LSU update: Business as usual

LSU v Coppin State — The play of freshman Mikaylah Williams is one reason the LSU Lady Tigers have won 15 games in a row. | Photo by G Fiume/Getty Images

The LSU Lady Tigers continue to roll, but can’t rise above No. 7 in the national rankings. Why is that?

During our previous LSU update in the middle of December, the Lady Tigers were rolling with ten straight wins. Since then, the team has not veered off that path, winning five straight. And it looks like all the hoopla surrounding Angel Reese and the program has simmered down.

With 15 straight wins and dominant performances all around, the question is: why hasn’t LSU moved up the national rankings?

That’s what they’re supposed to do

LSU holds steady at No. 7 in the AP Poll for the ninth week in a row

https://t.co/zU59RkzN4o pic.twitter.com/HMptVJt7iY

— LSU Women’s Basketball (@LSUwbkb) January 8, 2024

For many fans, the dominance of LSU gets a begrudging shrug. Yes, they are rolling. But, the opponents are unranked and nowhere near the level of talent as the defending national champs. They have done their job by dominating these teams—but that’s what they’re supposed to do. Beat up on small teams and when they get a chance against top-level talent, then we’ll see how good they truly are this season.

While there’s a lot of truth to that line of thinking, it does diminish what the Lady Tigers have done. If they lost, what would we be saying? Would they dip in the standings? Absolutely. And while you don’t want to reward standard performances, a few of these games, like the 20-point win against Missouri, were impressive. These performances, their consistency and the pedigree from last year should count for something, yet it seems that voters will keep LSU at No. 7 until their next game versus a ranked opponent.

The good news is we won’t have to wait long for that moment as LSU will be playing the best of the best on Jan. 25 when they face the No. 1 South Carolina Gamecocks. A victory then will throw cold water on any attempt to diminish their recent success, and they undeniably will move up with a win.

Looking ahead

For now, LSU can take solace in the fact that they are playing some of the best basketball in the country, have a dominant freshman in Mikayla Williams and have established their starting five with Williams, Reese, Aneesah Morrow, Flau’jae Johnson and Hailey Van Lith. Here’s a look at their upcoming games this week.