LSU has hit a bump in the road at the worst possible time. With March Madness looming, Kim Mulkey’s team enters the postseason in a weakened state. Flau’jae Johnson, arguably the most important player for LSU, has been inactive with shin inflammation. The star guard for the Tigers, who averaged just under 19 points per game, leaves LSU in a precarious situation. And the new ESPN rankings underline that.

After a rough loss to Ole Miss, LSU has fallen from No. 7 to No. 9 in the latest women’s college basketball rankings. The loss, compounded with Johnson’s absence, has shaken the team’s outlook. The Tigers struggle to find their rhythm, with mounting pressure as the SEC Tournament and March Madness approach.

On the Elle Duncan Show on ESPN, the sports anchor discussed LSU’s slide and whether it could affect the team’s tournament hopes. “You look at those top seven teams, and we’ve talked about this: for the most part, they’ve moved around, but they’ve all been the top seven teams. LSU did fall out of the top seven, and NC State’s the one that found their way in there. Before last week, before this new ranking came out, those top seven teams had moved, but they were all pretty stable in terms of the top seven teams. They moved positioning within the top seven.”

Duncan continued, indicating that LSU was on shaky ground because of recent events,  “So, I do think LSU, you know, they ended up losing to Ole Miss again. They didn’t have Flau Jae, and they do have some bad losses. In terms of the teams that could make some noise, I would say that when you’re filling out your bracket, the folks that are ranked one through seven right now are probably who you should be identifying for Elite Eight and Final Four outlooks.”

LSU’s drop from No. 7 stands out in particular as tournament talk has begun to heat up. It’s not just the rankings: LSU’s tumble mirrors some fundamental performance problems. The defeat to Ole Miss illustrated the cracks forming in LSU’s game. In Johnson’s absence, LSU has struggled to maintain its usual style. They have struggled with turnovers and defense without her on the floor.

Gray Striewski, also commenting on the situation, shared how teams should handle March Madness. “I would rather go into a position like that knowing that the five riding with me—my team—were confident because we had just taken care of business. I prefer this over entering the situation with some of our strengths being tested and facing it with a couple of questions as opposed to more answers.”

For LSU, Striewski’s comments hit home. Their confidence is in flux and the uncertainty of Johnson’s return is looming large. Time is of the essence for the Tigers, and it is clear that something needs to change—and quickly.

Flau’Jae Johnson: A big miss for Kim Mulkey’s team?

Flau’jae Johnson’s absence is going to make a world of difference for LSU, particularly as they head into the SEC Tournament. 

Without Johnson, the LSU offense loses a massive weapon. Her 18.9 points per game ranked her among the SEC’s leading scorers, and without that scoring touch, LSU’s offense is struggling. The Tigers are going to need others to step up and fill the void she’s left. And that’s no small order.

Johnson is more than just a scorer — she is also a solid rebounder and defender. They missed her in the loss to Ole Miss, where defensive breakdowns and turnovers became a significant problem. Life without her makes LSU’s defense look much shakier, and that increases pressure on the team.

Head coach Kim Mulkey was pragmatic, saying, “That decision was made by me knowing that we were going to miss 19 points a game and all her rebounding and defensive stuff. But that’s OK.” Mulkey is attempting to remain optimistic about the situation, but it’s clear that Johnson’s absence is a gut punch nonetheless.

With Johnson out, LSU will need to rely heavily on their other stars. Aneesah Morrow is the SEC’s leading rebounder. Morrow’s going to have to assume even more responsibility now, on offense and defense. She’s got the goods. Her strong 28-point, 12-rebound performance against Ole Miss evidenced this. Mikaylah Williams, another All-SEC player, will have to step up. Williams and Morrow have been two of LSU’s most reliable players. And they will need to fill a larger scoring role in Johnson’s absence.

With Johnson’s return uncertain, LSU’s path in the upcoming tournaments appears challenging. The team’s ability to adapt and other players stepping up will be crucial. Coach Mulkey’s experience will be vital in navigating these hurdles and keeping the Tigers competitive in the postseason.