Love her or hate her, what Kim Mulkey has accomplished with LSU in just two seasons is incredible. She managed to put together the right combination of players who are meshing at the perfect time. Transfers Angel Reese (Maryland), Kateri Poole (Ohio State), LaDazhia Williams (Missouri), Jasmine Carson (West Virginia), along with freshmen Flau’jae Johnson, Last-Tear Poa, Sa’Myah Smith and fifth-year senior Alexis Morris have blended so well it’s hard to tell it’s their first season playing together. Though the Tigers have been knocked for their soft regular-season schedule, they still won those games in dominant fashion and were successful in SEC play — losing only once to South Carolina. LSU is averages 38 points per game in the paint and holds opponents to 17.4 paint-points. Reese (23.2 points and 15.7 rebounds) has more than 30 double-doubles. The Tigers often win by controlling the boards and getting buckets in transition off turnovers. They are savvy, scrappy and fearless.
Virginia Tech is making its first appearance in the Final Four and deservedly so. The Hokies work hard in every facet of the game. The inside-outside game between Elizabeth Kitley (18.2 points and 10.7 rebounds per game) and Georgia Amoore (16.3 PPG) is poetry in motion. Overall, the Hokies…
 and No. 1 seed Virginia Tech face off in the first of two Final Four clashes Friday night with a spot in the national championship on the line. The Tigers are back in the Final Four for the first time since 2008, while the Hokies reached their first-ever Elite Eight earlier in the tournament. The Athletic has you covered here on live updates, news and analysis from tonight's game. Friday's Final Four scheduleNo. 3 LSU vs. No. 1 Virginia Tech, 7 p.m. ET on ESPNNo. 2 Iowa vs. No. 1 South Carolina, 9 p.m. ET on ESPN(Photo: Ron Jenkins / Getty Images)){kind=link}