Kim Mulkey addresses potential LSU, Hailey Van Lith vs. Louisville matchup in Round of 32

In the portal era, matchups between former teams and former players can often take place. That could potentially be the case for LSU’s Hailey Van Lith in the postseason, though, with her third-seeded Tigers having a chance to possibly meet Louisville, the No. 6 seed in their region, in the Round of 32 of the NCAA Tournament.

Following the announcement of their draw on Selection Sunday, Kim Mulkey spoke and eventually addressed that chance of the two meeting in Baton Rouge. She said it was fairly obvious by the reaction of the team and the crowd that everyone knows what that matchup could mean to Van Lith personally.

“Well, it was everybody smiling at her,” said Mulkey.

Still, as Mulkey continued, she noted how Van Lith will probably have nothing but respectful thoughts about the Cardinals. That’s at least her thought if they were to actually meet and she were to receive questions about it.

She got what she wanted out of her career at Louisville. Now, at this point, she is trying to accomplish new goals at her second collegiate stop at LSU.

“Hailey’s a baller,” Mulkey said. “I’m sure there’ll be lots of questions asked by you guys, if that matchup should happen. She’ll answer it beautifully like she always does.”

“She had a great career there. Three wonderful years. She graduated with a finance degree,” added Mulkey. “She’s now an LSU Tiger and came here to play her final year, if it is her final year, of basketball.”

Van Lith appeared in 101 games overall at Louisville under Jeff Walz and was a full-time starter for the team. In her time there, she averaged 15.1 points, 4.4 rebounds, 2.5 assists, and 1.3 steals while shooting 42.4% from the field and 34.6% from three in just under 33 minutes a game. She led the team in scoring in her last two seasons there. That included her career-best year as a junior last year in ’22-’23.

After that season, Van Lith chose to enter the transfer portal following her graduation. She then eventually ended up amongst the collection of talent at LSU. During her 29 games as a Tiger, she has posted 12.3 points, 3.7 assists, 2.4 rebounds, and 1.3 steals.

However, for all the eyes on a reunion between Van Lith and Louisville, Mulkey doesn’t want anyone overlooking a potential game with that No. 11 seed either considering what they also bring to the table.

“Middle Tennessee is pretty salty too,” Mulkey pointed out. “A former All-American of mine is an assistant coach there. Rick Insell is a Hall of Fame coach.”

LSU’s region is a difficult bracket considering what all there is to deal with in their field. The defending champions aren’t shying away from any of it, though, ahead of their initial tip off against Rice on Friday afternoon.

“Got a pretty good first and second round here,” said Mulkey. “Let’s go. Let’s play.”