Kim Mulkey jokingly blames LSU’s performance for missing postgame press conference: “I wasn’t feeling good”
Kim Mulkey was notably absent from Sunday’s press conference following the LSU Tigers' 85-57 win over the Louisiana Ragin' Cajuns. On Tuesday, Mulkey explained her absence during an interview with Jacob Hester and T-Bob Hebert on ESPN 104.5's "Off the Bench" program.
Mulkey said she felt unwell after the game and decided to skip talking to the reporters. Assistant coach Bob Starkey filled in for her and was critical of the Tigers’ performance against the Ragin’ Cajuns. Mulkey later echoed Starkey’s sentiments, joking that LSU’s poor showing might have contributed to her illness.
"It’s a good thing Coach Starkey filled in for me. I wasn’t feeling good and probably the way we played had a lot to do with it as well. He was very blunt as I am," Mulkey said. (Timestamp 4:03)
Like Starkey, Kim Mulkey did not shy away from addressing the No. 5 Tigers’ turnover struggles in the game.
"You know, if you turn the ball over offensively all the time, the defense gets frustrated with it. You can’t win ballgames. You can’t beat anybody good if you turn the ball over. We had 17 turnovers in the first half," Mulkey said.
Those turnovers helped the Ragin’ Cajuns hold the Tigers to just 36 points in the opening half. While Kim Mulkey credited Louisiana’s effort, she placed the blame squarely on LSU for its sloppy play.
"When those turnovers happened, were they careless? Were they on our part? Or was it something the defense and the opposing team did? It wasn’t what UL did," Mulkey said. "We can make excuses, talk about finals, talk about focus, talk about ‘Hey, Christmas is coming’, but at the end of the day, you’ve got to clean it up."
Kim Mulkey's LSU Tigers overcome turnovers to beat Louisiana
The LSU Tigers committed a total of 21 turnovers against the Ragin’ Cajuns, including 14 from their starters. Last-Tear Poa turned the ball over four times, while Flau’Jae Johnson and Aneesah Morrow each committed three. Kailyn Gilbert, coming off the bench, recorded a team-high five turnovers.
Despite their struggles, the Tigers’ talent proved too much for the Ragin’ Cajuns to overcome. Five LSU players scored in double figures, with Jersey Wolfenbarger leading the way with a game-high 18 points.
The Tigers will next face the Seton Hall Pirates, while the Ragin' Cajuns will host the Auburn Tigers on Wednesday.