Thibodaux on playoff bubble with 2 games to play
October 29, 2013
Dominance continued: SL teams take district titles
October 29, 2013
The last time Theresa Plaisance was a senior All-American, she led Vandebilt Catholic High School to the Class 4A State Championship – the only such title in the school’s history.
Now an LSU senior and again an All-American, Plaisance and the Lady Tigers hope a repeat performance is in order.
Plaisance leads a talented and experienced LSU squad into the new season as the team looks to chase its first-ever NCAA Championship.
A few weeks before the season gets underway, the Lady Tigers have eyes to host the NCAA Tournament, reach the Sweet 16, advance to the Final Four and then cut down the nets while there.
“Our team is evolving right now, and we have so much more growth to do,” Plaisance said. “But the way we’re starting off right now, I’m really looking forward to this season.”
Plaisance is the biggest Lady Tiger for opponents to track in the 2013-14 season – both in size and ability.
The 6-foot, 5-inch senior center is LSU’s top returnee from last year’s Lady Tigers’ squad that reached the Sweet 16 in the NCAA Tournament.
Plaisance won the SEC’s scoring title last year, averaging 17 points per game. With another offseason to mature, those around the college basketball landscape seem to expect those numbers to continue.
Plaisance was one of four SEC players named as a preseason finalist to be the National Player of the Year. LSU coach Nikki Caldwell said the Lady Tigers will go as far as Plaisance takes them in the upcoming year.
The coach noted the standout center’s laid back demeanor – the personality that Tri-parish natives have come to love about the former Lady Terriers’ standout.
“She is so goofy and because she is, she doesn’t even understand the pressures that there are for an All-American for one of the best teams in the country,” Caldwell said. “By her personality being the way it is, she doesn’t get rattled. … She’s definitely a player that we expect to be a go-to player. … She’s going to run one-through-five.”
But Plaisance is not the lone LSU returnee – a lot of her pals from last year’s squad are back, as well.
Starting point guard Jeanne Kenney is back for LSU, as-is post players Derreyal Youngblood, Sheila Boykin and Shanece McKinney.
But the talk of the preseason for LSU has been sophomore guard Danielle Ballard, who returns to the Lady Tigers’ lineup after averaging 12.1 points, 6.5 rebounds and 2.9 steals per game as a true freshman last season.
Both Caldwell and Plaisance said the Memphis native is ready to build on those lofty numbers and establish herself as an elite Lady Tiger.
“I like the fact that she is becoming more vocal and taking on more leadership and ownership of this team,” Caldwell said. “We are going to look to play her more off the ball this year, which will allow her to score more.”
“Danielle Ballard is one of the best guards in the country and she is only a sophomore,” Plaisance added. “It’s crazy that she has two more years of college play (after this one).”
But in addition to the returnees, LSU also has a slew of talented incoming players that will push for playing time.
The Tigers had one of the top recruiting classes in America this past offseason – a class that included some of the top-ranked players in the country.
The big name in the class was 5-foot, 10-inch guard Raigyne Moncrief, who landed in Baton Rouge after being named to the McDonald’s All-American team.
Through a few weeks of workouts, the freshman has impressed.
“(She) is one of the most explosive players with the basketball,” Caldwell said. “It’s amazing how she can get down the court. She’s going to allow us to have a quick running game. Raigyne is also a great rebounder and defender.
“She brings the total package.”
Freshmen guards Jasmine Rhodes and Rina Hill are also players that Caldwell noted in her preseason comments.
“We have three unbelievable freshmen that we are excited about for the next four years,” Caldwell said.
“Our freshmen are unbelievable and so athletic,” Plaisance agreed. “They fit in very well with our team and have made us better.”
So with all of the pieces seemingly in place, the Lady Tigers have a clear mission to make a deep NCAA Tournament run.
Caldwell said the team’s roster depth is nice. But she is also quick to add that she believes LSU’s successes rest in the hands of Plaisance.
Judging by the former Lady Terrier’s last experience as a senior, the team is probably in good hands going forward.
“She has put in the time and energy it takes to get better,” Caldwell said of Plaisance. “Her ability to make her teammates better is great. She’s got enough people around her to make her look good.
“She’s going to be very tough to guard.”
LSU standout forward and Vandebilt Catholic graduate Theresa Plaisance shows some love to Lady Tigers’ fans during a game last season. Plaisance is a Preseason All-American in the 2013-14 season. She is the Lady Tigers’ top returnee.
