By Ryan Rogers
LSUsports.net
The Lady Tigers (24-6) are in Richmond, Va., preparing for a Sweet 16 battle Saturday morning at 10:30 CST with Duke (28-5).
LSU has had an incredible season setting numerous team records and they are hoping to continue the trend of success in the NCAA Tournament.
“Our big goal this year was to get beyond the Sweet Sixteen and get to the Elite Eight or Final Four,” said Gunter.
It is the second straight year LSU finds themselves in the Sweet Sixteen. Last year the Lady Tigers were beaten by perrenial power Louisiana Tech 73-52. LSU is hoping to take that next step this year and moving on past the Sweet 16, not so much just to better this year’s teams fortunes, but to elevate the program from a broad perspective. Advancing to the Elite Eight and then possibly the Final Four would raise the standards of LSU Lady Tiger basketball and propel the program to greater success in the future.
LSU made it to the Elite Eight once, in 1986, before falling to Tennessee, 67-65. That was 14 years ago and LSU is primed for another visit. Hopefully, if LSU does advance to the Elite Eight this year their wont be another 14 year drought before they get their again.
Sue Gunter is aiming to make LSU a powerhouse. She seeks similar prestige that Louisiana Tech has maintained four hours away in Ruston, La. LSU wants to be consistent contender in womens college basketball. With Sue Gunter working hard to lay down the foundation, LSU now has the resources, facilities, atmosphere and support to continue building a strong program.
A win against Duke would be big step in the right direction. Sue Gunter feels confident in her team’s chances.
“I I think, hopefully, that this is the time,” said Gunter. “Of Course their are no assurances, Duke is a great team and they have been their before.
“Besides the starters we have had huge contributions inside from Kaisha Lymon and Jamie Hawkins. They have helped us get threw the tournament thus for,” said Gunter.
Quality depth is a sign of growth for any program.
LSU has found themselves in this situation due to steady play from a quartet of players. Katrina Hibbert, Marie Ferdinand, April Brown and Detrina White have all contributed heavily to the success of LSU. These players chose to come to LSU and have worked hard to reach these goals.
“I was very pleased with my decision to come to LSU,” said Hibbert. “LSU has been a great place to play basketball and get an education. I just hope we can reach our goals and move on in the tournament.”
LSU has done so much this year amidst early adversity. When starting point guard Kisha James went down with a knee injury in the preseason many people wrote this team off. However, the Lady Tigers have overcome this and other obstacles and driven themselves toward success.
Not every team can bounce back from such trauma and have so much success. This speaks well for Coach Gunter and her players whom have worked so hard to take that infamous “next step.”