“Never Do That”: Despite LSU’s 73-Point Blowout, Kim Mulkey Calls Out Former 5-Star Prospect Over Key Concern

LSU’s commanding 73-point victory against their latest opponents on Tuesday was a moment of celebration for HC Kim Mulkey. Let’s sideline just the dominant stat line for a while. They recorded a big game with Flau’Jae Johnson surpassing 1,000 career points and Aneesah Morrow had 21 points with 20 rebounds that translated to the 27th 20/20 game in LSU history!

“It was a good day,” Coach Kim Mulkey said. “It was a great deal with the students and the appreciation I have for teachers and principals that make the effort to be here today at an 11 o’clock game.” However, Mulkey used the post-game press conference to point out a critical moment: A former five-star recruit who had picked up a foul at a crucial moment during the game.

In the post-game press conference, Mulkey was asked, “Coach, you had Jada, Aalyah, and Flau’Jae, all playing with 3-4 fouls. How important were those minutes for them early in the year playing with those fouls and playing smart and how much trust did you build especially in Aalyah playing with those four fouls?”

“I honestly would never do that in a tight game. I would never let them pick up, you know, their third in the first half like I did,” Mulkey remarked in a post-game presser where the LSU Tigers beat the Charleston Southern 117-44. While Aalyah Del Rosario did score 9 points in her 13 minutes on the court, she also ended up getting 4 personal fouls in the game. This, for Head Coach Mulkey, became an opportunity to reinforce the importance of staying smart on the floor.

Mulkey, who was experimenting with a bigger lineup, had seen Rosario pick up her third foul in the first half, a mistake that could have been costly in a close game. “What happened, I went big, and I wanted to look at jersey on the perimeter, and she went to a one-three-one zone. Well, that freaked them out, you know,” Mulkey explained.

“Then they came down, and before I could get a sub in for the big, get the big lineup off the floor, Aalyah fouled and came down right there in front of our bench.”

The head coach went on to offer advice to Del Rosario right then and there while stating in the press conference “I told her, I said, just stand straight up. Just stand straight up. Don’t do that in that situation. But I would never do that in a tight game.” In the lopsided matchup, Del Rosario made 9 points on 4-5 shooting from the field and collected 6 rebounds all in 12 minutes of floor time. Still, her quick foul calls became the concern for the Hall of Famer head coach.

However, exciting times are in for the 2023 NCAA champions with Rosario protecting their paint.

Aalyah Del Rosario: A rising star at LSU

Del Rosario, who is a sophomore this year, was widely regarded as one of the top post prospects in the country when she joined LSU last year. Standing at 6-foot-5, her skillset and her ability to control the paint, coupled with her ability to stretch the floor and play outside the key, was what made her one of the top recruits to sign last year.

As a freshman, the No. 23 averaged 4.7 points on 54% shooting from the field, 3.5 rebounds, and 0.8 blocks per game. She was also only playing 11.2 minutes per game in her first year with the Lady Tigers. However, with a dominating post presence such as Angel Reese, her lesser floor time is understandable.

Her resume before stepping onto LSU’s campus is impressive. Del Rosario helped Team USA win a Gold Medal at the FIBA U18 World Cup in Argentina and was a finalist for the 2022 TSSAA Division II-A Miss Basketball Award. During her junior year at The Webb School, she averaged a double-double with 13.0 points, 11.0 rebounds, and 4.0 assists per game, cementing her status as one of the nation’s top high school players.

“Aalyah brings a dominant inside presence to our front court,” Coach Mulkey mentioned for the star player. “She has closely followed post players that I have coached in the past and has the capability to be the next great post player at LSU.” Mulkey’s expectations are high, and Del Rosario’s raw talent makes her an essential piece for LSU’s future.

The 73-point blowout may have been a victory for LSU, but Mulkey’s callout to Del Rosario serves as a reminder that no win is perfect without self-reflection. For Del Rosario, it’s just one of many lessons she will take with her on the road to becoming the next great post player at LSU.