, the host for the College World Series for 61 years, was demolished beginning in 2012 after hosting its last CWS in 2010. Rosenblatt Stadium's days were numbered after the City of Omaha promised the NCAA a new stadium in 2008 in order to keep the CWS in Omaha for the next 25 years. The area that held Rosenblatt Stadium was then sold to the nearby zoo, which demolished the venue in order to expand the zoo and add parking. Omaha's Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium, in a classy move, built an ode to Rosenblatt Stadium by recreating a small version of the field on the confines of its park. It's called the "Infield at the Zoo," and includes some original pieces from the old stadium. The kid-friendly infield is located in the same area as the original field, and is commonly visited by teams that reach the College World Series. In May 2007, an organization named "Save Rosenblatt" came into being amid ongoing talks of building a new CWS venue. The organization even ran local commercials that called for renovations to the stadium, with Kevin Costner appearing in the advertisement. What to know about Rosenblatt Stadium Rosenblatt Stadium opened in 1948 and was the home of the College World Series from 1950-2010. The historic venue also hosted the Omaha Royals (now Omaha Storm Chasers), the Kansas City Royals' Triple-A affiliate, until 2010. Rosenblatt Stadium was the largest minor-league stadium in MiLB until its demolition. The famed "Road to Omaha" sculpture that graces the entrance at Charles Schwab Field, the new home of the College World Series, was originally dedicated at Rosenblatt Stadium, but was moved once the CWS moved. The stadium was named after former mayor Johnny Rosenblatt, who was in office from 1954-61. An avid baseball fan, Rosenblatt was a semi-pro baseball player and played in games against the likes of Satchel Paige and Babe Ruth, and he played a key role in bringing the CWS to Omaha. The stadium was originally named Omaha Municipal Stadium but was renamed to honor Rosenblatt in 1964.
Yahoo
5 hours ago
- Yahoo
Florence native Grant Taylor gets called up to MLB
(WHNT) — Florence native Grant Taylor made his MLB debut on Tuesday after getting called up by the Chicago White Sox. The Former Florence Falcon made his debut in the Sox's win over the Houston Astros. Advertisement Athletics rookie Denzel Clarke robs Angels of home run with 'absolutely insane' catch Taylor was selected in the second round of the 2023 Draft out of LSU and has been playing for the organization's Double-A affiliate in Birmingham. Taylor was thriving for the Barons, allowing three earned runs in 26 2/3 innings for a 1.01 ERA. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to
Yahoo
7 hours ago
- Yahoo
Experts Say Texas A&M's Kevin Concepcion Primed for Breakout Season
Experts Say Texas A&M's Kevin Concepcion Primed for Breakout Season originally appeared on Athlon Sports. The Texas A&M football squad averaged just over 30 points and just under 400 offensive yards per game in 2024. Advertisement Experts say the Aggies could be even more explosive in 2025 — for a number of reasons: It will be head coach Mike Elko's second season on the sidelines after coming over from Duke after 2023. It will be quarterback Marcel Reed's second full season behind an offensive line returning all five starters. 2024 leading receiver Noah Thomas is returning after 39 catches for 574 yards and eight touchdowns. Leading rusher Le'Veon Moss returns after going for 10 touchdowns and 906 yards from scrimmage. These are important factors. However, the rocket fuel in the Aggies' 2025 attack is likely to come from three Top-50 pass catchers the program gained in the offseason transfer portal. These include Mario Craver and Micah Hudson, from Mississippi State and Texas Tech, respectively, and high NFL draft prospect Kevin Concepcion. North Carolina State Wolfpack wide receiver Kevin Concepcion (10) transferred to Texas A&M for Yamashita-Imagn Images A transfer from NC State, Concepcion is ranked solidly in the top 10 among all NCAA receivers. ESPN has him at No.10. NFL Draft Buzz pinned him at No. 9. And On3 listed the former Wolfback snagger as the third-best receiver in the 2024 transfer portal. Advertisement On June 12, Pro Football Focus — better known as — listed Concepcion as one of its 10 Impact Transfer Portal Players to Know. Yes, that's a mouthful. Nevertheless, Aggies nation should be pumped about Concepcion's upside. Concepcion was the 2023 ACC Rookie of the Year, and earned second-team All-ACC honors as a true freshman. That year, he also broke the NC State freshman record with 71 catches, 839 yards, and 10 TDs. On June 4, Elko talked to reporters about Concepcion at a Houston Coach's night. He had coached against 'KC' in 2023, when his Duke team smothered NC State 24-3. The freshman wideout still had 99 total yards that night, on six catches and four rushing attempts. 'I played against (Concepcion) his freshman year at Duke,' Elko said. 'He has been a really mature kid. He has that captain make-up.' Advertisement He's also a breakaway bandit. noted in its June 12 article that, since 2023, Concepcion is second in YAC (yards-after-catch) with 792, and is 14th in receiving touchdowns, with 16. That's not all. The versatile Concepcion ranks third among all returning wideouts in rushing yards with 357. He's a vial of nitroglycerin in an offensive room stacked with dynamite. Related: College Football's Great Rivalries: Texas vs. Texas A&M Related: Texas A&M Football: 2025 Preview – Offensive Expectations This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 12, 2025, where it first appeared.
