Two quarterbacks can rarely operate an offense in football. But the same goes for two point guards in basketball.
Kim Mulkey and LSU find themselves at a crossroads at the point guard position.
One point guard, Last-Tear Poa, offers more experience and more physicality on the defensive side of the ball.
Mulkey took the experience route and went with Poa against the Longhorns on Sunday. She played 26 total minutes, scoring two points, two rebounds and three assists.
“I felt like Poa had a better understanding of that atmosphere, that big stage,” Mulkey said. “She played in the national championship game before us, and all I needed to do in that game was get us in an offense with that kind of pressure that Texas was putting on us.”
The other point guard, Shayeann Day-Wilson, offers a different approach to the game.
Day-Wilson’s biggest strengths are her facilitation of the offense and her quickness. She is also a force on defense, keeping opposing offenses out of the paint and forcing them to take difficult shots.
“I felt like defensively, Shy could possibly keep them out of the paint even though Poa, she’ll take charges.”
Both have struggled with overall scoring production and consistency in putting points on the board.
Day-Wilson has not scored more than two points in the team’s last five games, shooting 1-of-16 across those five games.
On the other hand, Poa has not scored more than three points in the team’s last eight games, taking just four shots across those eight games. However, she only played double-digit minutes in three of those eight games.
Mulkey doesn’t see a leader in the race for a full-time point guard. The two have played very similar games, and neither have a defining trait that gives them the edge.
“Neither has really established or separated herself, so I’m sure it will vary the rest of the year,” Mulkey said.
With the “Big 3” being solid just about every game for the Tigers and Jersey Wolfenbarger and Sa’Myah Smith making a statement against Georgia, the point guard position becomes that much more prevalent as the team gets closer to the postseason.
Mulkey does not prefer to rotate Poa or Day-Wilson but will if it means the team will continue to win games the way it has.
“I don’t like a two-quarterback system. But guess what? We’re 26-2,” Mulkey said. “We just keep plugging away, a possession or two away from being undefeated in two games.”
With Poa getting the start against the Bulldogs, Mulkey may be leaning toward starting games with experience on the floor.
However, Day-Wilson played 24 minutes against the Bulldogs compared to Poa’s 11 minutes.
Mulkey will likely ride with the hot hand. She considers both of them valuable assets in her rotation, and her approach moving forward will match that mantra.
“Just keep plugging away and keep showing confidence in both of them,” Mulkey said.
