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The NCAA Women's Tournament bracket was revealed on Sunday evening and LSU now knows what its path to the Final Four looks like.
The Tigers are a No. 3 seed, set to host San Diego State in the first round.
Also headed to Baton Rouge: No. 6 seed Florida State and No. 11 seed George Mason. If LSU beats San Diego State in round one, the Tigers will face the winner of the No. 6 vs No. 11 game.
Upsets are rare in the women's bracket. The top three seeds are usually considered locks for the Sweet 16. LSU will be a heavy favorite in round one and round two, though Florida State could pose somewhat of a challenge.
It's Kim Mulkey's fourth NCAA Tournament as LSU's head coach. The Tigers have been a No. 3 seed in all four brackets under Mulkey. LSU won a national title in 2023 before falling in the Elite Eight in 2024.
Let's look at what LSU's bracket placement means for the Tigers.
When LSU meets San Diego State in the first round, the Tigers will see a team with a different identity. Mulkey's squad ranks 10th nationally in possessions per 40 minutes while San Diego State ranks 272nd. San Diego State will try and slow the game down. LSU wants to speed it up.
Usually, the Tigers get their way.
San Diego State is coming off an impressive 23-9 campaign, but the Aztecs lack the firepower to compete with LSU. Mulkey and the Tigers will force SDSU to play a game it's not comfortable with in an intimidating environment.
If both favorites win in round one, LSU will meet Florida State in the second round.
Florida State's offense is one of the best in the country, averaging 87.2 points per game. Unlike San Diego State, Florida State wants to play fast, ranking No. 6 nationally with 78.4 possessions per 40 minutes. The Noles are fast and efficient, averaging 0.96 points per play.
FSU can challenge an LSU defense that's good, but not perfect.
The good news for LSU: The Tigers might have their way with the Florida State defense. The Seminoles rank 307th in college basketball with 71.2 points allowed per game.
If LSU makes it to the Elite Eight, there's a chance Kim Mulkey meets her former school. Mulkey won three national championships as Baylor's head coach (2005, 2012, 2019). Mulkey took the LSU job in 2021 and has not faced Baylor since leaving.
LSU's path to the Elite Eight is realistic, but Baylor would have to stage an upset to join the Tigers. It would likely require Baylor to beat No. 1 UCLA. That upset is unlikely but UCLA isn't invincible.
According to HerHoops, Baylor's offense and defense both own top 25 ratings. That gives the Bears a chance.
To reach the Elite Eight, LSU will likely have to go through No. 2 seed NC State. This is a rematch of a game we saw on November 27. LSU won that meeting by double-digits, 82-65.
Despite NC State being the higher seed, LSU would be favored as long as the Tigers are healthy. NC State's defense ranks outside the top 100 in defensive efficiency.
LSU's quadrant of the bracket has one of the weaker No. 2 seeds. An advantage for the Tigers.
According to HerHoops' ratings, the three best teams in the country are UConn, South Carolina, and Texas. LSU can make it to the Final Four without facing that group.
UCLA is the No. 1 seed in LSU's quadrant of the bracket. Per the Sports Reference Ratings, the Bruins rank No. 6 in the country. That sets up well for LSU who ranks No. 8 in the same metric. Not much separates the Tigers and Bruins.
LSU hasn't fared well vs. the best of the best this year. The Tigers lost to South Carolina and dropped both games to Texas. That raises questions about the national championship potential of this team, but LSU can make it to the Final Four without playing the top five rated teams in the sport.
This article originally appeared on LSU Wire: LSU Women's Basketball March Madness: 5 takeaways from bracket reveal
Continue reading...
The Tigers are a No. 3 seed, set to host San Diego State in the first round.
Also headed to Baton Rouge: No. 6 seed Florida State and No. 11 seed George Mason. If LSU beats San Diego State in round one, the Tigers will face the winner of the No. 6 vs No. 11 game.
Upsets are rare in the women's bracket. The top three seeds are usually considered locks for the Sweet 16. LSU will be a heavy favorite in round one and round two, though Florida State could pose somewhat of a challenge.
It's Kim Mulkey's fourth NCAA Tournament as LSU's head coach. The Tigers have been a No. 3 seed in all four brackets under Mulkey. LSU won a national title in 2023 before falling in the Elite Eight in 2024.
Let's look at what LSU's bracket placement means for the Tigers.
1. LSU will get a styles clash in round one
When LSU meets San Diego State in the first round, the Tigers will see a team with a different identity. Mulkey's squad ranks 10th nationally in possessions per 40 minutes while San Diego State ranks 272nd. San Diego State will try and slow the game down. LSU wants to speed it up.
Usually, the Tigers get their way.
San Diego State is coming off an impressive 23-9 campaign, but the Aztecs lack the firepower to compete with LSU. Mulkey and the Tigers will force SDSU to play a game it's not comfortable with in an intimidating environment.
2. LSU's defense might be tested in round two
If both favorites win in round one, LSU will meet Florida State in the second round.
Florida State's offense is one of the best in the country, averaging 87.2 points per game. Unlike San Diego State, Florida State wants to play fast, ranking No. 6 nationally with 78.4 possessions per 40 minutes. The Noles are fast and efficient, averaging 0.96 points per play.
FSU can challenge an LSU defense that's good, but not perfect.
The good news for LSU: The Tigers might have their way with the Florida State defense. The Seminoles rank 307th in college basketball with 71.2 points allowed per game.
3. There's a chance Kim Mulkey meets Baylor in the Elite Eight
If LSU makes it to the Elite Eight, there's a chance Kim Mulkey meets her former school. Mulkey won three national championships as Baylor's head coach (2005, 2012, 2019). Mulkey took the LSU job in 2021 and has not faced Baylor since leaving.
LSU's path to the Elite Eight is realistic, but Baylor would have to stage an upset to join the Tigers. It would likely require Baylor to beat No. 1 UCLA. That upset is unlikely but UCLA isn't invincible.
According to HerHoops, Baylor's offense and defense both own top 25 ratings. That gives the Bears a chance.
4. Potential rematch with NC State
To reach the Elite Eight, LSU will likely have to go through No. 2 seed NC State. This is a rematch of a game we saw on November 27. LSU won that meeting by double-digits, 82-65.
Despite NC State being the higher seed, LSU would be favored as long as the Tigers are healthy. NC State's defense ranks outside the top 100 in defensive efficiency.
LSU's quadrant of the bracket has one of the weaker No. 2 seeds. An advantage for the Tigers.
5. LSU won't have to go through UConn, South Carolina, or Texas to reach Final Four
According to HerHoops' ratings, the three best teams in the country are UConn, South Carolina, and Texas. LSU can make it to the Final Four without facing that group.
UCLA is the No. 1 seed in LSU's quadrant of the bracket. Per the Sports Reference Ratings, the Bruins rank No. 6 in the country. That sets up well for LSU who ranks No. 8 in the same metric. Not much separates the Tigers and Bruins.
LSU hasn't fared well vs. the best of the best this year. The Tigers lost to South Carolina and dropped both games to Texas. That raises questions about the national championship potential of this team, but LSU can make it to the Final Four without playing the top five rated teams in the sport.
This article originally appeared on LSU Wire: LSU Women's Basketball March Madness: 5 takeaways from bracket reveal
Continue reading...
