The one that got away
January 10, 2012
Roy Ivey
January 13, 2012Adjusting to a new coach and system takes time.
No one knows that better than the LSU women’s basketball team.
The Lady Tigers limped through the early portion of the season having posted a modest 4-3 record.
But growing pains are slowly beginning to cease and LSU is white-hot entering the new year, slowing establishing themselves as a contender in the Southeastern Conference race.
Since their 4-3 start, the Lady Tigers have won nine straight games, including three straight SEC games.
“This team has so much potential and it is still untapped,” LSU women’s basketball coach Nikki Caldwell said. “Once they realize it and peak together as a unit, I have no doubt that this team is going to be very successful.”
The biggest source of LSU’s midseason turnaround has been its defense.
The Lady Tigers are smothering and smoldering opponents, having allowed just more than 42 points per game in their six December games.
Since a Nov. 19 overtime loss against Tulane, LSU has held opponents to 50 or fewer points in 10 of their 12 games.
The Lady Tigers have also held opponents to 40 or fewer points in three of those games.
“We stress a lot on the defensive end,” Caldwell said. “We really have been working on keeping people out of rhythm and making sure we’re doing what we need to do to disrupt them. I’m very proud of this group – and I’ve been proud of them year-round – for making that an emphasis on the defensive end.”
Why LSU’s able to stymie offensive attacks is simple n length.
The Lady Tigers have eight players who stand 6 feet, 2 inches or taller.
What that does is it allows the team to stretch its defense and force opponents to shoot the basketball over outstretched arms.
That length bothered Caldwell’s former team, UCLA, in LSU’s 58-41 victory over the Lady Bruins.
Following that game new UCLA coach Cori Close said the Lady Tigers’ ability to defend is why they can be an elite team.
“They have eight players [above 6-feet, 2-inches] and the back line of the zone really extended,” Close said. “It made us hold the ball along the perimeter and made us wonder if we could make the next pass. After we turned the ball over early, we started to doubt if we could make the next pass, make the defense shift and pass around them. They made us dribble around the horn and not towards the basket. … [Caldwell] is a great defensive coach.”
Caldwell is getting some national love for her defense, but it’s her offense that was the source of excitement when she was hired following last season.
The former Tennessee player and UCLA coach is known for her up-tempo, fast break oriented offensive philosophy.
But at LSU, that system took a while to perfect and the Lady Tigers are just No. 9 in the SEC in scoring, averaging just 65 points per game.
The reason for LSU’s offensive struggles aren’t a lack of talent n they are No. 2 in the conference in field goal percentage n it’s turnovers.
The Lady Tigers turn the basketball over 20 times per game, giving them one of the worst turnover margins in the SEC.
Caldwell said she’s stressed all season to her team that momentum works two ways and that negative momentum can be as deflating to a team as a positive swing.
“When we take care of the basketball, we are pretty efficient,” Caldwell said. “When we make air passes or try to force things that are not there, we get out of rhythm. We need to make each possession a valuable one. Sometimes turning the ball over can be contagious just like making threes can be.”
Despite offensive struggles, LSU will continue to run.
With good reason n they’ve gotten better.
The Lady Tigers rebounded from the Tulane loss and scored 65 or more points in six of 10 games from Nov. 22 n Jan. 1.
The team has done so with tremendous offensive balance.
Caldwell utilizes a loose rotation and 10 players average 10 or more minutes per game.
“When we have an opportunity to give our bench some playing time, we definitely want to do that,” Caldwell said.
Even with the balance, LSU’s unquestioned leader is senior forward LaSondra Barrett.
The four-year starter, Barrett has averaged 11 points and six rebounds per game this season.
Like everyone else on the team, she’s gotten better as of late, including a 13-point, 13-rebound showing against Ole Miss and an 18-point, 8-rebound effort against UCLA.
But even Barrett realizes it’s the team’s depth that will spark an NCAA Tournament run.
She believes LSU has the pieces to play with anyone.
“Having the bench come in to keep up the momentum and keep up the energy excites us as well as the crowd,” Barrett said. “Coach always talks about how the bench is just as important, if not more important, than the starters.”
