Coach Kim Mulkey reflects on bringing LSU to second Sweet 16 appearance in a row

After achieving their second win of the 2024 NCAA Women’s Basketball Tournament, coach Kim Mulkey and the No. 3 LSU women’s basketball (30-5) team is officially headed to the Sweet 16. Notably, this is their second appearance in as many years, and the Tiger head coach took some time to reflect on her group’s achievement.

Coach Kim Mulkey reaches the Sweet 16 yet again

A trip to the Sweet 16 will always be much easier said than done. When coming off a 2023 national championship and consistently being viewed as one of the best teams in the country, it’s not hard to forget that.

However, after coming out on top in a tough battle vs. No. 14 Rice (19-15) in the first round and pulling off a dominant comeback win vs. No. 11 MTSU (30-5) in the second round, coach Kim Mulkey isn’t taking the achievement for granted.

On Sunday after reaching their 30th win of the season, the Tiger head coach took some time to not only speak about her 2024 team, but how appreciative she is to be able to coach in the Sweet 16 once again.

“They’re fun. They’re fun. Even when they’re frustrated, they’re fun. They’re ballers, and I’m blessed. I’m happy for them, I’m happy for LSU.

Basketball is just a little sweeter in March 🍭 pic.twitter.com/vdIyfPwyuu

— LSU Women’s Basketball (@LSUwbkb) March 24, 2024

“There’s so many times people take getting to the Sweet 16 for granted. Do you know how many coaches probably have never done that in their career? I’ve always acknowledged that it’s hard to do. I thought our fans were outstanding today, they showed up at 3:00 the other day, and then today at 2:00. Yeah, those kids keep me young.”

In the midst of her 39th season in the business, coach Kim Mulkey is now entering her 33rd appearance in the Sweet 16, which includes three trips as a player with Louisiana Tech.

Notably, it hasn’t exactly been a cakewalk for her programs over the years. In this season alone, seasoned coach Rick Insell and his MTSU squad gave the Tigers just about everything they could handle. Right from the start, they came out swinging and even led the purple and gold by as many as nine early in the 3rd quarter.

“Why don’t we give credit to the other team? That’s a Hall of Fame coach down there. Those kids hadn’t lost a game since the end of December. That’s a good team. Well coached. They run their stuff, they reverse the ball, they make you defend for 30 seconds,” coach Kim Mulkey continued during her reflection. “I give credit to the opponent.”

With two wins officially in the books, sights have shifted to this coming Saturday, March 30, as the Tigers will take on either No. 2 UCLA (26-6) or No. 7 Creighton (26-5), who face off this evening at 7:30 p.m. CST in Los Angeles, CA. For now, all LSU women’s basketball can do is focus on themselves, and there’s little doubt that coach Kim Mulkey will have her team more than ready to give any future opponents everything they have.

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