LSU’s women’s basketball coach Van Chancellor loves challenges.And Sunday, his latest — and possibly toughest — one begins Sunday when No. 24 LSU takes on No. 16 Notre Dame at 1:30 p.m. in the PMAC.LSU lost all five starters and eight players to graduation after last season’s Final Four run, and the departures are something Chancellor and Lady Tiger fans have been anticipating for the last few seasons.Now, Chancellor and his team are in full rebuilding mode.”This year will be a real challenge,” he said. “But I like the challenge of where our team is and what we’re doing.”Chancellor said the Lady Tigers will determine their starting lineup on a game-by-game basis, but the leading candidates to start Sunday will be senior forward Kristen Morris, junior guard Allison Hightower, sophomore guard Katherine Graham and freshmen LaSondra Barrett and Destini Hughes.The Lady Tigers also figure to get significant playing time from many of the team’s seven freshmen. Morris, LSU’s lone senior, said the progress of the team’s freshmen has given the team a boost heading into the season.”They’ve made extreme, extreme strides,” she said. “They’ve made adjustments, and everyone’s picked it up.”Chancellor said the play of LSU’s younger players will determine how far the Lady Tigers advance this season. Southeastern Conference coaches picked LSU this preseason to finish fifth in the conference and second in the Western Division behind Auburn.”Our team is improving every day,” he said. “I’m really excited about how much they’ve gotten better.” With so many younger players, a large burden is now on the shoulders of the Lady Tigers’ most accomplished returnee, Hightower.Hightower played 20 minutes per game last season and averaged seven points per game on her way to the 2008 SEC Sixth Woman of the Year Award.Now in the starting lineup, Hightower said she’s adjusting to life as one of LSU’s leaders after spending two years behind former Lady Tigers like Sylvia Fowles, Quianna Chaney and Erica White.”It’s a big difference jumping from one of the youngest on the team to one of the oldest,” she said. “Having to step up and be the leader on this team vocally and emotionally is a little different.” Notre Dame is on the opposite end of the women’s college basketball spectrum and returns three of five starters from last year’s team that advanced to the Sweet 16.Junior guard Ashley Barlow and senior guard Lindsay Schrader are the team’s leading returning scorers, averaging 12.1 and 10.1 points per game, respectively.Chancellor said opening the season against the Irish will be difficult for the young Lady Tigers.”This is a tough opponent,” he said. “They have a very nice team. They return a lot of players, and they’re experienced and they play in one of the greatest leagues in the country. It’s going to be a tremendous challenge.”Hightower said after a pair of exhibition games, the Lady Tigers are anxious to see where they stand against a quality opponent. “It will be a good test for us to see where [we are],” she said. “We’re looking forward to coming out and playing in front of all these fans, and it’ll be a good test.” The game is part of the State Farm Tip-Off Classic. No. 10 Texas A&M will face No. 23 Pittsburgh at 4 p.m. following the opening game.At halftime of LSU’s game, a drawing will be held and 10 LSU students will win free tickets to whichever bowl game the LSU football team plays in.     —-Contact Casey Gisclair at [email protected]