2023-24 LSU Thread

[DefenseBB]

Dawn. Geno. Cori. Tara. Brenda. Jeff. Kevin. Lisa. Aaron. Pat/Holly/Kelly. Year after year after year. What's my booby prize?

Brenda just recently ”upped” her schedule by adding SC, other than that her other quality games were mandated by the variouts Big10 challenges. Cori has NOT scheduled tough for her OOC, just look back in Massey which does show back until 2017. Here is her pathetic 2020 schedule that you can scroll up or back by year at the top. Massey Ratings - University of California, Los Angeles Bruins
Kelly did an ok job when he had Sabrina but now… who’s Lisa (Gonzaga?) and Aaron? Pat is deceased and Holly is unemployed so they no longer count. As far as the “booby prize”, got a mirror at your house?
So by my count it is Geno, Dawn (but she also has some really weak opponent), Jeff, Lisa who regularly plays PAC 12 schools but no one else of note. Tara not as strong as you would think (again with some really weak opponents) so maybe 4 on a regular basis. Hopefully Brenda keeps this up and adds to it and maybe Tara decides to add a few former PAC12 opponents to her OOC.

 

[Gamecockfan77]

Brenda just recently ”upped” her schedule by adding SC, other than that her other quality games were mandated by the variouts Big10 challenges. Cori has NOT scheduled tough for her OOC, just look back in Massey which does show back until 2017. Here is her pathetic 2020 schedule that you can scroll up or back by year at the top. Massey Ratings - University of California, Los Angeles Bruins
Kelly did an ok job when he had Sabrina but now… who’s Lisa (Gonzaga?) and Aaron? Pat is deceased and Holly is unemployed so they no longer count. As far as the “booby prize”, got a mirror at your house?
So by my count it is Geno, Dawn (but she also has some really weak opponent), Jeff, Lisa who regularly plays PAC 12 schools but no one else of note. Tara not as strong as you would think (again with some really weak opponents) so maybe 4 on a regular basis. Hopefully Brenda keeps this up and adds to it and maybe Tara decides to add a few former PAC12 opponents to her OOC.

This is so weirdly off base it feels like a bit.

 

[Hester42]

LSU thread a bit quiet these days.

Watching LSU play recently, I love how balanced their scoring and shot attempts are across the board 1-5. Its really a lineup where anyone can get a shot and bucket at anytime. Ole Miss and A&M aren't great teams per say but the offensive performance against both has to be encouraging (84 and 87 points). I do think the team still completely forgets Hailey Van Lith exists at times being wide open on quite a few players and still doesn't get passed the ball but the last couple games her shot is starting to come around.

The team still lacks chemistry on the defensive end at times but the issue is they give up so many points from silly turnovers and I think they get gassed from no bench. Granted I think the lack of a bench is one of LSUs biggest issues. I'm a little shocked Kim left 3 open scholarships this offseason knowing some of her freshmen probably weren't close to being ready to contribute. In the post game interview Mulkey seemed very aggravated with her bench players and says she will ride 6-7 players because they aren't earning those minutes with their play. The writing may be on the wall for some on the bench it seems with her comments.

 

[cancontent]

LSU thread a bit quiet these days.

Watching LSU play recently, I love how balanced their scoring and shot attempts are across the board 1-5. Its really a lineup where anyone can get a shot and bucket at anytime. Ole Miss and A&M aren't great teams per say but the offensive performance against both has to be encouraging (84 and 87 points). I do think the team still completely forgets Hailey Van Lith exists at times being wide open on quite a few players and still doesn't get passed the ball but the last couple games her shot is starting to come around.

The team still lacks chemistry on the defensive end at times but the issue is they give up so many points from silly turnovers and I think they get gassed from no bench. Granted I think the lack of a bench is one of LSUs biggest issues. I'm a little shocked Kim left 3 open scholarships this offseason knowing some of her freshmen probably weren't close to being ready to contribute. In the post game interview Mulkey seemed very aggravated with her bench players and says she will ride 6-7 players because they aren't earning those minutes with their play. The writing may be on the wall for some on the bench it seems with her comments.

Missed the last couple games. Appreciate this update and your thoughts on how the team is progressing.

 

[Gordo]

Massey Ratings - University of California, Los Angeles Bruins

It's called UCLA

 

[Britt87]

That number 1 recruiting class is looking very fraudulent.

 

[Gordo]

That number 1 recruiting class is looking very fraudulent.

We'll see come March. I suspect Kim will have her team in the thick of it.

 

[Hester42]

That number 1 recruiting class is looking very fraudulent.

MK is legit, rosario was always a bit raw and a project. To her credit she has slimmed down a lot. I actually think she will be solid eventually.

Idk how velez and Kent were ranked when I watch them play. Maybe I’m being too hard on freshmen but they don’t look good at all. Flaujae, smith and Poa is 100% a better recruiting class than this current freshmen class.

 

[JellyBean]

LSU is looking pretty good and playing well.

 

[GamecockFam]

That number 1 recruiting class is looking very fraudulent.

It's waaaaaaaaaay to early to be making these kinds of statements. Some players are just late bloomers. Let's not give up on them in the first half of their freshman season...

 

[visitingcock]

That number 1 recruiting class is looking very fraudulent.

As did our 2021 class when they came in. Now, the are contributing a great deal to our success

 

[Britt87]

I think Mikaylah Williams elevated them a lot. The rest are not good.

 

[Hester42]

I think Mikaylah Williams elevated them a lot. The rest are not good.

I'm skeptical on Kent and Velez, I think Rosario has upside and brings great size that can alter a lot shots on the defensive end, I don't think all these top programs recruited her if she wasn't talented or she wouldn't have made Team USA if these coaches didn't see anything. Everyone who followed Rosario out of HS knew she was pretty raw and it was going to be a bit of a process wherever she decided to go to school. Never was she going to be a major impact year one. She a true 6'6 big, extremely extremely raw but physically has all the tools for a great imposing center. She put herself in a position to have success in the future getting in way better shape than when I saw her in all those All Star games last year. Its going to be a tough year for her year one, I think you see her take a legit step year two though. She has shown flashes but she really needs a full offseason of individual development and reps. I believe this past summer she went to LSU and got surgery done on her ankle and skipped playing with team USA and didn't start really practicing until later fall.

I'd say its a big win for Rosario physically to be where she is at right now. The confidence, learning to play with the physicality of a 6'6 player is going to take a bit of time for her tho.

No question MK is LSU's most gifted true freshmen since Fowles. She has work to do defensively but offensively she can simply just explode and takeover a game whenever she wants.

 

[GoChips20]

Williams is just fabulous. She’s one of those players where every shot looks like it’s going in. She may not have their same explosiveness but Bueckers and Clark are two others that come to mind. Recognize those names?

 

[DallasDomer]

Looks like the 2024 class is a bust for LSU. Back to the portal….As for their tournament seeding this season, it all depends on how they do against SC at home in January and also how they perform in the conference tournament. The SEC is indeed looking down this year, so I suspect LSU will run through their conference schedule easily enough outside of the SC matchup, where they will likely be favored due to it being a home game. Critical game for LSU, not so much for SC. They should meet again the SEC tournament on a neutral court which will be a vital game for both teams for seeding purposes.

SC is deeper than LSU this year, but LSU’s top 4 players can match up with most any team and they will be favored in every conference game this year with the possible exception of that SC matchup which is hard to determine at this point in time.

I give SC a sizable advantage in the backcourt over LSU and obviously at center, but with Morrow and Williams at the 3 and 4 slots they might have the edge at those positions, though Kitts, Watkins, Hall and Feagin might be too much depth for LSU to guard without getting in foul trouble. Reese will likely struggle some against Cardoso as has been the case in past matchups. KM will probably try DelRosario out against Cardoso to move AR to the 4 for a stretch. That would move Morrow to the 3 where I think she is less effective. I would not bet against SC winning in BR, but that will be one hostile environment on game night. Oh, and what in the world will Mulkey come up with for an outrageous outfit for that prime time game? An Elvis suit perhaps?

Regarding "I suspect LSU will run through their conference schedule easily enough outside of the SC matchup, where they will likely be favored due to it being a home game." I don't know how the gambling odds makers will rate it by Massey gives LSU only a 28% chance of winning. His score is SC 76 LSU 67.

 

[Darwin]

Regarding "I suspect LSU will run through their conference schedule easily enough outside of the SC matchup, where they will likely be favored due to it being a home game." I don't know how the gambling odds makers will rate it by Massey gives LSU only a 28% chance of winning. His score is SC 76 LSU 67.

If neither loses a game prior to that matchup Vegas will favor LSU @BR. I follow Massey closely and tbh, as good as that site is Vegas odds usually trump Massey predictions.

 

[DallasDomer]

If neither loses a game prior to that matchup Vegas will favor LSU @BR. I follow Massey closely and tbh, as good as that site is Vegas odds usually trump Massey predictions.

I have not done a historical comparison of Massey vs Vegas but my reaction is the opposite unless there is a significant injury just before the game. Vegas can react to that but Massey only updates overnight. It also depends on which Vegas source you choose. I'm not up for a lot of excel downloads and analysis but if someone else has done it I'd be interested.

 

[BRS24]

LSU only up 37-34 over Auburn at the half. Reese leading scorer and only one in double digits with 13 pts. Hailey Van Lith 1-5, 2 pts.

 

[JstVisiting]

LSU will be a 3 or 4 seed in March because of their weak schedule and the SEC being average this year.

That average SEC is the 2nd best conference in the country by ELO Rating, Massey, and RPI. It's good that we as SEC fans are used to excellence, but it's bad when we treat a down year for the SEC as a down year for any other conference.

In contrast, the Big Ten is the 5th rated conference by all three and the entire conference has two wins against ranked teams, both by Iowa. It's inferior by every measure. Yet their fans will beat their chest about the conference grind.

AP voting tends to be biased against the South enough without us poormouthing our own teams.

 

[DallasDomer]

LSU will be a 3 or 4 seed in March because of their weak schedule and the SEC being average this year.

And because they just lost to an unranked Auburn team by 5. They were out shot and out coached. Mulkey calling her last time out between Auburn free throws was a very poor decision.

 

[DallasDomer]

I have not done a historical comparison of Massey vs Vegas but my reaction is the opposite unless there is a significant injury just before the game. Vegas can react to that but Massey only updates overnight. It also depends on which Vegas source you choose. I'm not up for a lot of excel downloads and analysis but if someone else has done it I'd be interested.

I guess Massey was wrong when he showed LSU over Auburn by 10.5 , I see MGM had them by 13.5, worse than Massey but I don't know the rest of Vegas odds.

 

[GamecockFam]

That average SEC is the 2nd best conference in the country by ELO Rating, Massey, and RPI. It's good that we as SEC fans are used to excellence, but it's bad when we treat a down year for the SEC as a down year for any other conference.

In contrast, the Big Ten is the 5th rated conference by all three and the entire conference has two wins against ranked teams, both by Iowa. It's inferior by every measure. Yet their fans will beat their chest about the conference grind.

AP voting tends to be biased against the South enough without us poormouthing our own teams.

I think the issue with the SEC this season is that we only have LSU and South Carolina as top 16 candidates. With that said, I believe the SEC has a ton of above average teams. Pretty much every team but Kentucky, and maybe Georgia, will be competitive in the majority of their games. I think the SEC has a bunch of teams in that 25-100 range. Those teams don't get the press but they'll be a thorn in the side of top 25 teams.

 

[JellyBean]

Tough loss but just another example of when you are not on your game, especially your A game, anything can happen. Hats off to Auburn coaching staff and their players. They matched the physicality and toughness of LSU. They did not back down. They are slowly putting together something special in Auburn. LSU. Just learn from this game and move on. Y'all still good.

 

[DallasDomer]

I think the issue with the SEC this season is that we only have LSU and South Carolina as top 16 candidates. With that said, I believe the SEC has a ton of above average teams. Pretty much every team but Kentucky, and maybe Georgia, will be competitive in the majority of their games. I think the SEC has a bunch of teams in that 25-100 range. Those teams don't get the press but they'll be a thorn in the side of top 25 teams.

Only a few teams get a lot of press given how cut back the press coverage is by ESPN, who is the source for most of it. I don't think a lack of coverage is particular to the "25-100 range" in the SEC alone. It's the same for all power 5 and worse for the rest.

 

[cancontent]

And because they just lost to an unranked Auburn team by 5. They were out shot and out coached. Mulkey calling her last time out between Auburn free throws was a very poor decision.

That and allowing Reese to go iso and take it to the hoop. It didn't look good before she even started to drive to the basket. Auburn was totally expecting it and had it well scouted. Also thought Poa clogged up the lane which didn't help matters.

 

[GamecockFam]

Only a few teams get a lot of press given how cut back the press coverage is by ESPN, who is the source for most of it. I don't think a lack of coverage is particular to the "25-100 range" in the SEC alone. It's the same for all power 5 and worse for the rest.

My comment was alluding to the fact that there is less drop off in the SEC conference than other conferences when looking at the lower ranks, but lack of press leaves an assumption that the SEC is just like a typical conference where the bottom teams look drastically different than the top teams. I would argue that there isn't much drop off between the #3 and #12 teams in conference. I don't think any conference except for the PAC-12 can make that kind of claim this season.

 

[UConnCat]

That and allowing Reese to go iso and take it to the hoop. It didn't look good before she even started to drive to the basket. Auburn was totally expecting it and had it well scouted. Also thought Poa clogged up the lane which didn't help matters.

I was shocked by Mulkey's coaching decisions, from the timeout to the last play call and design.

Auburn (and everyone else watching) knew Angel would eventually go right the closer she got to the basket. She doesn't have a pull-up J so no need to worry about that. Also no need to worry about Angel passing the ball. Interesting point you raise about Poa. She definitely brought her defender (Mingo-Young) to the lane and she made the defensive play. Watching the replay it seems like she was supposed to be there -- otherwise the coaches surely would have been yelling for her to go to the near corner and take her defender with her. Normally Mulkey would have had Hailey Van Lith in the game to spread the floor but maybe she didn't think Auburn would have guarded her. Hailey Van Lith's stat line in 28 minutes: 1-9, 3 pts, 1 Ast, 3 TOs, 0 Rebs.

All in all, the last couple of minutes were a mess.

 

[oldhusky]

I haven't seen enough of LSU to know, but if I remember right, there were several questions about positions for certain players and chemistry heading into the season. Everyone knew Kim had acquired a ton of talent, but the fit was more in question. Reese didn't really want to be a 5, Morrow was probably going to play some at the 3, and Hailey Van Lith at the point.

With Morrow's track record from deep and Hailey Van Lith's previous roles being an undersized SG, it sounded to some like trying to put a square peg in a round hole. Kim accepted a major challenge bringing the portal talent onboard and trying to figure out how to make it work and the team become an efficient unit.

So at this point from afar it seems to me that Morrow has been a major addition, but both she and Reese are best at the 4, and expecting Morrow to be a 3pt shooter looks like a false hope. With Hailey Van Lith I know she has had injury issues, but has she been able to make the conversion to PG when needed effectively? Seems like a team with tons of talent that is still trying to figure it out. Curious what the people who see most of their games think.

 

[BigTenGuy]

That average SEC is the 2nd best conference in the country by ELO Rating, Massey, and RPI. It's good that we as SEC fans are used to excellence, but it's bad when we treat a down year for the SEC as a down year for any other conference.

In contrast, the Big Ten is the 5th rated conference by all three and the entire conference has two wins against ranked teams, both by Iowa. It's inferior by every measure. Yet their fans will beat their chest about the conference grind.

Fair point about the weakness of the Big Ten this year, but Big Ten conference play is a grind because they play 18 games and because they rig the schedule so the expected good teams play more games against each other, e.g., Iowa will play 4 games against Indiana and Ohio State. The SEC plays only 16 conference games, and seems to protect its good teams so for the second year in a row we have 1 regular season matchup between USC and LSU.

 

[LETTERL]

Fair point about the weakness of the Big Ten this year, but Big Ten conference play is a grind because they play 18 games and because they rig the schedule so the expected good teams play more games against each other, e.g., Iowa will play 4 games against Indiana and Ohio State. The SEC plays only 16 conference games, and seems to protect its good teams so for the second year in a row we have 1 regular season matchup between USC and LSU.

Is that how it is? I'm surprised the Big Ten doesn't have designated groupings who play each other twice, leaving one game each for the remaining teams.

The ACC has three pods. Teams within each pod play each other twice. Then, the other conference teams are played once.

Pod 1: Boston College, Louisville, Notre Dame, Pittsburgh, Syracuse

Pod 2: Duke, UNC, NC State, Virginia, Virginia Tech

Pod 3: Clemson, Florida State, Georgia Tech, Miami, Wake Forest