LSU Kailin Gilbert took off Tennessee. Now she has to get rid of a long shooting. – nola.com

The last time the LSU women confronted Tennessee, the coach Kim Burlque wanted to put the last possession in the hands of Kailin Gilbert.

You remember what happened afterwards.

Gilbert walked through his defender, walked to the right, took two long steps through the strap and tossed a left hook, fired through the rim, ending a quick high -grade play and giving the tigers an impressive road victory. Lady Vols Cals Caldwell’s first year coach said he wanted to send a double team. The problem then was that the LSU transfer guard moved too quickly.

The problem now? Gilbert fell into a firing that deprived her touch of the games in the games, flooded between the two LSU battles against No. 19 Tennessee. The rematch will head at the Pete Maravic assembly Center at 15:00 Sunday at ESPN.

“Well, she played 17 minutes,” said Blvish on Thursday after LSU defeated Missouri by 71-60, “So she had to understand this herself. If I didn’t play it, then I would say she needed more minutes, but If you get 17 minutes, come up with how to get the ball.

At the beginning of the Gilbert Southeastern Conference game did not need additional magic. The transfer to Arizona herself created an abundance.

In the first three LSU games, it is an average of 18.3 points per game, transforms 62% of its field goals and put an end to the first Tigers of Tigers with Tennessee, interrupting equality in the last second of regulating with its difficult, driving shot. That evening, Gilbert scored 22 points – almost as much as he was in the place in the seven games that LSU played since.

Junior has missed 45 of the last 53 shots she has made, and she has been an average of only 3.6 points since the tigers left Knoxville, Tennessee, on January 9th.

Gilbert’s decline has reduced LSU Bench’s impact, which in turn forced Flau’jae Johnson, Aneesah Morrow and Mikaylah Williams to take on a greater share of offensive responsibilities. This trio has proven that it is capable of carrying tigers through difficult games, but can use a bigger lift than LSU stocks than what they have provided lately – only about 11 points per game. This is about as many points as their predecessors chipped in every game last season.

The LSU Bench scored 21 points against Missouri on Thursday. The Mjracle Sheppard reserve guard reports 11 of these points, and the tigers won the 28 minutes that play-its highest season-with 17 points.

Gilbert, however, ended unsuccessful after being punctured by all five of the field goals.

“This happens when you play this game,” said Burlides. “This game can humble you. This game can make you look like a hero. But what you have to do is that you just have to say, “I’ll even stay closed and continue to do what I do and continue to shoot it.” I never told her not to shoot the ball. She will take big pictures for you. “

A big shot was the winning game against Washington. Another helped LSU to send its victory on December 5th over Stanford to sequels. Then came the strong start of Gilbert until 2025 and the hook she turned and to defeat Tennessee, who once looked like she would put security for the track transfer to enjoy a year of career.

It can still – despite the shooting. Gilbert’s average estimate in 40 minutes (19.7) is approximately the same as at the end of her first two seasons in Arizona, although the 3 -point shooting rate dropped from 40% to 33%.

But Gilbert must first rediscover his touch and help LSU reserves influence more games, starting from Sunday.

Tennessee has the second best crime in the country. Lady Vols take (32.9) and make (10.9) more 3-stories per competition than any team I department I in the country. On Thursday, they scored 80 points at 46% firing at upset victory over # 5 Uconn, which has one of the 10 best defense in the country.

That evening, against Missouri, LSU reserved 20 points for the first time after the Tigers victory over Tennessee. They will probably need a similar output on the bench to keep up -to -date with Lady Vols in the rematch on Sunday.

And this effort, of course, begins with Gilbert.

“Recently, I have challenged them that everyone knows about the three main ones,” said Blvocurial on Thursday, “but we have other good players and I need more production from people who go beyond the bench.

“Just give us something. And I thought they did it tonight. “