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Observations for LSU women's basketball first practice. Here's what stood out
- Story byThe Daily Advertiser
- Observations for LSU women's basketball first practice. Here's what stood out
BATON ROUGE — Work toward another deep run through March in the hopes of a possible NCAA championship tipped off for LSU women's basketball Monday afternoon.
Kim Mulkey, entering her fourth season in charge of the Tigers, and her team held its first official practice inside the Pete Maravich Assembly Center and hundreds of fans came out to catch their first look of the team.
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Last season, ended against Iowa in the Elite Eight where the Tigers lost, 94-87, in Albany, New York. LSU lost Angel Reese and guard Hailey Van Lith off last year's team, but return stars Flau'jae Johnson and Mikaylah Williams.
Much will be different for LSU heading into the 2024-25 campaign as it welcomed five newcomers.
Here's what stood out during LSU's first preseason practice for the 2024-25 season.
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Especially early this season, as sophomore Aalyah Del Rosario works her way back from offseason surgery and Smith coming off a knee injury, expect LSU to work in some four-guard personnel groupings to give a breather for its thin forward group.
Flau'jae Johnson, Mikaylah Williams, Shyeanne Day-Wilson and Last-Tear Poa or Mjracle Sheppard could all see the floor at the same time. Aneesah Morrow is undersized, but she makes up for it with her will and ability. At 6-foot, there are going to be games where the Tigers are going to be smaller than their opponent.
Sa'Myah Smith moving well
Just 10 months removed from suffering an ACL tea r that cut her season last year short, junior forward Sa'Myah Smith is fully cleared and went through all of LSU's two-plus hour practice Monday.
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Smith was moving around well. She was able to garner a couple of blocks and looked good in rebounding the ball. The 6-4 forward will be a major piece for the Tigers this season.
Newcomer analysis for Kim Mulkey's squad
Sophomore guard Mjralce Sheppard is a perfect fit for this season's LSU team. Her on-ball defense and her offensive versatility will be an asset.
Shayeann Day-Wilson is the most coveted and crucial all of the newcomers for the team. She will battle Poa this preseason for the starting role at point guard, but, more importantly, Day-Wilson is going to give them a lot of meaningful minutes.
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During practice, Arkansas transfer Jersey Wolfenbarger worked exclusively inside the paint. At 6-5, she has the ability to step out and take the outside shot. It will be interesting to see if she will pop in and out during practice. Because of numbers, it looks like she won't be asked to do that much.
Kailyn Gilbert worked mainly off ball and there's just so many bodies there. Between Williams, Johnson, Sheppard, how much playing time she garners remains to be seen.
Freshman Jada Richard likely to carve out an impactful role
It's arguable that no one practiced Monday afternoon with more energy than LSU freshman point guard Jada Richard. She held her own defensively in drills, picking up plenty of praise throughout from Mulkey, assistant coaches Bob Starkey, Gary Redus and the rest of the staff.
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On the offensive end, Richard flashed some on what drew Mulkey to her on the recruiting trail. She's a slasher and was able to get into the lane.
Aalyah Del Rosario, Izzy Besselman held out of practice
Mulkey told reporters before practice that sophomore center Aalyah Del Rosario was going to be miss a portion of preseason practice due to an offseason ankle surgery for getting "some things cleaned up." Mulkey did say that she's hopeful that Del Rosario will be back sometime before the start of the season. Del Rosario did a small bit during practice like stretching.
Walk-on Izzy Besselman also did not participate in practice due to a heart issue, Mulkey said.
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Cory Diaz covers the LSU Tigers for The Daily Advertiser as part of the USA TODAY Network. Follow his Tigers coverage on Twitter: @ByCoryDiaz. Got questions regarding LSU athletics? Send them to Cory Diaz at bdiaz@gannett.com .
This article originally appeared on Lafayette Daily Advertiser: Kim Mulkey, LSU women's basketball held 1st practice. What stood out
