Kim Mulkey describes the importance of depth, assesses Hailey Van Lith's progression
LSU has been a hydra this season. When one head has been chopped off, another has taken its place. Now entering the postseason, the Tigers are a multi-faceted monster. On Thursday, LSU head coach Kim Mulkey pulled back the curtain on her team’s growth this season.
“We were hit early with a depletion of depth,” Mulkey said. “Sa’Myah Smith goes down in the Cayman Islands. Kateri Poole is no longer with us. Now, our bench becomes a little bit smaller. But, [Last-Tear] Poa and Aalyah [Del Rosario] have really, really produced for us.
“Sometimes, I feel like I have to apologize to them after a game because they should get more minutes. But, they are just such great team players. They’re so good. Aaliyah was rewarded as one of the freshmen on the All-Freshman team in the SEC this year. And boy, is she going to be special as she ages.”
Standing at 6-foot-6, Del Rosario made an immediate impact for LSU this year. Del Rosario averages 5.4 points, 4.0 rebounds and just shy of a block per game while shooting an efficient 52.8% from the field.
Poa isn’t a freshman, but she’s also been a pleasant surprise for Kim Mulkey and Co. this season. The Australian only averaged 12.5 minutes per game last season. In contrast, she is receiving 20.6 minutes a night this year.
She isn’t allowing her increased playing time to go to waste. Poa averages 4.7 points and 3.1 assists per game, the second-most on the team. Poa’s increased contributions haven’t only benefitted her.
Hailey Van Lith’s benefitting from others’ improvements
“[Hailey] Van Lith is learning a new position and has been all year,” Mulkey said. “Her most comfortable position is the off-guard. When Poa is playing the point guard — boy, I know Van Lith is going to shine and it gives us more depth and it helps Flau’Jae [Johnson] and it helps Mikaylah Williams.
“You don’t need but five. That’s what I always tell people. I’ve been to Final Fours with eight or nine players. So, if they all stay healthy, and everybody’s on the same page, you can make a run.”
Van Lith is growing more comfortable with her new role every game, and it shows in the stat sheet. In LSU’s past three contests, Van Lith has averaged 19.3 points. LSU will need Van Lith’s red-hot shooting hands more than ever this weekend.
On Friday, LSU will kick off its SEC Tournament run against the winner of Arkansas–Auburn at 6 p.m. ET. The game will be broadcast on the SEC Network.