LSU Tigers, the defending national champions, suffered a disappointing loss in their season opener against the Colorado Buffaloes in the Hall of Fame Series in Las Vegas. The final score was 92-78 in favor of Colorado.
Despite having four Tigers players score in double figures, Head Coach Kim Mulkey expressed her disappointment in the individual performances of some players. She cited a lack of toughness, fight, and leadership as key factors contributing to the team’s loss. Mulkey acknowledged that facing a team like Colorado, who had been playing together for a prolonged period, presented a significant challenge for the Tigers.
While LSU’s poor shooting and offensive struggles were expected, Mulkey highlighted the absence of guts, fight, and physical play as the team’s main issue. However, she remains optimistic, viewing these shortcomings as fixable. The timeline for addressing these concerns is uncertain.
Colorado’s victory was attributed to the team’s poise, togetherness, and growth since the arrival of Coach Sherrod. They were able to capitalize on LSU’s defensive weaknesses and secure a significant win. The Tigers’ loss marked the fourth time a reigning women’s Division I champion has lost their season opener, the first since UConn in the 1995-96 season.
The defeat also shed light on the impact of the graduation of experienced starting point guard Alexis Morris on LSU’s gameplay. Despite Colorado’s limited success in recent years, Head Coach JR Payne has led the team to consistent NCAA tournament appearances and secured an impressive victory to start the season.
LSU did have notable contributions from freshmen Mikaylah Williams and sophomore Sa’Myah Smith. However, Mulkey emphasized the need for the entire team to show more fight and resilience. She acknowledged that this year’s LSU team is different from last year’s championship-winning lineup and highlighted the influence of Colorado’s strength as a unit on the Tigers’ locker room dynamics.
In conclusion, the LSU Tigers’ defeat in their season opener against the Colorado Buffaloes highlighted the team’s lack of toughness and leadership. Coach Mulkey remains positive about addressing these issues but is uncertain about the time it would take. Colorado’s victory showcased their growth as a team under Coach Sherrod. The loss also underscored the impact of the graduation of starting point guard Alexis Morris on LSU’s gameplay. Despite the setback, the Tigers had contributions from young players like Mikaylah Williams and Sa’Myah Smith. Coach Mulkey called for the team to show more fight and resilience moving forward, acknowledging that this year’s LSU squad is different from the championship-winning team of last year.
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