LSU Tigers
Overall Rank: #39
Conference Rank: #8 SEC
LSU Team Page
Coach Nikki Caldwell had a successful debut campaign at LSU, leading the Tigers to the second round of the NCAA Tournament. The Tigers are a pretty young team with six players, including three starters, heading out. Thus, this group may have a bit of a learning curve in the always tough SEC. By March this will be a very good team and Coach Caldwell will have them playing tough defense.
2011-12 Record: 23-11, 10-6
2011-12 Postseason: NCAA
Coach: Nikki Caldwell
Coach Record: 23-11 at LSU, 95-37 overall
Strengths:
LSU wins games with defense. Shanece McKinney, a 6-4 junior, averaged just 8.3 minutes per game, but she averaged a block per contest. The Tigers defensive efforts come from the entire team, but McKinney could turn into a shot blocking machine if she can stay on the floor for 20 minutes per game. Theresa Plaisance is another big junior forward who can block a few shots. Unlike McKinney, Plaisance can step outside and knock down some long balls. While replacing LaSondra Barrett and Courtney Jones will not be an easy task and McKinney and Plaisance will not score nearly as effectively, the Tigers frontcourt defense should be in fine shape. Even incoming freshman Derreyal Youngblood is a fine talent who will be capable of making an impact right away.
Weaknesses:
Without Barrett and Jones, LSU will be looking for some new scorers. Adrienne Webb is the likely candidate to emerge as the team’s go-to-scorer. Webb is not much of a shooter, but she can attack the basket effectively. After averaging 9.9 points per game as a junior, Webb will turn into the senior leader of this team. Bianca Lutley is another senior leader who could be in for a surprising year. She is the most efficient shooter on the team, but has never really had the opportunity to score a lot of points. That may change this year. Freshmen guards Kuaneshia Baker, Danielle Ballard and Anne Pedersen will look to help out LSU’s shooting woes. Pedersen is a big 6-1 guard who missed her true freshman campaign with a knee injury. If Pedersen can stay healthy, she may just be the shooter this team needs.
Final Projection:
McKinney, Plaisance and Youngblood will do a fine job on the glass and defensively, but losing a multi-faceted scorer like Barrett is a big deal. The Tigers will stay in games with their defense, but somebody has to step up and score. Webb and the newcomers on the perimeter are fine options, but there is a big step to be taken to reach Barrett’s scoring prowess. And Barrett was a big forward who was extremely difficult to defend. Webb is a 5-9 guard, not a dynamic forward who could score inside and out like Barrett. Jeanne Kenney is the final piece to the puzzle. The 5-8 guard took over the point guard duties last season after Destini Hughes went down with an injury. The Tigers committed way too many turnovers last season even when Hughes was around. Now the pressure falls to Kenney who must keep control of the offense and spearhead the defensive effort. If Kenney can help keep the turnovers to a minimum, LSU’s defense will be even more effective and that should be enough to keep LSU on the brink of an NCAA Tournament berth.
Projected Postseason Tournament: NCAA
Projected Starting Five:
Jeanne Kenney, Junior, Guard, 5.6 points per game
Adrienne Webb, Senior, Guard, 9.9 points per game
Bianca Lutley, Senior, Guard, 5.3 points per game
Shanece McKinney, Junior, Forward, 1.8 points per game
Theresa Plaisance, Junior, Forward, 4.5 points per game
Madness 2012 Women’s Basketball Recruit Rankings:
#149 Derreyal Youngblood
