Staff Reporter

BATON ROUGE — No. 1 LSU defeated Queens, 112-55, on a historic evening in the Pete Maravich Assembly Center where the Tigers scored the third most points in program history on the same night they raised a 2023 National Championship banner and got their rings.

“This game is interesting,” Coach Kim Mulkey said. “I have been blessed to coach a lot of great post players, a lot of great point guards, and a lot of great shooters. We have that on this team. We can share the wealth, they can all score. But what we have to do is focus on the defensive end.”

Prior to the game LSU received its 2023 National Championship rings. Commemorating the program’s first NCAA Championship, the rings have a number of special features that help tell the story of last year’s team. The top of the ring features 102 brilliant white stones in recognition of the amount of points the Tigers scored in the game against Iowa, a NCAA Championship game record. One side of the ring features a puzzle piece shaped like the state of Louisiana and last season’s team motto ‘Piece It 2gether’ while the other side has the National Championship trophy with a singular purple stone to symbolize the program’s first national championship. The bottom of the ring has LSU’s tournament motto of Focus 4 Four, a nod to the goal of reaching a Final Four and the four quarters of effort that winning a NCAA Tournament game requires. The inside of the ring has the scores from all six of LSU’s 2023 NCAA Tournament wins. Each ring has the recipient's name and number on it along with the year 2023 and last season’s record of 34-2.

The 2023 NCAA National Championship banner was also raised during the pregame ceremony to where it will forever hang from the East rafters inside of the PMAC.

“I made everybody look up at the Final Four banners (during my introduction press conference) and I made the comment that there is no national championship banner here and that's what I came home to do,” Coach Mulkey said. “I got that monkey off my back, didn't I? It was fun, it was fun to come home, it was fun to do that and now we have built this program back to relevancy and that's where you want to stay. Do you know how hard it is to win a national championship?”
LSU will be back in action on Sunday afternoon as it hosts Mississippi Valley State at 2:00 p.m. CT in the PMAC.

LSU had a new starting lineup on Thursday night. Returners Angel Reese, Flau’jae Johnson, and Sa’Myah Smith were joined by newcomers Hailey Van Lith and Mikaylah Williams. Smith’s nod marked her third career appearance in the starting lineup.

Reese recorded her 36th double-double while at LSU, moving her into a tie with Ayana Mitchell for the second most ever by an LSU player, only behind Sylvia Fowles who had 86 throughout her career. Reese had 28 points and 14 rebounds, her ninth double-double in a row going back to last season. It was her 16th game with at least 25 points and 10 rebounds going back to last season, the most in the NCAA in that span.

Smith had a career-high with 21 points on 9-11 shooting, adding 8 rebounds. Aneesah Morrow scored 16 points and Johnson had 13.

Queens guard Nicole Gwynn led her squad with 26 points on 8-14 from beyond the arch after only making one triple in her last outing versus Ole Miss on Monday night. Gwynn was the only Royal to reach double figures. Alexandria Johnson scored nine points and no Queens player had more than three rebounds.

The Tigers were dominant in the paint, scoring 68 points there. They also dominated the boards, out-rebounding Queens, 49-21, including 13 offensive rebounds that lead to 23 second chance points. LSU shot the ball well at 63.6-percent and they were efficient at the free-throw line at 24-29 from the charity stripe.

Smith made her presence known early as she won the tip-off and proceeded to score back to back layups in the Tiger’s first two possessions. LSU scored its first three buckets off of offensive rebounds. The Tigers held a 16-7 lead at the media timeout with seven of its points coming from the foul line. Reese recorded a three-point play and pushed the Tigers past the 20-point mark to give LSU its first double digit lead of the night. Gwynn connected on her fourth triple of the night to put Queens back within eleven with two minutes to go. LSU took a 13-point lead to finish the first quarter up 33-20.

LSU forced a Royals timeout as it opened the second quarter on a 10-0 run that saw buckets from Smith, Johnson, and Reese. The Tigers held Queens scoreless for over five minutes to begin the quarter. Reese scored on back-to-back possessions to put LSU up by 31 as she broke the 20-point mark. Shaw hit a corner three to end the second quarter and put the Royals down by 26 before the half.

The Tigers shot an impressive 51-percent from the field in the first half compared to Queens’ 34-percent. The Royals hit six threes in the first 20-minutes of action compared to LSU’s one. The Royals were kept away from the charity stripe while LSU went 19-21 on free throws in the first half.

Thirty seconds into the third quarter a Reese defensive rebound secured her second double-double of the season. LSU called a timeout with just over five to play in the quarter as the Royals outscored the Tigers 15-10 to open the quarter. Queens was 4-5 from deep to start the third, Gwynn went 3-3. LSU returned from the timeout with a 4-0 run before Queens took a timeout of its own. The Tigers combined for a 13-2 run over three minutes through the middle of the third. Sith picked up a huge block that led to a floater finish from Aneesah Morrow on the other end. LSU held a 86-50 lead headed into the final ten minutes of the contest.

Smith kicked off the fourth with a layup to push her past the 20-point mark and give LSU its largest lead of the night. A coast-to-coast steal and finish from Johnson followed by a bucket from Aaliyah Del Rosario extended the LSU run to 9-0 on four of its last four attempts from the field. At the final media timeout the Tigers held a 47 lead over the Royals. Del Rosario boosted the Tigers past the century mark with 3:57 left to play to make it 101-53. Freshman Janae Kent scored on three consecutive possessions for a 7-0 solo run where she was assisted by each of her Freshman teammates. The Tigers totaled 112 points to finish the night with a 57-point win.

(Release via LSU Athletics)

Box Score

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On Monday, LSU wide receiver Malik Nabers was named to the Biletnikoff Award preseason watch list.

The Biletnikoff Award annually recognizes the college football season's outstanding FBS receiver. Any player, regardless of position (wide receiver, tight end, slot back, and running back) who catches a pass is eligible for the award.

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[tweet]https://twitter.com/LSUbaseball/status/1630770475197448192[/tweet]

LSU wide receiver Kayshon Boutte announced Monday evening that he will return to the team in 2023 for his senior year.

Boutte entered this season as one of the top wide receivers prospects in the country but saw his NFL Draft stock dip after catching 48 passes for 538 yards and two touchdowns.

In his announcement, he made it clear that he believes in this LSU coaching staff and is locked in on winning a National Championship.

quote:

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First off, I just want to thank God for the position he has put me in. Without Him, there would not be any opportunities. I would like to thank my family and friends for continuing to support me throughout my entire career both in high school and at LSU. I want to thank the fans for supporting me through the ups and downs of my career:

LSU has been nothing but amazing to me. My growth under the new staff has helped me to reach new levels. While we did not achieve the overall goal, we still fought and produced results that will be a stepping stone for future success. The goal is always to win a national championship at LSU and that will never change. We made strides this year but ultimately fell short. That is why believe we can accomplish many things moving forward

I believe in this team, coaches, strength staff, nutrition staff and training staff.

It is important to follow your deams and live with the results.

While some stories will end here, mine will not....

LET'S LOCK IN AND FOCUS ON THE MAIN GOAL OF ANY LSU TIGER:

WINNING A NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP!!!

#BKTakeover

KAYSHON BOUTTE

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[tweet]https://twitter.com/KayshonBoutte1/status/1599905790483398665[/tweet]

Per LSUSports.net: BATON ROUGE – The No. 23 LSU basketball team cruised to a 94-63 victory over Southeastern in its season opener Tuesday Night.

Freshman forward Emmitt Williams recorded a double-double with 12 points and 10 rebounds. Fellow freshman forward Naz Reid led the Tigers in points with 17. Senior Kavell Bigby-Williams recorded three of the Tiger’s four blocks in his LSU debut. Four players recorded multiple assists as the team finished with 13 dishes to score.

Complete Recap
Box Score

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Up Next: LSU will host UNC Greensboro at the PMAC on Friday Night at 7:00 PM CT on SECN+.

Here is the Big Cat Drill from LSU's practice on Friday:

[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ueLNzBcmCj4[/youtube]

Here is video of the Big Cat Drill at LSU's morning practice session on Thursday:

[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1EPV6FV3kZo[/youtube]

Here are pictures and videos from the afternoon session of LSU's practice on Wednesday:

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Here are pictures and videos from day 2 of LSU's practice (afternoon session):

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Round 1:
1(1) Texans Clowney, Jadeveon DE 6'6" 266 South Carolina
2(2) Rams (From Redskins) Robinson, Greg OT 6'5" 332 Auburn
3(3) Jaguars Bortles, Blake QB 6'5" 232 Central Florida
4(4) Bills (From Browns) Watkins, Sammy WR 6'1" 211 Clemson
5(5) Raiders Mack, Khalil OLB 6'3" 251 Buffalo
6(6) Falcons Matthews, Jake OT 6'5" 308 Texas A&M
7(7) Buccaneers Evans, Mike WR 6'5" 231 Texas A&M
8(8) Browns (From Vikings) Gilbert, Justin CB 6'0" 202 Oklahoma St.
9(9) Vikings (From Bills through Browns) Barr, Anthony OLB 6'5" 255 UCLA
10(10) Lions Ebron, Eric TE 6'4" 250 North Carolina
11(11) Titans Lewan, Taylor OT 6'7" 309 Michigan
12(12) Giants Beckham, Odell WR 5'11" 198 LSU
13(13) Rams Donald, Aaron DT 6'1" 285 Pittsburgh
14(14) Bears Fuller, Kyle CB 6'0" 190 Virginia Tech
15(15) Steelers Shazier, Ryan OLB 6'1" 237 Ohio St.
16(16) Cowboys Martin, Zack OT 6'4" 308 Notre Dame
17(17) Ravens Mosley, C.J. ILB 6'2" 234 Alabama
18(18) Jets Pryor, Calvin FS 5'11" 207 Louisville
19(19) Dolphins James, Ja'Wuan OT 6'6" 311 Tennessee
20(20) Saints (From Cardinals) Cooks, Brandin WR 5'10" 189 Oregon St.
21(21) Packers Clinton-Dix, Ha Ha FS 6'1" 208 Alabama
22(22) Eagles Browns (From Eagles) Manziel, Johnny QB 6'0" 207
23(23) Chiefs Ford, Dee DE 6'2" 252 Auburn
24(24) Bengals Dennard, Darqueze CB 5'11" 199 Michigan St.
25(25) Chargers Verrett, Jason CB 5'9" 189 TCU
26(26) Eagles (From Colts through Browns) Smith, Marcus DE 6'3" 251 Louisville
27(27) Cardinals (From Saints) Bucannon, Deone SS 6'1" 211 Washington St.
28(28) Panthers Benjamin, Kelvin WR 6'5" 240 Florida St.
29(29) Patriots Easley, Dominique DT 6'2" 288 Florida
30(30) 49ers Ward, Jimmie SS 5'11" 193 Northern Illinois
31(31) Broncos Roby, Bradley CB 5'11" 194 Ohio St.
32(32) Vikings (From Seahawks) Bridgewater, Teddy QB 6'2" 214 Louisville

Round 2:
1(33) Texans Su'a-Filo, Xavier OG 6'4" 307 UCLA
2(34) Cowboys (From Redskins) Lawrence, Demarcus DE 6'3" 251 Boise St.
3(35) Browns Bitonio, Joel OT 6'4" 302 Nevada
4(36) Raiders Carr, Derek QB 6'2" 214 Fresno St.
5(37) Falcons Hageman, Ra'Shede DT 6'6" 310 Minnesota
6(38) Buccaneers Seferian-Jenkins, Austin TE 6'5" 262 Washington
7(39) Jaguars Lee, Marqise WR 6'0" 192 USC
8(40) Lions (From Vikings through Seahawks) Van Noy, Kyle OLB 6'3" 243 BYU
9(41) Rams (From Bills) Joyner, Lamarcus CB 5'8" 184 Florida St.
10(42) Eagles (From Titans) Matthews, Jordan WR 6'3" 212 Vanderbilt
11(43) Giants Richburg, Weston C 6'3" 298 Colorado St.
12(44) Bills (From Rams) Kouandjio, Cyrus OT 6'7" 322 Alabama
13(45) Seahawks (From Lions) Richardson, Paul WR 6'0" 175 Colorado
14(46) Steelers Tuitt, Stephon DE 6'5" 304 Notre Dame
15(47) Redskins (From Cowboys) Murphy, Trent OLB 6'5" 250 Stanford
16(48) Ravens Jernigan, Timmy NT 6'2" 299 Florida St.
17(49) Jets Amaro, Jace TE 6'5" 265 Texas Tech 5.5
18(50) Chargers (From Dolphins) Attaochu, Jeremiah OLB 6'3" 252 Georgia Tech
19(51) Bears Ferguson, Ego DT 6'3" 315 LSU
20(52) Cardinals Niklas, Troy TE 6'6" 270 Notre Dame
21(53) Packers Adams, Davante WR 6'1" 212 Fresno St.
22(54) Titans (From Eagles) Sankey, Bishop RB 5'9" 209 Washington
23(55) Bengals Hill, Jeremy RB 6'1" 233 LSU
24(56) Broncos (From Chiefs through 49ers) Latimer, Cody WR 6'2" 215 Indiana
25(57) 49ers (From Chargers through Dolphins) Hyde, Carlos RB 6'0" 230 Ohio St.
26(58) Saints Jean-Baptiste, Stanley CB 6'3" 218 Nebraska
27(59) Colts Mewhort, Jack OT 6'6" 309 Ohio St. 5.6
28(60) Panthers Ealy, Kony DE 6'4" 273 Missouri
29(61) Jaguars (From 49ers) Robinson, Allen WR 6'2" 220 Penn St.
30(62) Patriots Garoppolo, Jimmy QB 6'2" 226 Eastern Illinois
31(63) Dolphins (From Broncos through 49ers) Landry, Jarvis WR 5'11" 205 LSU
32(64) Seahawks Britt, Justin OT 6'6" 325 Missouri

Round 3:
1(65) Texans Fiedorowicz, C.J. TE 6'5" 265 Iowa
2(66) Redskins Moses, Morgan OT 6'6" 314 Virginia
3(67) Dolphins (From Raiders) Turner, Billy OT 6'5" 315 North Dakota St.
4(68) Falcons Southward, Dezmen FS 6'0" 211 Wisconsin
5(69) Buccaneers Sims, Charles RB 6'0" 214 West Virginia
6(70) 49ers (From Jaguars) Martin, Marcus C 6'3" 320 USC
7(71) Browns Kirksey, Christian OLB 6'2" 233 Iowa
8(72) Vikings Crichton, Scott DE 6'3" 273 Oregon St.
9(73) Bills Brown, Preston ILB 6'1" 251 Louisville
10(74) Giants Bromley, Jay DT 6'3" 306 Syracuse
11(75) Rams Mason, Tre RB 5'8" 207 Auburn
12(76) Lions Swanson, Travis C 6'5" 312 Arkansas
13(77) 49ers (From Titans) Borland, Chris ILB 5'11" 248 Wisconsin
14(78) Redskins (From Cowboys) Long, Spencer OG 6'5" 320 Nebraska
15(79) Ravens Brooks, Terrence FS 5'11" 198 Florida St.
16(80) Jets McDougle, Dexter CB 5'10" 196 Maryland
17(81) Raiders (From Dolphins) Jackson, Gabe OG 6'3" 336 Mississippi St.
18(82) Bears Sutton, Will DT 6'0" 303 Arizona State
19(83) Texans (From Steelers through Browns and Eagles) Nix, Louis NT 6'2" 331 Notre Dame
20(84) Cardinals Martin, Kareem DE 6'6" 272 North Carolina
21(85) Packers Thornton, Khyri DT 6'3" 304 Southern Miss
22(86) Eagles Huff, Josh WR 5'11" 206 Oregon
23(87) Chiefs Gaines, Phillip CB 6'0" 193 Rice
24(88) Bengals Clarke, Will DE 6'6" 271 West Virginia
25(89) Chargers Watt, Chris OG 6'3" 310 Notre Dame
26(90) Colts Moncrief, Donte WR 6'2" 221 Mississippi
27(91) Cardinals (From Saints) Brown, John WR 5'10" 179 Pittsburg St. (KS)
28(92) Panthers Turner, Trai OG 6'3" 310 LSU
29(93) Jaguars (From Patriots) Linder, Brandon OG 6'6" 311 Miami
30(94) Browns (From 49ers) West, Terrance RB 5'9" 225 Towson
31(95) Broncos Schofield, Michael OT 6'6" 301 Michigan
32(96) Vikings (From Seahawks) McKinnon, Jerick RB 5'9" 209 Georgia Southern
33(97) Steelers (Compensatory selection) Archer, Dri RB 5'8" 173 Kent St.
34(98) Packers (Compensatory selection) Rodgers, Richard TE 6'4" 257 California
35(99) Ravens (Compensatory selection) Gillmore, Crockett TE 6'6" 260 Colorado St.
36(100) 49ers (Compensatory selection) Thomas, Brandon OT 6'3" 317 Clemson

Round 4:
1(101) Eagles (From Texans) Watkins, Jaylen CB 5'11" 194 Florida
2(102) Redskins Breeland, Bashaud CB 5'11" 197 Clemson
3(103) Falcons Freeman, Devonta RB 5'8" 206 Florida St.
4(104) Jets (From Buccaneers) Saunders, Jalen WR 5'9" 165 Oklahoma
5(105) Patriots (From Jaguars) Stork, Bryan C 6'4" 315 Florida St.
6(106) 49ers (From Browns) Ellington, Bruce WR 5'9" 197 South Carolina
7(107) Raiders Ellis, Justin DT 6'1" 334 Louisiana Tech
8(108) Seahawks (From Vikings) Marsh, Cassius DE 6'4" 252 UCLA
9(109) Bills Cockrell, Ross CB 6'0" 191 Duke
10(110) Rams Alexander, Mo SS 6'1" 220 Utah St.
11(111) Bengals (From Lions through Seahawks) Bodine, Russell C 6'3" 310 North Carolina
12(112) Titans Jones, DaQuan DT 6'4" 322 Penn St.
13(113) Giants Williams, Andre RB 5'11" 230 Boston College
14(114) Jaguars (From Ravens) Colvin, Aaron CB 5'11" 177 Oklahoma
15(115) Jets Evans, Shaq WR 6'1" 213 UCLA
16(116) Raiders (From Dolphins) McGill, Keith CB 6'3" 211 Utah
17(117) Bears Carey, Ka'Deem RB 5'9" 207 Arizona
18(118) Steelers Bryant, Martavis WR 6'4" 211 Clemson
19(119) Cowboys Hitchens, Anthony OLB 6'0" 240 Iowa
20(120) Cardinals Thomas, Logan QB 6'6" 248 Virginia Tech
21(121) Packers Bradford, Carl OLB 6'1" 250 Arizona State
22(122) Titans (From Eagles) Huff, Marqueston FS 5'11" 196 Wyoming
23(123) Seahawks (From Bengals) Norwood, Kevin WR 6'2" 198 Alabama
24(124) Chiefs Thomas, De'Anthony RB 5'9" 174 Oregon
25(125) Dolphins (From Chargers) Aikens, Walt CB 6'1" 205 Liberty
26(126) Saints Fortt, Khairi ILB 6'2" 248 California
27(127) Browns (From Colts) Desir, Pierre CB 6'1" 198 Lindenwood
28(128) Panthers Boston, Tre S