LSU women’s basketball coach Van Chancellor often said how frustrated he was early this season.But he said Thursday he wishes he could start next season right away.”Last year’s loss [against Tennessee in the Final Four] really  devastated me,” Chancellor said. “But now I wish it was Oct. 15 so we could be practicing right now. I am really pumped up for another year.”Chancellor said the Lady Tigers did “all they could humanly do” this season with seven players in their first year, two sophomores, one junior and one senior.”I thought our kids played about as hard as they could play,” he said. “I’m really proud of them.”Chancellor said the Lady Tigers’ most glaring needs in the offseason will be improving free throw shooting, rebounding and outside shooting.”We’re going to get stronger and mainly get better in those three areas,” he said.THANKING THE FANSChancellor also had a message for the fans who came to cheer his team on at the PMAC in the NCAA tournament at the end of his second season at LSU.”Our team and the whole coaching staff is just so impressed with our student support at the game the other night,” Chancellor said. “I want them to know how much I sincerely appreciate that. I know I can’t go thank them all individually, but it was great to see almost two sections of students fill up like they did.”Chancellor also said he couldn’t thank LSU football coach Les Miles, men’s basketball coach Trent Johnson, baseball coach Paul Mainieri and athletic director Joe Alleva enough for donating $1,000 each to give students free admission to the first and second-round games of the NCAA tournament.”I really want to say how much I appreciate them doing this for me,” Chancellor said. “It’s great to know you coach with people who are interested in your program and are willing to back it up with money. That’s a great statement.”HIGHTOWER ADDS TO SEASON HONORSJunior guard Allison Hightower was named a finalist for the State Farm Coaches All-America Basketball Team on Thursday. She is among 40 women’s basketball players who have a chance to be named to the 10-member team April 4.Hightower is the first player in LSU history to lead the team in points (14.9 per game), assists (3.0), steals (1.9) and blocks (1.2) in a single season. The Arlington, Texas, native scored a career-high 26 points in the Lady Tigers’ first-round NCAA tournament game against Green Bay, and she eclipsed 20 points Tuesday against Louisville, making her the first to have consecutive 20-point games since Sylvia Fowles last season.EASON HAS COLLARBONE SURGERYChancellor announced Thursday that sophomore guard Latear Eason underwent collarbone surgery after injuring it in LSU’s 69-59 loss to Louisville.Eason started 19 games this season and averaged 3.4 points and 2.1 assists per game.Chancellor said he expects “a full recovery” for Eason.”She was a critical part of our success this season, and we expect great things from her next season,” he said.——Contact Rachel Whittaker at [email protected]