LSU’s Reese out there to play vs. Virginia Tech

LSU ladies’s basketball star Angel Reese shall be out there to play in opposition to No. 9 Virginia Tech on Thursday, coach Kim Mulkey mentioned Wednesday. Reese has missed 4 straight video games for the No. 7 Tigers.

Reese hasn’t performed since being benched within the second half of LSU’s win over Kent State on Nov. 14. Mulkey has declined to offer a lot element about Reese’s absence.

When requested for a proof following LSU’s win over Kent State, Mulkey mentioned she “might” present one, “however I gained’t. It was only a coach’s choice.” After its  victory over Southeastern Louisiana on Nov. 17, Mulkey addressed Reese’s absence by saying, “It’s very apparent Angel was not in uniform. Angel is part of this basketball crew, and we hope to see her sooner slightly than later.”

Following the Tigers’ win over Texas Southern on Nov. 20, Mulkey added, “You all the time must take care of locker room points. That’s simply a part of teaching.” Reese, the Most Excellent Participant ultimately 12 months’s Ultimate 4, was not with this system for its two video games on the Cayman Islands Basic final weekend in opposition to Niagara and Virginia.

By way of 4 video games this season, Reese is averaging 17 factors and 10.3 rebounds per contest whereas capturing 46.9 %.

Mulkey additionally mentioned Wednesday reserve guard Kateri Poole — who was additionally benched within the Kent State recreation and has performed restricted minutes since — continues to be not with the crew, and ahead Sa’Myah Smith is finished for the season with a torn MCL, ACL and meniscus.

What to search for in Reese’s return

The identical factor I used to be on the lookout for earlier than her absence and through her absence: LSU’s total circulate. From the start, we knew LSU was going to take longer to come back collectively on the ground due to the variety of new key gamers and since this program didn’t take an offseason international journey (which might’ve allowed the Tigers 10 additional practices over the summer time). By way of seven video games, LSU hasn’t established a constant circulate. A part of that has been due to participant availability, however even when each participant was out there, that circulate didn’t persistently present up. So, in a recreation in opposition to a powerful Virginia Tech crew, can LSU mesh by way of 40 minutes in a manner we haven’t seen but this season?

I’ll even be taking a look at Reese’s minutes load. She hasn’t performed in a recreation in additional than two weeks, however Mulkey did say Reese had been training. (She didn’t specify for a way lengthy.) With Smith’s damage, Reese’s minutes seemingly might want to improve total this season. When it comes to Thursday evening’s recreation, it’ll be fascinating to see precisely how a lot run Reese will get. — Chantel Jennings, ladies’s basketball senior author

How a lot will LSU miss Smith?

Significantly. The sophomore had began the 2023-24 season strongly, averaging 12 factors and eight rebounds a recreation. The Tigers will miss her size on each ends of the ground, however particularly on the offensive glass the place she was cleansing up this season.

The Tigers’ depth at ahead was already fairly skinny, so her absence will imply a good heavier reliance on Reese and Aneesah Morrow, who haven’t proven nice on-court chemistry but this season — even within the video games by which each performed. Smith’s minutes might go to quite a lot of gamers. The Tigers are extra guard-heavy, so we might see them go for a smaller lineup. However, in opposition to bigger SEC groups, it seemingly implies that both junior Amani Bartlett — who has averaged lower than six minutes per recreation this season — shall be thrown into the heavy rotation or that LSU shall be relying much more closely on 6-foot-6 freshman Aalyah Del Rosario to play minutes within the paint.

In opposition to Virginia Tech, it’ll be fascinating to see which route the Tigers go — particularly within the beginning lineup — to take care of 6-6 All-American Elizabeth Kitley. Looks as if there’s an honest likelihood LSU opts for Del Rosario so as to take care of Kitley’s top, and the Tigers will alter elsewhere as the sport goes on. — Jennings

Required studying

(Photograph: Ethan Miller / Getty Photos)