LSU WBB 2025-2026

[GamecockFam]

My criticism of Kim Mulkey's scheduling woes has nothing to do with the end product. It is a winning formula for her. My criticism is that it isn't entertaining and frankly basketball/sports is a form of live entertainment. When it is all said and done, it's the experience and memories that matter -- including the player's. I think it is a disservice to their fans to waste half of the season on lazy entertainment and I think it is a disservice to the players that they don't have the opportunity to showcase their talent against equal competition.

 

[Hist-teacher]

Current OOC Massey rank is #206….to say that is pathetic is an insult to the word pathetic. They do play Duke this coming week who will be the 1st ranked under 50 on their schedule and only the 2nd ranked under 200…

Duke may not be ranked on Monday.

 

[YKCornelius]

It's been the past decade in particular that Mulkey has been criticized for scheduling cupcakes, and the same period Geno's had to up the OOC schedule since the move to the AAC and then New Big East. (perhaps this has been her approach since the dawn of time, but I've only been aware of the criticism since just before her last Baylor championship. Among other things, I know Stanford used to have a home and away with Baylor in mid 2010s)

FarmFan, I have no idea why you brought Geno into your rationale, but you really need to do better homework. Geno's been scheduling a tough OOC schedule for three decades - long before UConn joined the AAC and "New Big East".

 

[YKCornelius]

Duke may not be ranked on Monday.

Not AP or Coaches Poll ranked (which Duke wasn't ranked in either Top 25 last week).

DefenseBB was talking Massey, who ranks ALL of the D-I teams. The 3-5 Blue Devils are ranked #32 by Massey at the moment.

 

[TheFarmFan]

FarmFan, I have no idea why you brought Geno into your rationale, but you really need to do better homework. Geno's been scheduling a tough OOC schedule for three decades - long before UConn joined the AAC and "New Big East".

My point was simply that for all people are knocking Mulkey, at the end of the season, she's doing as well as the GOAT. I get that it's not most people's first choice (certainly not mine), but at a certain point it just feels like a broken record to keep harping on it.

 

[ubasketball]

The New York Times is reporting that LSU has set an NCAA record by recording its seventh consecutive win in which they scored 100 or more points. The Times tells us that this somehow demonstrates how competitive they are in going for another national championship. And Mulkey brags that she did this with seven new players. I think that that makes her the best women's basketball coach, if not in the country, at least in her own mind. I bet our Huskies are firghtened to distraction with the very thought of playing this LSU juggernaut. What Mulkey and the Times do not mention is that LSU always finds weak teams it can play early in the season, and this year, Mulkey outdid herself, lining up the biggest bunch of cream puffs she could find. I think this is more an embarrassment that and accomplishment.

 

[Blond D.]

we'll see how LSU does against Duke.

 

[ubasketball]

we'll see how LSU does against Duke.

Duke is unranked at 3 - 5, but has played a brutal early season schedule against ranked teams. So, yes, we will get to see how LSU does against teams that are not consistently in the fourth quadrant (awful) of the RPI. In the RPI rankings, the AP fifth ranked LSU "Tigers" are ranked 78th. The AP #1 ranked Huskies are the RPI # 1 ranked team.

 

[bballnut90]

SEC is loaded this year and they have 2 games vs. Texas on the schedule so I get why Kim doesn't want to load up during non-conference but these games are just a waste. At Baylor Kim would schedule some decent non-conference games, I'm not sure why she's so determined to face every 300+ RPI team in the country at LSU now.

 

[Bone Dog]

I expect LSU to Beat Duke, perhaps handily, but I doubt very much they’ll score anywhere near 100.

 

[FridaFriend]

I think that LSU should be ashamed of itself for its schedule.

 

[Reypl21]

My point was simply that for all people are knocking Mulkey, at the end of the season, she's doing as well as the GOAT. I get that it's not most people's first choice (certainly not mine), but at a certain point it just feels like a broken record to keep harping on it.

I get what you're saying completely, this recipe has resulted in some good results for Mulkey. However, I will be someone who complains about her schedule every year until it gets better. I know it won't change a thing, but I just want to do it lol. I agree with @GamecockFam entirely as well. She has stacked teams with talented players, and that schedule is what she puts together for them? It is just so lame and pathetic. It doesn't grow the women's game, and she could help grow it. I know an LSU game would draw big numbers against a top teams.

She used to schedule tough opponents when she had Griner, Sims, Cox, and Brown. I'm not sure why she's had this change of heart.

 

[Baller29]

I get what you're saying completely, this recipe has resulted in some good results for Mulkey. However, I will be someone who complains about her schedule every year until it gets better. I know it won't change a thing, but I just want to do it lol. I agree with @GamecockFam entirely as well. She has stacked teams with talented players, and that schedule is what she puts together for them? It is just so lame and pathetic. It doesn't grow the women's game, and she could help grow it. I know an LSU game would draw big numbers against a top teams.

She used to schedule tough opponents when she had Griner, Sims, Cox, and Brown. I'm not sure why she's had this change of heart.

I’m not quite sure why although she did say she gives her teams the entire summer off basically so basically they do zero team building (unless the voluntarily come in on their own) until basically September

That said the least she could do is throw in average opponents. You can schedule weak without all the quad 4 teams you’ll beat by 80 in your sleep.

A team of the talent lsu and some of its personalities definitely deserve better competition than this. I’m sure LSU players deep down wished for a bit more on that front (scheduling)

LSU fans I’m sure will watch but it’s probably getting super old fast after the first 2-3 games.

 

[JellyBean]

LSU did a number on Washington State! I do hope that Koval makes it in the WNBA. She is a joy to watch. Her ability to understand angles, especially on rebounds, is going to be a huge plus for some lucky team in the WNBA

 

[Cuango]

Duke is in real trouble! At first I just thought this was simply more of the anemic offense thing that they have suffered through basically ever since Kara took over. However, I’m worried that it has become more than just an offensive thing now. Not only are they continuing to struggle offensively, but it seems like they may not be playing as hard as they were last season. I wonder if they have had trouble adjusting to the loss of Okananwa’s absence? I really like and admire Kara and am rooting for her to figure this out. Perhaps this LSU game will be the catalyst that will get the her team back on track.

 

[MSGRET]

Currently Massey has their SoS at 222 out of 363 teams. The highest rated team that they've played so far is Washington State rated 135th. Here are the ratings of each team, Houston Christian 314, SE Louisiana 220, Georgia Southern 167, Charlotte 138, Tulane 155, Alcorn State 343, Marist 295 and Washington State. Besides Duke who is rated #32, the remainder of their schedule through the month of Dec is New Orleans #352, Louisiana Tech, Morgan State #355, UT Arlington #125 and Alabama State #358. Their first game on New Year's day is against #25 Kentucky. The NCAA should punish teams that play the Mother's of the Poor and other such teams by not giving teams that schedule like LSU does a ban as one of the 16 teams to host the first and second round of the tournament.

 

[jaydee602]

You have to admire top teams for playing gruelling non- conference schedules. They don't share Kim Mulkey's excuse that tough conference games should determine their rankings.
Here are the current top 8 Strength of Schedule rankings along with LSU's weak SOS record.
1 Duke
2 Connecticut
3 UCLA
4 Texas
5 USC
6 South Carolina
7 Ohio St
8 Michigan

222 LSU

 

[oldude]

As Dick Vitale would say, “Cupcake City Baby!”

 

[visitingcock]

Why would an LSU fan buy season tickets? To get to see SEC opponents only?

Basically one half of the season is absolutely uninteresting. I think LSU is going to have a heck of a season, but I would be pizzed if I were an LSU fan.

 

[MSGRET]

She will end up playing a total of 7 teams that are ranked below any of the Big East teams including #186 Xavier. Six of those teams are ranked by Massey at #304 to #355.

 

[Baller29]

Duke is in real trouble! At first I just thought this was simply more of the anemic offense thing that they have suffered through basically ever since Kara took over. However, I’m worried that it has become more than just an offensive thing now. Not only are they continuing to struggle offensively, but it seems like they may not be playing as hard as they were last season. I wonder if they have had trouble adjusting to the loss of Okananwa’s absence? I really like and admire Kara and am rooting for her to figure this out. Perhaps this LSU game will be the catalyst that will get the her team back on track.

Who thinks Duke can pull off the win vs LSU? 👀

 

[Reypl21]

LSU did a number on Washington State! I do hope that Koval makes it in the WNBA. She is a joy to watch. Her ability to understand angles, especially on rebounds, is going to be a huge plus for some lucky team in the WNBA

I'm following Koval's career because I thought she had a lot of potential at ND. In HS, she was touted as a Jokic type of big. At Luhi they pit the ball im her hands a lot to pass and facilitate. She also had a 3 point shot too. At ND, Niele had a lot of nice things to say about her passing preseason. But our offense never gave her a chance to shine at that (which we had a lot of other great players). I thought her upper classmen years she would grow more in those areas. I knew she was going to transfer once her HS coach was bad mouthing ND on Twitter.

I'm interested to see Koval play against the SEC schools. So far she's played less minutes per game at LSU, but has padded her stats against cupcakes. If she is productive and plays more minutes in SEC play I would be happy for her. The center position in the SEC is tough. Last year she wasn't physical in the post and would get pushed out against the ACC center's. We shall see.

I don't see her ever developing her passing or 3 point shot at LSU. Mulkey doesn't have a great track record of expanding her post players' games.

 

[GoChips20]

I'm following Koval's career because I thought she had a lot of potential at ND. In HS, she was touted as a Jokic type of big. At Luhi they pit the ball im her hands a lot to pass and facilitate. She also had a 3 point shot too. At ND, Niele had a lot of nice things to say about her passing preseason. But our offense never gave her a chance to shine at that (which we had a lot of other great players). I thought her upper classmen years she would grow more in those areas. I knew she was going to transfer once her HS coach was bad mouthing ND on Twitter.

I'm interested to see Koval play against the SEC schools. So far she's played less minutes per game at LSU, but has padded her stats against cupcakes. If she is productive and plays more minutes in SEC play I would be happy for her. The center position in the SEC is tough. Last year she wasn't physical in the post and would get pushed out against the ACC center's. We shall see.

I don't see her ever developing her passing or 3 point shot at LSU. Mulkey doesn't have a great track record of expanding her post players' games.

I thought Koval to LSU was one of the more unusual transfer fits. I think LSU was one of her finalists out of high school, but her game doesn’t seem as suited to SEC physicality or athleticism, and good luck finding coaches much more different than Kim and Niele Ivey.

IMO Koval is the hardest player to evaluate in LSU’s non-con because she has such a pronounced size advantage over their opponents, but she’s looked good so far.

 

[Baller29]

I thought Koval to LSU was one of the more unusual transfer fits. I think LSU was one of her finalists out of high school, but her game doesn’t seem as suited to SEC physicality or athleticism, and good luck finding coaches much more different than Kim and Niele Ivey.

IMO Koval is the hardest player to evaluate in LSU’s non-con because she has such a pronounced size advantage over their opponents, but she’s looked good so far.

The only noticeable difference to me this season is I’ve seen her make some mid range shots which she really didn’t make at ND last year

Mulkey will probably not let her shoot the 3 although she let Lauren cox, but Kate is never on the perimeter