Though there was not the same amount of hype surrounding where this year’s women’s basketball’s team would end up in the postseason, the players and coaches seemed happy with their place in the 2004 “Big Dance.”
LSU earned a No. 4 seed in the West region of the women’s NCAA Tournament and will host the sub-regional, playing No. 13 seed Austin Peay in the first round on March 21 in the PMAC. LSU is 28-2 in its home court the past two seasons.
Gathered in the Bo Campbell Auditorium of the Cox Academic Center for Student Athletes, LSU acting coach Pokey Chatman, the team and fans waited as the brackets were announced on ESPN. Most figured LSU to be a No. 3 or 4 seed, but its 78-66 loss to Vanderbilt in the semifinals of the SEC Tournament possibly hurt its standing with the selection committee.
“I’m just excited that it’s over,” Chatman said. “The kids now can get a chance to go home and think about it [Coach] Bob [Starkey] is probably on the Internet right now getting some information on the teams. We’ll just prepare for it like it’s a championship I guess.”
Chatman said the team will use the week to work on fundamentals and prepare for Austin Peay (23-7).
“We talk about being in the moment and this is a moment we’re going to bask in for a little while,” said Chatman. “We are 23-7 but that’s not our potential. I don’t think we’ve reached our potential.”
The Lady Tigers (23-7) were placed in the West region for the second straight year, and if they defeat the Lady Governors, they will play the winner of Miami (Fla.) and Maryland in the second round.
Chatman said if the team advances to the regional rounds, which will be in Seattle’s Bank of America Arena, the players will be mentally ready to travel.
“The best thing about the West coast is I’ve got some family out there,” Chatman said. “We’re definitely familiar with the routes to get there. We’ll be in Dallas for a few hours. We’ve adjusted to the time zone so I think we know what we have to do to get prepared.
Texas earned the No. 1 seed in the region and will face No. 16 seed Southern, the Southwestern Athletic Conference champions. LSU lost to Texas in the 2003 West regional final, and they would play if both teams advance to the Sweet 16.
Sophomore Seimone Augustus, LSU’s leading scorer at 18.4 points per game, said the team is focused on Austin Peay and does not want to overlook any team. Augustus said if the Lady Tigers do reach the Sweet 16, she would like to face Texas.
“That would be nice to avenge that loss from last year,” Augustus said. “[The bracket] is going to be hard. There’s some tough competition there.”
The Lady Tigers were among six Southeastern Conference teams in the tournament, including Tennessee, a No. 1 seed in the Midwest Region and Vanderbilt a surprise No. 2 in Midwest region. Also in the tournament are Georgia (No. 3 seed in West region), Florida (No. 5 seed in Midwest), Auburn (No. 7 seed in East) and Ole Miss (No. 10 seed in West).
Chatman said she was surprised about Vanderbilt’s placing, but the team has no control over the selection committee.
“You never can tell,” Chatman said. “That’s why I try not to get too anxious. That speaks volume for the conference and the run Vanderbilt put together.”