Just when the game between No. 7 ranked LSU women’s basketball and No. 9 ranked Virginia Tech couldn’t have had more eyes on it, more will now be tuning in.
On Wednesday afternoon, Kim Mulkey announced some positive news: Angel Reese will be back in action on Thursday night against Virginia Tech.
But the good news came with some not-so-positive news: Sa’Myah Smith is out for the year with a torn ACL, MCL and meniscus, and Kateri Poole still isn’t available.
Mulkey didn’t elaborate on why Poole remains unavailable.
“Angel’s back, Kateri’s not, and Sa’Myah is done for the year,” Mulkey said. “Sadly she tore her knee up.”
Mulkey remained firm in providing minimal information on Reese’s recent activity for the reason she has not played and how long she’s been practicing.
“What difference does it make guys,” Mulkey said in agitation. “A coach is entitled to play whether she practiced with the team or not…it doesn’t matter, Angel is back. We are happy, happy, happy, and she is happy, happy, happy.”
Mulkey also didn’t specify if Reese will start against Virginia Tech on Thursday night, or if she will come off the bench.
“She will play tomorrow,” Mulkey said.
Despite Angel’s return to the court, the team takes a blow with the loss of Smith for the season.
The sophomore forward went down with a knee injury after just five minutes of playing time in the Cayman Islands against Niagara. In the seven games she played this season, Smith averaged 11.7 points per game and 7.6 rebounds, highlighted by back-to-back 21-point performances against Queens and Mississippi Valley State.
“She knew. The things she told me, she knew,” Mulkey said. “Sa’Myah’s personality is just she’s a quiet, young lady who’s just good. She understands she can get this year back. She understands that injuries happen. She’s just Sa’Myah.”
With the program experiencing several ups and downs early on this season, Mulkey and her team look to move on from the recent past.
“We have moved on,” Mulkey said. “That’s what athletes do, that’s what programs do. We’ve moved on. There’s nothing more to discuss about it.”
LSU will square off with Virginia Tech at the Pete Maravich Assembly Center on Thursday night at 8 p.m. C.T. The game will be televised on ESPN, and the matchup is a part of the SEC/ACC Challenge.
