“Get off your rump, watch women’s basketball”: Kim Mulkey has snarky remarks after criticism for LSU’s non-conference schedule

Despite losing Angel Reese to the WNBA and Hailey Van Lith to the transfer portal, Kim Mulkey's LSU began the 2024-25 NCAA season as a top-10 team in the AP rankings. However, the Tigers' early-season scheduling garnered criticism from fans.

The Lady Tigers have only faced one ranked team through their first nine contests (NC State) and may not face another until they take on the South Carolina Gamecocks in January.

In the Dec. 3 episode of 104.5 ESPN's "Off The Bench", Mulkey doubled down on her scheduling. She also shuns the critics by citing her 40 years of coaching experience and questioning the methodology behind ranking NCAA teams.

"People love to get honest about our non-conference schedule and everybody has a right to an opinion," Kim Mulkey said. "But I've been doing this 40 years. The net rankings came out this week, we're eighth in the country and that's the quote-unquote thing the committee looks at is the net."

"Listen, I still believe in eyeballs. What do I mean by that? Get off your rump, watch women's basketball games on TV, go watch them in person and give the best teams that you see the higher seeds when this season is over." (5:40)

Kim Mulkey also displayed her reservations against rankings. With that, she cites the possibility of facing huge upsets and inconsistency in competition across November and December.

Kim Mulkey praises players after reaching 100-win mark with LSU

Kim Mulkey made history in LSU's 131-44 win over NC Central on Sunday as she became the fastest LSU coach to reach 100 wins.

Upon reaching the milestone, Mulkey praised her players, past and present, for her success.

"It's just coaching good players. Throughout my career I've been blessed to coach players that believe in our system and what we do," Mulkey said per the Daily Comet. "Coming to LSU is not any different than when I was at Baylor for 20-plus years. Kids have to believe in you and let you coach them.

"All of those wins belong to them."

Mulkey will look to add to her win tally during a busy December. LSU is set to play five games in a 15-day stretch, featuring only two games at home.

LSU will face Stanford on Dec. 5 as part of the annual ACC/SEC Challenge. The Cardinals are coming off a Sweet 16 run last season and a top-5 spot in the NET rankings. Outside that, the Lady Tigers play their last two neutral site games of the season. They face the instate rival Grambling Lady Tigers on Dec. 8 in Bossier City.

After hosting the Louisiana Ragin Cajuns, they travel to the neutral Mohegan Sun Arena to face the Seton Hall Pirates for the Women's Basketball Hall of Fame Showcase on Dec. 17. Kim Mulkey's squad then battles the UIC Flames for another road game in Illinois on Dec. 19.