On Feb. 13, following LSU’s loss to South Carolina, I wrote, “LSU isn’t a contender.”
Not two months later, I was proven wrong along with a whole bunch of talking heads. [autotag]Kim Mulkey[/autotag], [autotag]Angel Reese[/autotag] and crew did the thing.
I wrote, “LSU looks poised to be a threat in the SEC for several years, it’s just not there yet.”
After that loss, Mulkey acknowledged LSU wasn’t there yet either. She said it was South Carolina and then everyone else.
On Sunday, it was LSU and then everyone else. The Tigers left no doubts, scoring 102 and winning by 17. This is the best team in the country.
When Mulkey was hired in 2021, LSU had only won nine games the year prior, hadn’t won a tournament game since 2014 and hadn’t been to the Final Four since 2008.
There are much longer Final Four droughts than the one LSU just ended, but it was a program in need of revival.
Mulkey, whose demeanor and presence sometimes are sometimes more reminiscent of a revival preacher than a basketball coach, was just the woman to bring LSU back to life.
Mulkey was no stranger to Louisiana or LSU. She grew up in Louisiana and played college ball at Louisiana Tech.
And you know the running joke. Haven’t you heard? Her son played baseball at LSU. If Mulkey didn’t have a game of her own to coach, ESPN was sure to give her screen time in those Alex Box Stadium bleachers.
Mulkey didn’t take the job because it was easy. She could have stayed at Baylor, where she was a top-two seed in the tournament every year for the last 10 years.
A coach approaching 60 didn’t have to jump ship to take on a rebuild. Mulkey knew LSU could be years away from reaching the heights she did at Baylor.
None of that mattered. She wanted to come home. She wanted to bring LSU a championship. It’s what she promised when she first appeared in the PMAC.
And now, it’s a promise delivered.
Mulkey rebuilt LSU at a rapid pace. LSU went from mediocre to national title winner in less than two years and it doesn’t look like it’s going away anytime soon.
We haven’t seen the ceiling yet.
This team had nine new players. Most of them will be back and joined by a recruiting class even better than Mulkey’s first two.
LSU is no longer the upstart underdog. It’s a destination that’ll attract the sport’s top talent.
Women’s college basketball is a sport that’s been prone to create dynasties. Star coaches have been able to consolidate talent giving their programs staying power.
That’s the path LSU is on right now.
Maintaining excellence is a whole different ball game, but you get the sense this team is going to remain hungry. Mulkey squads always play like they have something to prove.
But South Carolina is going to be hungry next year too, as is Iowa. The star players that gave LSU a tough time this year will be back for more.
LSU, with all of its flare and style, isn’t going anywhere either.
You might love them, you might hate them, but you’re going to get used to watching them.
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