To reach its potential, LSU WBB needs Carson, Johnson at their best

LSU’s game against Florida was not quite the blowout many fans had hoped, but it was still a pivotal moment for this LSU team. Coming off of the grinding stretch beginning with the three-point win over Arkansas on Jan. 19 and “ending” with the nine-point win over Ole Miss on Feb.16, LSU went from a team that was untested, to one that has quality experience in tight games.

In those seven games, LSU had five single-digit wins, one blowout win, and one loss. In the first 19 games of the season, the Tigers had just one game decided by single digits and zero losses. It’s been a noticeable shift for LSU who had to come together to fight through adversity. Some players thrived, while others still had learning to do in order to elevate in tight moments.

The Tigers are now 6-0 in games decided by single digits, though. Against the athleticism of Tennessee, the zone defense of Georgia, the shooting of Arkansas, and the physical defense of Ole Miss, LSU prevailed. No. 1 South Carolina was the outlier, but head coach Kim Mulkey refuses to let that game impact this team moving forward.

Outside of the game at South Carolina, Angel Reese continues her dominance. LaDahzia Williams has seen an uptick in her aggressiveness. Alexis Morris continues to pick her spots, refusing to force the issue until her team needs it. The bench seems to be finding some footing.

The win over Florida did the most for two players in particular, though: Jasmine Carson and Flau’jae Johnson. The two starting wings flanking Morris at point guard were the most challenged by the aforementioned seven game stretch.

Getting Carson’s shooting back

Before the Arkansas game on Jan. 19, Carson was shooting 36.7 percent from deep, an awesome percentage that really stressed defenses out. Over the seven-games, though, Carson was 8-of-25 from deep, and that includes her 4-of-8 outing against Alabama. In the six close games, Carson was just 4-of-17.

Facing a three-win Florida team, Carson clearly wanted to make a statement to herself and her team of what she was capable of. The senior sniper did just that, going 7-of-14 from 3-point range and ending the game with 25 points.

From taking step back threes to showing off her deep range, her confidence was back.

“Everybody knows Jasmine is a 3-point shooter and if you’re a shooter you keep shooting,” Mulkeuy said after the win. “I’ve never told a shooter to stop shooting. It’s important for us because you want those perimeter shooters so they can’t sag on our posts all night. When she’s hitting like that you have to pick your poison. It helps her confidence because she feels when she’s missing shots or doesn’t get looks that she’s not contributing. 

“You have to now tell Jasmine and Flau’jae that people have now watched tons of film on you guys, they know your strengths and weaknesses, so you’re not going to get all that you got in the non-conference. It’s at another level now. Sometimes they need to be told that.”

Flau’jae finding her footing

It was obvious how eye-opening the game against South Carolina was for Johnson. She picked up two quick fouls and was unable to impact the game at all, seemingly always a step behind in the raucous road environment. 

In the seven-game stretch, Johnson learned a lot about herself and what it will take to impact winning on one of the best teams in the country. Through the first 19 games, it had come fairly easy for the star freshman. Through 19 games, Johnson was shooting 38.2 percent from three and 47.2 percent from the field.

In those seven games, though, Johnson shot just 2-of-11 from 3-point range and 41.9 percent from two. She was excellent in the Arkansas game (7/9 FG), but as teams continue to scout her and gameplan to take away her strengths, Johnson will have to continue to adapt and learn.

Against Florida, Johnson had to sit a majority of the first half, saddled with foul trouble. However it was her response that once again instilled confidence into Mulkey. Johnson ended the game with 12 points on 5-of-8 shooting with two 3-pointers, with 10 of those points coming in the second half.

“The Florida game was a confidence builder for her. It was a confidence builder for Jasmine,” Mulkey said. “You saw Flau’jae hit some threes and saw get that pep in her step. She got the two fouls early and they both had to sit next to me, so for her to come back and respond the way she did, I’ve grown to expect it now and I would be disappointed if she didn’t respond and play physical and tough and do some good things out there which I think she did at Florida.”

Looking ahead

It’s clear Mulkey is comfortable plugging in Kateri Poole and Last-Tear Poa off the bench for any of the three starting guards, but ideally, LSU needs Johnson and Carson to be sharp. Both have the ability to be quality defenders and have far more offensive versatility and rebounding acumen than Poole and Poa who require the ball in their hands a lot more.

The Florida game was a step in the right direction, and I expect the final two regular season games against Vanderbilt and Mississippi State to be positive outings as well. Still, the lingering concern is ‘Can they produce in the postseason?’. Their ability to space the floor and give this offense more variety will be pivotal in the Tigers’ ability to make a run in both the conference tournament NCAA tournament.

This team has proven over the past month that it can still win games against good teams without them playing at a high level, but can LSU beat elite teams without these two playing well? We only have a one game sample size for that right now, and the result was a 24-point loss.

We’ll see if Carson and Johnson can learn from their struggles and deliver when it matters.