Kim Mulkey commends Geno Auriemma’s ex-asst. coach while expressing discontent despite win vs Vanderbilt: “Mystery to me how the game was that close”

LSU coach Kim Mulkey praised her Vanderbilt counterpart, Shea Ralph, for giving her team a tough challenge and something to think about in its upcoming SEC games. The No. 5-ranked Lady Tigers defeated the Commodores 83-77 to improve to 4-0 in the conference and 19-0 overall.

In a phone interview on 104.5 ESPN's "Off The Bench" program, Mulkey commended Ralph, who worked as an assistant coach for UConn coach Geno Auriemma from 2008 to 2021 before taking over at Vanderbilt. Mulkey highlighted Vanderbilt's solid defensive strategy against LSU in Monday's game.

The Lady Tigers were coming off an 89-87 win over Tennessee on Thursday and hosted Vanderbilt four days later. Mulkey compared the Commodores' defense to the Lady Volunteers' and pointed out that it was solid, giving LSU a hard time figuring it out.

In the game against Tennessee, the four-time champion coach said LSU beat the Lady Volunteers' press with proper spacing. Their counter-ploy resulted in easy layups on the way to the 89-87 win at Thompson-Boling Arena. However, it was a different scenario when they faced the Commodores.

"I've got to come back here and play a Vanderbilt team. Their press is not like Tennessee and they only do it a couple times. But what they do is they're just solid (on the defensive end)," Mulkey said. (5:14)

"Their coach is really good because Shea Ralph was with Geno Auriemma for years and they just mixed some things up."

Kim Mulkey, however, noted that the game against Vanderbilt felt unusual, and she was still puzzled by why the score was so close.

"It's a mystery to me how that game was so close," Mulkey said. (5:50) "And so many different things that we did good and bad. It was just a weird game to try to explain."

LSU relied on its "Big Three" — Flau'Jae Johnson, Aneesah Morrow and Mikaylah Williams — to secure the win over Vanderbilt. They combined for 68 of the Lady Tigers' 83 points, with Morrow continuing to build her case for National Player of the Year honors by also hauling down 15 rebounds.

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LSU coach Kim Mulkey hails her players for performing under pressure

When asked about the LSU Tigers' ability to operate and adapt in crucial, high-pressure situations, Kim Mulkey pointed to her players for effectively executing her offensive strategies and plays.

"What I have is ... (that's) very talented ... some are more talented than others, some right now are more confident than others, some are more experienced than others. But I've got three or four that will say: 'Give me that ball coach I'll go win this game for you,'" the LSU coach said. (8:18)

According to Kim Mulkey, the team isn't afraid to fail and is confident enough to beat everyone, not just in the SEC but across the entire women's college basketball spectrum.

The multi-title-winning coach will have two road games starting Sunday against Florida, followed by a matchup next Thursday against No. 2-ranked South Carolina.

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