Paul Finebaum evaluates Kim Mulkey's legacy after bringing national title to LSU

Kim Mulkey’s legacy went into the stratosphere after she led LSU to a national title, according to Paul Finebaum.

The ESPN and SEC commentator didn’t peg Mulkey as the greatest of all time, but he put her up there with Geno Auriemma and Pat Summit. Mulkey won her fourth national title as a coach after winning three with Baylor.

Finebaum evaluated Mulkey’s legacy on McElroy and Cubelic.

“I think Geno and Pat are the two standalone figures in the history of women’s college basketball, but I do think if you’re doing a Mount Rushmore, and you have two spots out you have to give Kim Mulkey one of them right now,” Finebaum said. “And I think because she did it in an era of Dawn Staley and I think I mean, let’s not forget this was going to be one of the long runs in college basketball history, but I think Geno can tell you how difficult it is. You know two years in a row I think he gets beat on the buzzer in a semifinal and a national championship game. 

“I think she is deserving of that because you know, to do it at one place is impossibly difficult but to go someplace in this short period of time and I think the real story is how she’s been able to cobble a team together very quickly from very various places.” 

Mulkey turned LSU around instantly. In her first season, she led the Tigers to the second round of the NCAA Tournament. It only took until Year 2 to win it all for the first time in school history, men’s or women’s.

“She talked about the game in Colombia this year at South Carolina and she (said our players weren’t ready for it),” Finebaum said. “(She said) ‘But I’m hoping and I think they have learned from what they weren’t prepared for that day. And I think that has taken us through this tournament and gotten us to the Final Four.’

“That is the mark of a great coach who can turn failure into victory and great success and I think she is deserving of at least consideration of the next ledge right next to or behind Geno and Pat.”

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Mulkey is now 692-112 in her career with Baylor and LSU and has four national titles.