Everything Virginia Tech said about Kim Mulkey, LSU women's basketball at NCAA Final Four

DALLAS – LSU women's basketball is embarking on its sixth Final Four appearance in program history, but first trip since 2008.

Kim Mulkey, a three-time national championship-winning coach, has guided the Tigers (32-2) back to the sport's biggest stage, marking her fifth trip to the Final Four as a coach.

On the other side, Virginia Tech (31-4) and coach Kenny Brooks are experiencing their first Final Four appearances.

The two teams face off Friday (6 p.m., ESPN); the winner advances to the national championship game inside American Airlines Center.

LSU-VIRGINIA TECH SCOUTING REPORT LSU women's basketball vs. Virginia Tech: Final Four score prediction, scouting report

ANGEL REESE'S MOM LSU women's basketball fans confuse Angel Reese and mother with dating requests on social media

LSU WBB'S MOTIVATION How poem propelled 'underdog' LSU women's basketball to Final Four in Kim Mulkey's 2nd season

Before their matchup, here's everything Virginia Tech had to say about Mulkey and LSU during their Friday news conference.

Virginia Tech star Elizabeth Kitley on matching up against LSU women's basketball star Angel Reese

"They're really athletic. They can rebound a lot. We just know we're going to have to be physical and strong down there and not let them get too many second-chance opportunities because they'll definitely take advantage of that.

"Yeah, we just have to play to our strengths also."

Georgia Amoore on facing Kim Mulkey, Baylor in 2021 NCAA Tournament in San Antonio

"I learned a lot from that game. I remember walking up to the presser and DiDi Richards walked past me and fist-bumped me and said, 'Good job, baby girl.' I was shaking, fist-bumping her. I was like, 'Oh my gosh. This is not real.'

"But that Baylor team was incredible. To play against them taught us a lot. They were a mature group. They were a confident group. I think it's translating now because we're mature and confident and we're playing on this stage that they did. It's been a journey, but very happy to be a part of it."

Virginia Tech women's basketball coach Kenny Brooks on if LSU reminds him of any other teams

"LSU, extremely well coached. They're physical. They're fast. They're tough. They're confident. I think it reminds me a lot of the team we played two games ago, Tennessee.

"We played Tennessee twice this year, and very similar styles and what they do. They're very reliant on their athleticism, their length, their ability to rebound the basketball. So I think that game has prepared us – both of those games have prepared us.

"We played two games earlier in the Bahamas. We played against Kentucky and Missouri, and maybe they're not as talented as those groups, but they play a very similar style, very physical.

"Then when we went through the ACC, we have a lot of good teams in the ACC, to go through our conference and get the championship, we had to go through Miami, who was in the Elite Eight. They play a very similar style. It was on display when they played against LSU. We had to play against Duke, who plays a very similar style, very physical, reliant on the press pressure. And then we had to play Louisville, who was also in the Elite Eight, to get to the championship.

"I think our schedule has really prepared us for moments like this because of the way our teams have played, and I think our kids have seen it all.

"Elizabeth, we don't know what kind of coverage we're going to get, but we've seen it all. We'll to adapt to whatever they do, whether it's single coverage, whether it's double, whether it's triple, and we'll be ready."

Cory Diaz covers the LSU Tigers and Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns for The Daily Advertiser as part of the USA TODAY Network. Follow his Tigers and Cajuns coverage on Twitter: @ByCoryDiaz. Got questions regarding LSU/UL athletics? Send them to Cory Diaz at bdiaz@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on Lafayette Daily Advertiser: Virginia Tech on LSU women's basketball, Kim Mulkey at NCAA Final Four