LSU women’s basketball entered the season with high expectations and an influx of highly touted freshmen expected to make an immediate impact.
After Sunday night’s matchup against Vanderbilt, however, the question facing the Tigers isn’t about talent — it’s about time, given that LSU is now 0-2 in SEC play.
The 65-61 loss highlighted both the promise and the potential growing pains of relying heavily on freshmen and transfers in the unforgiving environment of SEC play. That’s what was detrimental for the Tigers, head coach Kim Mulkey said in the postgame press conference.
LSU showed flashes of explosive offense and defensive energy, statistically outperforming the matchup against Kentucky. Execution wavered in key stretches — a common hurdle for teams blending youth into significant roles.
Freshmen and new transfers to the SEC have been asked to contribute early, whether through extended minutes, ball-handling responsibilities or defensive assignments against veteran opponents.
Against Vanderbilt, that learning curve was evident in moments of rushed possessions, missed rotations and difficulty closing out a physical, disciplined opponent down the stretch.
“What really, really killed you was your freshman,” Mulkey said. “That’s what killed you.”
LSU’s fresher faces accounted for only 2 of the 15 assists against Vanderbilt. On Thursday against Kentucky, they owned 2 out of 12. There was also an evident lack of court experience, as these younger players tried to guard experienced seniors.
“As you’ve heard many times in sports, experience matters,” Mulkey said after the loss to Kentucky. “Fifth-year seniors matter. If you would’ve told me that we would’ve been outrebounded with this group I have, there’s no way I would’ve believed you. But that goes back to experience, that goes back to toughness, and we’ve just got to get better.”
Mulkey has never shied away from playing young talent, and this roster is no exception. The upside is clear: the Tigers’ new faces bring athleticism. The downside is the reality of SEC basketball, where every possession is magnified, and experience often wins tight games.
“I am very complimentary of the opponent when they make spectacular plays,” Mulkey said. “22 turnovers — I’m telling you the majority of them were done from upperclassmen who just, for whatever reason, turned it over.”
For LSU, the challenge moving forward will be balancing patience with urgency. Conference play leaves little margin for error, and early-season lessons can quickly snowball if not addressed. Still, these moments also serve as critical building blocks — the type that can transform a fresh roster into a battle-tested one by March.
“They’ll become sophomores and juniors and seniors, and they will remember this game. They will remember these moments and remember these things because that’s what competitors do. So we’ll go back to helping them see how the little things at this level matter.”
Whether LSU’s freshman-heavy rotation or the experiment of transfers on the court becomes a weakness or a strength may ultimately define the Tigers’ season. For now, the answer remains a work in progress — one shaped by nights like Sunday’s loss to Vanderbilt.
