By Ryan Rogers
LSU Sports Information
The LSU Lady Tigers wrapped up a phenomenal season with an elite eight appearance in the NCAA tournament. Now the Pete Maravich Assembly Center is empty and resting quietly. And LSU basketball fans can only sit around and wait for the Lady Tigers to tip-off next year. But as for as Sue Gunter and her players are concerned, their will be no sitting around because next year cant come soon enough. The Lady Tigers are anxious to train in the offseason and get back on the hardwood for what should be another special season next year.
“Its almost like we wanted to start practicing tomorrow for next year,” said Gunter.
The Lady Tigers set numerous records this season. This after a team battled the odds of criticism that they werent big enough or that they had no perimeter game. Well, the Lady Tigers must have had something because they won 26 games this year and theres no arguing that.
Coach Sue Gunter was extremely pleased with her teams accomplishments.
“The season started off optimistic and then Kisha got hurt and we lost our first game, and we may have wondered about the future of the team. But then we got a big win at Georgia (then ranked No. 2), and we realized that we were capable of having the special season we wanted to have,” said Gunter.
Kisha James is the Lady Tigers starting point guard. She hurt her knee and was lost for the season. However, this may have been a key factor in bringing the Lady Tigers closer as a family.
“It was really fun coaching this team,” said coach Gunter. “They were a good group of kids whom fed off of each other and didnt care about personal egos,” said Gunter.
“Its been a very exciting year for the team and the program. It was a great way to end my career at LSU,” said Katrina Hibbert.
Hibbert leaves LSU as one of the schools most decorated athletes as she climbed up the Lady Tiger record charts throughout the course of her career.
“I am glad we were able to achieve what we did while I was at LSU,” said Hibbert.
Hibbert said the Tennessee game in 1999 was the highlight of her career. LSU won that game 72-69 over then No. 1 Tennessee. Hibbert hit the game winning basket which was part of an eighteen point performance.
With the success of this season LSU has taken that next step toward greater success. A preseason goal of this team was to make it to the elite eight, and not settle for elimination in the sweet sixteen. Without a doubt, Sue Gunter envisions making LSU a perennial power. She has done an outstanding job building toward this point.
“Its rare that a program just all of sudden makes it to a final four. I think everyone has to work really hard in stages to get there. Theres usually a plan to get there,” said Gunter.
The program is flourishing and with only one key senior departing, LSU is primed for ample success next year.
A reporter asked outgoing senior Katrina Hibbert at the press conference following the Uconn game: How does she feel being the lone senior and leaving the program during the good times without a final four appearance?
Katrina responded saying:
“This has all been part of a building process and the people coming in can do what I did and maybe even better. I was part of a start and hopefully they can carry on and finish,” said Hibbert.
“She was definitely talking about strictly skills. We can never replace her wonderful mind or heart that she has brought into this program,” said Gunter.
LSU was defeated by eventual national champions Uconn in the elite eight 86-71. The Tigers did walk away from that game with something they didnt know beforehand. They were capable of playing with the best team in the nation.
“I think we proved that the gap between No. 1 and us is closing. When we finished that game we were not satisfied with playing well against No. 1. We were devastated because we lost. Thats a sign that we are ready to compete on a very high level,” said Gunter.
LSU is very optimistic going into next year. Leading scorer Marie Ferdinand returns and is excited about next year.
“We need to work hard in the offseason and work toward making it to the final four,” said Ferdinand.
Coach Gunter is enthusiastic about next year already.
“It really hit me how good we could be next year on the plane ride home from meetings in Philidelphia. Myself and my players feel that ‘fire’ going into next year.” said Gunter.
With a solid nucleus returning, a good recruiting class coming in and great foundations laid down in recent years, the Lady Tigers will be a team opponents should fear next year.