BATON ROUGE, La. — Eyes closed. Head back. Arms stretched up to the heavens. Kim Mulkey reached basketball nirvana. The full-court heave in transition from Shayeann Day-Wilson. The one-touch pass from the paint to the corner by Sa’Myah Smith. The pause and 3 to bring it home by Mikaylah Williams. Mulkey was elevated to a different plane of existence.
In that moment, LSU finally took slight control for a 64-53 lead. Five minutes later it would be 81-55.
For all its warts and flaws and reasons they aren’t the expected title contender they’ve been in years past, LSU is playing beautiful, unselfish basketball as it redefines its ceiling for another March run. They are fast. They are savvy. They have the skill and shot-making to beat anyone on the right night. But even if you don’t fully believe in LSU yet — and that’s OK if you don’t — this version of this team might be the most fun group to watch in the tournament right now.
And so much of this has to do with its three big stars and the realization they need it to be a big eight.
Because yes, those three LSU stars — Flau’Jae Johnson, Aneesah Morrow and Mikaylah Williams — are indeed that good.
“Our wings … they are elite,” Mulkey said.
So elite they can come off any screen and attack. “They’re so…
