The first thing I need to do since returning to Baton Rouge is apologize.
Before I left for Nashville I said if anyone wanted to e-mail me about the team during the tournament, I would be more than happy to reply.
Well, I found out the e-mail address I gave out didn’t actually work.
For this oversight, I am sorry.
I plan to have the problem fixed this week. So, I promise again to answer any questions or take any criticism during the remainder of the tournament starting Saturday in San Antonio.
Speaking of the Alamo City, the women are following in the men’s team’s steps by advancing to the Sweet 16.
Or maybe that sentence should be turned around since the women are making their fourth consecutive trip to the Sweet 16.
Anyway, for those who didn’t care enough to watch the Lady Tigers blow out their two helpless opponents or care enough to read the paper, here’s a quick recap.
The team’s first game was Saturday night against No. 16-seed Florida Atlantic.
LSU decided to stop sleepwalking around the 10-minute mark in the first half and used a 20-0 scoring run to put away FAU.
The Lady Tigers played their second game Monday night against No. 9-seed Washington.
This game was exciting for about 25 minutes, but then LSU used a 17-2 run to put away the Lady Huskies.
Even though LSU continued its trend of blowing away opponents, Washington exposed one important issue on national television.
LSU can get beat by any team left in the tournament if sophomore center Sylvia Fowles is on the bench.
Fowles only played about two minutes in the first half against Washington, and the Lady Huskies hung step-for-step with LSU.
Anyone with eyes saw the difference Fowles makes.
LSU coach Pokey Chatman explained after the game how important Fowles is on both offense and defense.
On offense Fowles will draw the attention of two defenders, Chatman said.
Do the math – that leaves one LSU player open.
Usually that player is either senior guard Seimone Augustus hitting a jumper or senior guard Scholanda Hoston hitting a 3-point shot.
On defense do the math again.
There aren’t many women in the league who can drive on a 6-foot-6-inch center.
It’s funny to watch aggressive point guards try to drive the lane on Fowles and suddenly curl around and back the ball out because they don’t want to get waxed.
Here’s the point – it’s crunch time now for LSU.
The Lady Tigers have to avoid two issues if they want win a national championship and help Augustus finish off her career with a poetic ending.
First, the Lady Tigers cannot afford to spot teams 10 minutes or 20 minutes before they decide to make their charge as they have done in the first two games of the tournament.
I know that, the team knows that and Chatman knows that.
They have eyes too.
Also, if they expect to beat anybody, Fowles cannot be spending her time on the bench as the tallest, most intimidating cheerleader I have ever seen.
Thomas is capable and means a lot to this team. The screens she sets allow Augustus to get open, and she is, as Chatman described, the “blue- collar worker” on the team.
But there aren’t many like Fowles in the league, especially not two on one team.
Again, I know that, the team knows that and Chatman knows that.
I can’t guarantee LSU won’t go through any more scoring droughts or keep Fowles on the floor for extended periods of time.
So I can’t guarantee two victories this weekend.
But if you ask me, I’m already making my plans for Boston.
 
Kyle is a public relations freshman.
Contact him at [email protected]