Takeaways from LSU’s loss to South Carolina
LSU lost to South Carolina on Thursday night in the PMAC 76-70 after holding a four-point lead heading into the final frame. It was a sold out arena with ESPN covering every angle of the game, but it was the Gamecocks who hit two huge 3-pointers late to steal the win.
It was an awesome game, but LSU leaves with plenty to learn after dropping the game against the other top SEC team once again. Here are my takeaways from the defeat.
Main Takeaway: LSU has what it takes…
I know, the loss stings in front of the home crowd that was outstanding. It puts South Carolina in a dominant position for the SEC regular season title, but the goal for this year is to reach a Final Four and LSU stamped itself as one of the top teams in the country with this performance.
We’ve now seen games against Virginia Tech and South Carolina where LSU was locked in and played at a national championship level. The first half was a display of excellence that showed this team has the ceiling that can make a run when it’s clicking. It felt like South Carolina was hanging on by a thread in the first half, then made championship plays, capitalizing on LSU mistakes.
The consistency aspect is going to continue to be a struggle for this LSU team as the depth is still a concern, but there’s a real difference in the team that played South Carolina last year and the team that played them this year. LSU can win games with its offense and go punch for punch with the No. 1 team in the country. The defense showed flashes of being vastly improved, but wore down as the game went on.
LSU fans have a right to be upset, because the small things beat them, but this experience is going to help players like Mikaylah Williams, Aalyah Del Rosario, and really all of the newcomers.
This team has what it takes, but its margin for error is just small in these high level games. Angel fouling out, Mikaylah Williams struggling to score, and some of those turnovers are things that can’t happen in March.
Five more thoughts
1. SC shut down LSU’s OREBs in the second half
After LSU dominated the glass in the first, outrebounding South Carolina 25-17 overall and 8-2 on the offensive glass. In the second half, the script flipped with the Gamecocks outrebounding the Tigers 22-12 overall and 7-2 on the glass. A lot of that has to do with Angel Reese getting in foul trouble, but the tone was set as South Carolina hammered the paint and the glass to get the win.
2. Defense faltered in the 4Q
Part of this is fatigue, part is foul trouble, and part is LSU reverting back to its defensive struggles from earlier this season late. Overall, the Tigers did a fantastic job containing Cardoso and Te-Hina Paopao, limiting them to a combined 23 points on 9-of-23 shooting, but it fell off in the fourth quarter as those players continued to attract attention and opened up Bree Hall to hit two big threes to win the game. South Carolina had 24 points in the paint in the second half to take the game.
3. SC became more aggressive on defense
Jan 25, 2024; Baton Rouge, Louisiana, USA; LSU Lady Tigers guard Hailey Van Lith (11) and South Carolina Gamecocks guard Raven Johnson (25) battle for a rebound during the second half at Pete Maravich Assembly Center. Mandatory Credit: Matthew Hinton-USA TODAY Sports
After LSU scored 24 points in the first quarter, LSU scored 17, 15, then 14 in the final three quarters. The Gamecocks turned up the heat on Hailey Van Lith, Last-Tear Poa, and all of LSU’s guards and the Tigers reverted back to having stretches of unorganized play and were being bumped out to the perimeter and off the block. Kim Mulkey said after the game they settled for too many threes. Credit to Dawn Staley for attacking LSU’s weakness and forcing key turnovers.
4. Aneesah and Flau’Jae were excellent
Jan 25, 2024; Baton Rouge, Louisiana, USA; LSU Lady Tigers guard Aneesah Morrow (24) blocks the shot of South Carolina Gamecocks guard Bree Hall (23) during the second half at Pete Maravich Assembly Center. Mandatory Credit: Matthew Hinton-USA TODAY Sports
Flau’Jae Johnson only scored two points in the second half and I wish she was more aggressive on the catch, but defensively what she did against Paopao was terrific and kept SC from making a run earlier. She made several winning plays in the first half that invigorated LSU and the crowd. She’s the gasoline that makes the car go and she brings the energy.
Aneesah Morrow was an efficient 7-for-11 from the field with 10 rebounds and three assists to one turnover. She was the best player on the court and showed why she was an All-American last year. LSU ran a couple isolations in the second half for her, but it felt like she needed the ball even more late.
5. Aalyah Del Rosario made progress
A huge positive from this game is Del Rosario’s 17 minutes. Now, in this game specifically, she wasn’t able to sustain that success. Dawn Staley said after the game they were going to attack her when she was on the court. She ended a -20 in plus/minus which sucks, but it wasn’t because she was overwhelmed, she just isn’t quite good enough yet and that’s OK. Give her another month and a half and I expect her to be ready for a potential run in the tournament.
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