Kim Mulkey: Angel Reese has 'lived up to hype' leading LSU women's basketball to Sweet 16

BATON ROUGE – The game had been over for a few minutes. But the Pete Maravich Assembly Center was still full.

No one was going to think about leaving after her last game in front of the fans at the home court this season, where they saw the team go undefeated at 17-0, without sending Angel Reese off with a proper "thank you."

More than the 25 points, more than the 24 rebounds – a historic never-before-collected stat line in a women's NCAA Tournament game as LSU women's basketball dismantled Michigan, 66-42, to get to the Sweet 16 – the ovation wasn't thinly-veiled, fleeting appreciation.

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The ear-stinging cheer from the 10,108 supporters still at their seats was the final rejection of mediocrity for a once-proud program. It was relief that women's basketball is demonstrably back in Baton Rouge.

That roar, for all those reasons, stemmed from Reese and what she's meant for LSU, albeit she's only been with beloved Kim Mulkey for one season.

"(Reese) has helped us jumpstart and wake up this program, wake up this community," Mulkey said of Reese after the win over Michigan. "Bringing young kids to ballgames and older people who are like, 'thank you, Coach. We've just kind of been fading away, just waiting for something exciting to happen.'

"She's done that."

A surprising transfer out of Maryland, her home-state school, Reese showed up on Mulkey's doorstep being touted as the most impactful transfer before this season started.

From the first practice, her new set of teammates caught of glimpse of what could be with Reese as she basically didn't allow another person to grab a rebound.

What she showed behind closed doors has amplified during meaningful situations in front of the consistent throngs of fans who wait after games to have a photo taken or get Reese's autograph.

"I know that she has to be mentioned, today in a short period of time, she's only been here one year and has an opportunity to be two more years, she has made an impact on our program, women's basketball. I would think, just like the brand LSU, every sport has one particular player or two dependent on the sport that everybody knows about," Mulkey said.

"Angel has lived up to her hype on this floor. She still hasn't won a championship, she craves that. She wants that."

Her historic performance against Michigan in the second round of March Madness only grows Reese's mystique in the annals of LSU women's basketball. But to her, there's more to accomplish.

"I can't put myself into rankings until I get to a Final Four, get to the national championship," Reese said. "I don't put myself up with other players.

"Individually, I am who I am but I want to get to things bigger than that. I don't care about scoring, rebounds, none of that. I want to get to the national championship. That's my goal, that's why I came here. I had individual stats at Maryland. I came here for bigger things."

She formed a heart with her hands, reciprocating the love back to the LSU fans that rained down on her as she helped carry the Tigers back to the Sweet 16 for the first time in nine seasons.

Reese then hunched over as emotion hit her almost as hard as she was accidently hit on the first play of the game going up for a rebound that bloodied her lip.

"It's been a long season. I mean, 17 straight (wins) at home it's crazy. And in front of that many people, it was 10,000 but it felt like way more," Reese said. "I love the fan base here at LSU and I can't wait back here next year."

For now, Reese is taking LSU to the Sweet 16. But just like she said, bigger things are on the horizon, next weekend and beyond.

"Angel's young and to see that from a young player, it's aspiring to me as a senior," LSU senior point guard Alexis Morris said.

"I can only imagine where she's going to take LSU in the future."

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: Angel Reese: LSU coach Kim Mulkey gives star Sweet 16 credit