The NCAA second-round rematch tonight between LSU and Penn State in the PMAC may cultivate a sense of déjà vu for spectators, but for teams involved, everything has changed.
“The area is familiar, but we are two different teams now from last year,” said Penn State senior guard Alex Bentley. “LSU has changed, we have changed, so it’s a whole different ballgame now.”
LSU (21-11, 10-6 Southeastern Conference) suffered a 10-point loss to Penn State in the PMAC a year ago, where five Lady Tigers finished with double-digit scoring. LSU couldn’t overcome Maggie Lucas’ game-high 30 points and being out-rebounded 49 to 35.
Bentley is right; LSU is a different team from a year ago. Since the tournament loss, junior forward Theresa Plaisance has emerged as an All-SEC standout and the Lady Tigers’ roster dwindled from 13 players to eight.
LSU coach Nikki Caldwell said the key to success against Penn State is forgetting everything about last year.
“We cannot play the way we did last year. We can’t rest on the fact that we could’ve, would’ve, should’ve,” Caldwell said. “We’ve got to totally erase last year and focus in on who we are today and who we will be [today].”
Last year’s team had five seniors, a 10-game winning streak and a runner-up finish in the SEC Championship Tournament. This year’s team lost three of its first four SEC games, but ended its regular season on a six-game wining streak that included three wins against top-15 teams.
Caldwell compared her current team to the Bad News Bears, saying it started off rough then came together and built confidence.
“This team has learned to play through adversity, but also to smack it back,” Caldwell said. “That’s something that last year’s team didn’t have to do.”
Plaisance has given LSU diversity on offense with her 3-point shooting and her post game. Caldwell said Plaisance has evolved into one of the best post players in the nation.
Penn State coach Coquese Washington said Plaisance will be a problem to guard because of her versatility.
“She’s a matchup nightmare,” Washington said. “Just what she can do with her size at 6‑5, shooting it from the outside, putting it on the floor, creating her own shot, creating for her teammates and then being able to score down low.”
LSU has played with only eight players for the past seven games, and after an injury to junior guard Jeanne Kenney, the Lady Tigers may be down to seven. Kenney is questionable to play tonight, but her ability to play is a gameday decision.
Washington coached Notre Dame to a national championship with only eight players, so she said she isn’t feeling sorry for Caldwell. She said with all the small breaks that come in games, the number of Lady Tigers available won’t hold LSU back.
“With TV timeouts and timeouts you can take, I think having seven, eight people is plenty,” Washington said. “I don’t think it’s something that hinders you from being successful.”
