Tough ending to a season with high hopes as the Lady Tigers failed to advance to the Elite Eight for a fourth consecutive year in a row, as Duke’s Ashlon Jackson hit a buzzer-beating shot to beat LSU 87 to 85. The ball spun around the rim before falling through the cylinder, ending LSU’s dreams of reaching the Final Four.
“It's heartbreaking for your team,” coach Kim Mulkey said. “It's heartbreaking for your players and fans. But I've been around a long time. I've seen endings like that. I've been a part of those endings. It takes a while to get over it, but you go in the locker room, and you hug their necks, and you tell them what a wonderful year we had. And you put yourself in a position to win the game. You put yourself in a position to win the game and a crazy shot like that beats you.”
A slow start, where LSU found itself down by 11 points in the second quarter, was also what beat the Lady Tigers on Friday night in Sacramento. Duke had 20 offensive rebounds, which led to 19 second-chance points.
“We couldn’t get three stops in a row, we couldn’t rebound the ball so we can take off in transition, it was kind of like we were moving in mud,” Mulkey said.
During the game, an LSU alum who describes himself as a trusted Insider, tweeted repeatedly that this is Mulkey’s last game as the Hall of Fame coach is retiring at the end of the season.
It’s fair to wonder how long Mulkey will coach. Mulkey is 63 years old, and 60-something coaches are becoming fewer in college athletics. But you should also have your facts straight when reporting that an iconic coach is set to retire.
Mulkey told the media she has NO intention of retiring.
“You're now explaining to me why my phone was blowing up with that same question. And I said to this person, I'm not retiring. Do I look that bad? I don't know where that came from. I'm only 63. And I'm healthy, with a few stents in my heart. Doctor says I'm good to go. I have no clue where that stuff comes from, guys. I've never ever told anybody that. There are moments where you feel like, " Why am I doing this? But I don't get how people can just write crap on social media.
“I'm not retiring. I plan to hire two coaches quickly. I plan to get in the portal and get two or three more players, and take a little time off, go see my grandchildren, who actually flew in and got in late and didn't even see the game. But I'll get to visit with them tonight in the hotel. But there is no retiring.”
Mulkey will have to replace one of the greatest players in the program’s history. Flau’jae Johnson scored more than 2,000 points during her stellar career.
But Mulkey returns two of her three leading scorers in MiLaysia Fulwiley and Mikaylah Williams. Williams, the team’s best 3-point shooter, expressed frustration after the game on not making the Final Four for a third consecutive season.
“Frustration,” Williams said. “As a competitor, obviously, nobody wants to lose, especially like that. And then knowing that there were a lot of things that had us in that position. And then frustration for myself, knowing that I'm back here again in my junior year, not making it to the Final Four.”
LSU also brings back a group of freshmen who saw significant minutes, led by ZaKiyah Johnson, who finished the season averaging 10 points a game.
Point guard Jada Richard also took steps in her sophomore season.
Next year will be different, without Flau’jae Johnson. But as long as Mulkey is at the helm, LSU will be competitive in women’s basketball, and it doesn’t sound like she’s leaving anytime soon despite what a “trusted insider” is reporting.
