LSU Tigers head coach Kim Mulkey has summed up star guard Flau’jae Johnson‘s game after the 21-year-old promised to make a big impression in 2024.
Johnson is LSU’s leading player following Angel Reese’s departure to the WNBA earlier this year. Ahead of the 2024/25 campaign, Johnson made it clear in a confident eight-word statement that she is going to step up and show up big on the court. “It’s on me to make a big splash,” she told Sports Illustrated.
In back-to-back games, Mulkey’s roster has scored 95 points in both, while limiting their opponents to less than 45 points. Johnson has scored the most points in both: 25 against the Eastern Kentucky Colonels, and 24 against the Northwestern State Demons.
Head coach Mulkey has described Johnson’s play as “effortless” thus far. “I think I said it the last game, she’s just playing with, I don’t even want to use the word confidence. She’s playing with confidence, it just looks like she’s just, she’s just floating out there,” Mulkey said in an LSU post-game press conference.
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“Everything’s just effortless and just shots, her shots consistent. I think she took two bad shots tonight and she knows it.
“One of the things she did really good tonight, she fed the post early, it was a while before she even took a shot. So she’s growing, she had seven rebounds, she and KG both led us in rebounding tonight and she’s just, she’s playing really well.”
LSU has sent a warning to its NCAA rivals following the fast start. The Tigers will want to reclaim the national championship after losing their crown last season. Pre-game against the Demons, Mulkey got to meet a legendary and dominant college football coach, Nick Saban, who could serve as a good inspiration.
Head Coach Kim Mulkey labeled Johnson’s game as ‘flawless’ thus far (
Getty)
Saban left the Alabama Crimson Tide following the conclusion of the 2023 campaign. “I had never met the man in my life,” Mulkey said. “I was in heaven.
“When I heard he wanted to come to practice, I told (LSU assistant coach) Bob (Starkey), ‘You better run practice because I’m probably going to sit there the whole hour talking to him.’ His wife (Terri Saban) also came and my conversation with him about about ball, about what we do.”
LSU players were also starstruck. “Nick Saban is the GOAT for everybody for what he did at LSU and for what he did at Alabama,” LSU sophomore guard Mikaylah Williams said. “Obviously, I was in there locked in on what he was saying and taking it in. All the words he was saying and I was ready to put that in play in my life, wanting to go forward with what he was saying.”
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