Kim Mulkey on this LSU team: 'I've never seen anything like it with any group'

Kim Mulkey has been part of a lot of special teams in her coaching career, but none compare to the recent run she’s had at LSU. Sunday marked Senior Day for the Tigers against Kentucky and, while they have just one senior on the roster in transfer Hailey Van Lith, there’s still a chance players like Angel Reese could be gone for the WNBA.

Reese walked during the pregame festivities alongside LSU legend Shaquille O’Neal. She helped lead the Tigers to a national championship in 2023 alongside teammates such as Aneesah Morrow and Flau’jae Johnson.

As Mulkey spoke postgame following a 77-56 win, she acknowledged that this team will have a special place in her heart not only for that memory, but their personalities.

“I’ve never seen anything like it with any group I’ve coached,” she said. “It’s a different time. Different era. LSU is an unbelievable brand. It’s both known internationally and nationally. Then you add the personalities of these kids I get to coach, they draw people to them.

“When we go on the road, it’s crazy. But, the greatest thing about it is it’s fleeting, people. It doesn’t happen everywhere. It doesn’t happen forever. You make sure you hug necks, you sign autographs and you take pictures, even on your worst day you do those things, because you’re leaving a mark in women’s basketball and you’re helping grow the game.”

Reese transferred to LSU from Maryland ahead of last season and went on to break the single-season record for double-doubles with 34. She has picked up where she left off this year to average 19.0 points and 13.0 rebounds, both team highs.

Fittingly, Reese led the Tigers in scoring with 22 points and added 14 rebounds to record her 20th double-double of the season against Kentucky. Not only that, but she made an impact on the defensive end with three steals and five blocks.

Van Lith added 15 points and two steals to put together a solid performance of her own. But despite the large margin of victory, Kim Mulkey thought LSU could have played better in the final game of the regular season. The Tigers finished the game 1-of-12 from 3-point range and committed 15 turnovers.

“We’re not [regular season] champions, and that’s what you want,” she said. “South Carolina won it. I guess the next best place to be is second place, and we’ve done that again three years in a row. I think we’re better defensively than we were a month ago or two months ago.

“I thought we were sloppy today. Honestly, we played like we didn’t think Kentucky could beat us, and I don’t like that. I think that we just we just slopped around and gave up. Instead of taking layups, we were throwing it out for 3s. Do that in a in a closer game and see what happens.”

The future is still up in the air for both Reese and Van Lith. They have the option to return for another season if they wish, but have yet to state their plans.

For now, they’ll focus on another strong run in the postseason with the SEC Tournament next up. LSU received a double bye in the conference tournament and will face the winner between Arkansas and Auburn in the quarterfinals.