Most teams go into the season with a certain motto or mantra to lean on when the results do not match the intensity of play.
For the LSU women’s basketball team, they are trying to figure out what that identity is as they continue in the Southeastern Conference play.
The Lady Tigers (12-6, 3-3 SEC) have been up and down all year — they beat ranked Texas A&M with perimeter defense and fast breaks, but lost mightily to No. 19 South Carolina as they did the exact opposite and could not make shots or defend the fast break.
So the question is, what changes need to be made?
There are different answers to that complicated question, and coach Nikki Fargas addressed it with her words motioning toward offense.
“I feel like we are getting enough field goal attempts,” Fargas said. “We are not converting as much as I would like us to. We simply need to get better on the offensive side of the basketball.”
A simple statement from the coach is much harder to put into practice. LSU has been a great defensive team all year but has lacked in most shooting categories throughout the season.
Against South Carolina, LSU shot 37.9 percent from the floor while the Gamecocks shot an even 50 percent. LSU also shot only four threes compared to South Carolina, who shot 19.
Fargas mentioned early in the year that shooting would not be an area that would lead to wins, but they would with their defense. With defense being LSU’s strength throughout SEC play, Fargas has shifted her priorities to the offensive side of the ball. She thinks offense, not defense, will need a priority from here on if they want to win games.
With all those stats being said, the Lady Tigers have being able to put together solid game-plans and played well in the past two games.
They almost edged a tough and ranked SEC opponent in Kentucky (16-3, 3-2 SEC) but ended up losing a close matchup by 64-60 — a game in which they shot more threes and better from the floor.
In the Sunday matchup in Tuscaloosa, LSU came away with a tight road victory against Alabama (10-9, 2-4 SEC) with a score of 62-56, who has admittedly struggled lately.
Since Fargas has stressed a need for better offensive play after the South Carolina game, LSU has responded by putting up points against two tough opponents, with a variety of offensive weapons stepping up.
The theme of a team identity will be a subject to pay closer attention to as LSU hopes to grab a spot in the big dance. If they can keep their defense strong and improve on their pace of play on the offensive end, the Lady Tigers may have a chance to surprise people.