The Reveille 3-10-22

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NC A A Ba sketball Tour n am e nt Speci al Edition T hu r s d ay, M a r c h 10, 2 022

ROAD TO NOLA A guide to the perfect NCAA bracket

NEWS

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LSU President Tate asked the legislature for $105 million to go toward academic investments.

ENTERTAINMENT

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LSU’s Black Student Union followed up a streak of Black History Month events with the Black Business Exposition on March 8.

SPORTS

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Inside the group of students that has helped push the LSU women’s basketball team to a Final Four hopeful this March.

OPINION

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“With pandemic restrictions lifting, now is the perfect time for the LSU Library to reopen through the night.”

L SU Re ve i l le.co m @l s u r e ve i l le

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BRACKETOLOGY 1001 What to look for in making a bracket

BY PETER RAUTERKUS @peter_rauterkus Winter has passed, the leaves are returning to the trees and the calendar has officially turned to March.

For college basketball fans, this is the greatest time of the year as the postseason rolls around and the madness of March begins.

Conference tournaments are in full swing, and the NCAA Tournament is just a week away. Bracket talk has ramped up throughout the college basketball community, so The Reveille has created this guide to help readers create a winning bracket.

Obviously there is no way to correctly predict the outcome of all 63 games without a genie in a bottle, but in the era of advanced metrics and analytics, it has become much easier to find a winning formula. Historical evidence would suggest, though, that the most important factor is the defense.

The ideology that defense wins championships is among the oldest clichés in sports, but it remains a defining factor when it comes to the NCAA Tournament.

Arguably the best metric to measure how good a team is defensively is adjusted defensive efficiency. This statistic measures how many points a team gives up per 100 possessions against an average Division I team.

For context, having a rating under under 100 is considered decent and would put a team within

the top half of Division I teams, but a rating under 90 is considered elite; placing a team in the top nine in the country according to the current rankings.

Looking at the last nine national champions, all nine have had a rating under 100, and eight out of those nine ranked in the top 25 in adjusted defensive efficiency.

The main reason why defense is so important is because defense is easier executed than offense. It’s easy for a team to show up cold and the shots just don’t fall on offense; there are plenty of variables that go into having a good game offensively. On defense, though, these variables often don’t exist, depending on the matchup of course.

As of March 9, Texas Tech, San Diego State, Tennessee, VCU, LSU, Oklahoma State, Gonzaga, Auburn, Saint Mary’s and Iowa State made up the top 10 in this defensive metric. All but Iowa State has a rating under 90 and are considered elite defensive teams. Elite defenses give all these teams a shot to make a run, especially looking at teams like Texas Tech, Tennessee, LSU, Gonzaga, Auburn and Saint Mary’s, who are all projected to be topfive seeds.

When looking at the higher seeds to pick for a Final Four or National Championship run, it would be smart to take defensive statistics into account. Even when looking at possible Cinderella teams, defensive metrics like

adjusted defensive efficiency are a good way to see which teams might surprise fans in a tournament scenario which teams might surprise fans in a tournament scenario.

The question on Baton Rouge’s mind, though, is how LSU stacks up in these metrics. With LSU ranking fifth in the nation for adjusted defensive efficiency at 88.2 points allowed per 100 possessions, its elite defensive ranking sticks out as its strongest feature.

The way the Tigers press and force turnovers makes them a tough team to strategize against in a short amount of time.

LSU is far from the most talented team in the tournament, but its defense’s ability to wreak havoc can cause nightmares for even the strongest of teams. The VCU Rams employed this strategy, to its success, during the 2011 NCAA Tournament, where the team became known for its famous “havoc” defense that trapped teams and forced turnovers to disrupt offenses.

The Rams didn’t have the NBA talent that many of the teams they faced in the tournament had, but their unpredictable, high-pressure style of play allowed them to fight their way to the Final Four anyway.

LSU’s similarities to VCU’s defensive strategy is no coincidence the assistant coach at the time, known for being the mind behind that “havoc” defense, was none other than current LSU Head Coach Will Wade.

B-16 Hodges Hall Louisiana State University Baton Rouge, La. 70803

NEWSROOM Despite having a team that is often inefficient on offense, Wade finally has a team in LSU that is able to play his style on the other end of the court, which has resulted in the Tigers having an elite defensive rating, a No. 1 ranking in the country in total steals and a second in steals per game.

Picking LSU to make a deep run is by no means a foolproof formula, however. The Tigers have been inefficient on offense for stretches this season, and turnovers have plagued them at times. If LSU matches up against a team that shoots and protects the ball well, the Tigers could be in a real dogfight going toe-to-toe with a team in the half court.

That brings up the biggest variable in tournament play: matchups. The phrase “styles make fights” is often used in combat sports, though it’s no different in basketball. With the bracket not released yet, there’s no way to go in-depth about specific matchups, but paying attention to each team’s play style and how they offset each other can make a world of difference.

For LSU, the positive is that the variable of matchups will work in its favor more often than not.

LSU plays with such an unpredictable (and sometimes strange) play style that it is difficult for most teams to match up well against. In a setting like the NCAA Tournament, where it seems like nothing makes sense at times, an erratic playstyle like theirs often creates the best Cinderella stories.

Reveille sports staff weigh in with their predictions: PETER RAUTERKUS DEPUTY SPORTS EDITOR @peter_rauterkus

HENRY HUBER SENIOR SPORTS REPORTER @HenryHuber_

JARED BRODTMANN SENIOR SPORTS REPORTER @_therealjarbear

JOE KEHRLI SPORTS EDITOR @joekehrli9

I think this year brings the most excitement around both LSU basketball programs that we’ve seen in a long time. With the men’s team pushing toward a top-five seed and the women’s team a likely two-seed with Final Four expectations, Tiger fans have every reason to be excited. I believe the men’s team has the chance to surprise a lot of people and can make a good run at the second weekend. The women’s team, on the other hand feels like it has a legitimate shot to make the Final Four.

When LSU is fully playing to their strengths, they are the most dangerous six-seed in the tournament. I believe they’ve been progressing back to where they were in January over the past few weeks and thereby I have a lot of confidence in them advancing to later rounds. I feel like if they beat a three seed in the second round, they could make it back to the final four, but it’s hard to predict how they would do against the likes of Texas Tech and Purdue.

I’m working under the assumption LSU will be no higher than a five seed and most likely a six seed with my prediction. With that being the case, I don’t see them advancing past the first weekend. I think they’ll win the first and lose in the second round, in large part due to the fundamental offensive stagnation in the half court that has plagued them all year. Without an isolation scorer or elite playmaker initiating their sets, they have to score in transition, which is not a recipe you want against a Texas Tech or Purdue in the second round.

The madness has begun and will not cease until the first week of April.

LSU women’s basketball is coming off an impressive regular season under Kim Mulkey, toting a 25-4 record. The Tigers will cut down a net this post season, and Mulkey will be Coach of the Year.

The men’s team is like a Newton’s Cradle, once they gather momentum nothing will stop them.

However, coming into the NCAA tournament as a potential five or six seed, I do not see them making the trip to New Orleans, being eliminated in the Round of 32.

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ABOUT THE REVEILLE The Reveille is written, edited and produced solely by students of Louisiana State University. The Reveille is an independent entity of the Office of Student Media within the Manship School of Mass Communication.

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NEWS

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‘Sputnik Moment’

see FUNDING, page 4

see UKRAINE, page 4

LSU President Tate asks legislature for extra cash toward academics Ahead of the regular legislative session beginning on March 14, LSU President William F. Tate is raising the alarm on Louisiana’s challenges and asking the state for extra cash to address them.

Tate announced the request during a speech to the Baton Rouge Press Club Monday and reiterated it during testimony before the Louisiana Senate Finance

thorization Act of 1958, passed in the wake of the Soviet Union launching the Sputnik satellite.

At the time, the USSR had lapped the United States technologically, raising fears about our readiness.

The NDEA helped close the gap by funding STEM. “We must take care of our agriculture,” Tate said. “We have to take care of human health in the biological environment. It’s important for us to protect our coasts. It’s vitally important that

BY CORBIN ROSS @CorbinRoss5

we defend ourselves in the form of cybersecurity. Ultimately, we’ve got to be able to move, generate energy. Energy is foundational.”

Tate’s proposal, sometimes called the Scholarship First Investment Package or the “Pentagon Plan,” includes funding in five key areas.

Agriculture “You have to feed people with agriculture,” Tate said during the

PIPER HUTCHINSON / The Reveille

Committee Tuesday.

Tate argued that we are in the Sputnik moment of our generation and called on the legislature to give LSU an additional $105 million.

“It’s time for us not to be timid,” Tate said in a speech to the Baton Rouge Press Club, “but to be bold, to address the Sputnik moment of our time.”

A product of the Cold War era, Tate harked back to the passage of the National Defense Au-

Ukranian students host ICC event LSU’s International Cultural Center hosted an event Friday in support of Ukraine against the Russian invasion. Ukrainian students organized the event and hosted speakers, food and music, and also introduced resources to support their home country, including ways to donate to the Ukrainian army.

“I’m optimistic because I’m Ukrainian, and our people are united as never before and we will share this victory all together. Just what price are we going to pay?” biochemistry freshman Daria Antonovskaya, head of the Ukrainian Student Association, asked.

Antonovskaya’s mother evacuated Ukraine after Russian troops began shelling the Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant in southeast Ukraine, the largest nuclear plant in Europe.

Experts worried it could be in danger of a nuclear disaster much worse than the Chernobyl incident.

Antonovskaya said one of the most important things people can do to support Ukraine is to remain aware of the conflict and retain an intelligent view on the subject.

“For me it helps to stay active,” agricultural business senior Oleg Hrushetsky, who is also Ukrainian, said. “I feel like organizing this

LSU President William F. Tate testifies to the Senate Finance Committee on March 8, 2022.

BY PIPER HUTCHINSON @PiperHutchBR

POLITICS

LGBTQ

Students establish an LGBTQ club in College of Agriculture

BY PIPER HUTCHINSON @PiperHutchBR LSU started its first College of Agriculture-backed LGBTQ+ club, Tigers for Cultivating Change, which serves as a safe space for members to come together, network and increase LGBTQ+ visibility within the agricultural community.

The club is part of the Cultivating Change Foundation, which was founded in 2015 with the aim of starting a conversation to acknowledge and value the presence of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender individuals in the agricultural industry.

According to the foundation’s website, the mission is “valuing and elevating LGBTQ+ agriculturists through advocacy, education and community,” and aims to do so through several strategies taking place across the nation.

Lindsey Kelly, director of alumni relations and career de-

velopment for the College of Agriculture, was a leading factor in the start of the organization. She says it is important for LGBTQ+ students to get the support and acceptance necessary for their agricultural careers.

“I am excited to see the enthusiasm of members who finally feel like they have found a home in this organization, and I am thankful that our College of Agriculture leadership have placed a priority on promoting inclusion and diversity in agriculture,” Kelly said.

The College of Agriculture sent a mass email to agriculture students on Jan. 28, advertising a “Meet & Greet Social” for students who are interested in agricultural sciences and are in the LGBTQ+ community or are allies. Following the appointment of three officers, the new LSU club entered its beginning stages.

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see CHANGE, page 4

Officers and advisors of Tigers for Cultivating Change.

Thursday, March 10, 2022

page 4 FUNDING, from page 3 committee hearing. “And we’re deeply committed to enhancing our agricultural footprint in terms of deep, rich biotechnology being applied to helping the agriculture industry.”

The university is requesting $20 million for agricultural projects, including over $10 million for facilities, $4 million for staffing, $2 million for infectious disease research and $2 million for precision agriculture initiatives.

“We must seek to protect and optimize our agricultural resources,” Tate said. “Political unrest and population growth require innovation to address these increasing demands related to the goods and services in the agricultural value chain. LSU is foundationally grounded in this opportunity space.”

Biotechnology “Every single person in every single parish deserves an opportunity to be able to just get in their car and go get the very best cancer care,” Tate said. “LSU’s responsibility as the flagship university with two medical centers, a veterinary school, a major emphasis in the biomedical sciences, to ensure that we seek National Cancer Institute designation.”

To achieve the goal of NCI designation, which is given to institutions that excel in research focusing on preventing, diagnosing and treating cancer, Tate request-

UKRAINE, from page 3 event has helped me to do something and to stay useful.”

Hrushetsky said his nieces have evacuated Ukraine, but the rest of his family has decided to stay.

Russia has restricted access to most social media websites for citizens in recent weeks as the few independent media outlets in the country ceased operations.

Russia also passed a censorship law that makes spreading “misinformation” about the war in Ukraine illegal.

“I’m one of the few Russians which have freedom, the freedom of speech, so I’m here to represent the majority of the Russian people which cannot go out into the streets and protest against this because they’ll be put in jail and beaten up,” ecological restoration freshman Kirill Rozhentsev said. “I’m using the opportunity to speak up for them and let everybody know that the majority of the Russian nation is against this war and that it is a dictatorship.”

LSU political science professor Daniel Tirone went over the various justifications Russian President Vladimir Putin has given for Russia’s attack on Ukraine.

Tirone said Putin claimed to want to protect the Russian-speaking diaspora of Ukraine from the government in Kyiv, the capital of Ukraine, which he said was populated by drug-addicts and Neo-Nazis. Tirome said this argument has no basis in fact and isn’t worth addressing.

The second justification Tirone said Putin has put forward is that Russia doesn’t want its neighbors aligning themselves with NATO, its geopolitical rival.

ed $35.47 million from the legislature. That includes $25 million for recruiting and hiring faculty, $5 million for a clinical innovation and translational center and $2 million for artificial intelligence.

“Geography should not be the destiny of your life,” Tate said, adding that there is “nothing I will fight for harder” than NCI designation.

Coast Tate said that his respect for Louisianaians grew tremendously one month into his tenure as LSU President, when he experienced his first hurricane.

“They are resilient, strong, powerful and ready to take on these challenges,” Tate said.

To address challenges presented by coastal erosion and sea level increases, Tate is requesting $9 million from the state. That figure includes $6 million for labs and equipment for new hires, $500,000 for a flood-prone housing resilience study and $450,000 for parish-based storm surge modeling.

According to the United States Geological Survey, Louisiana loses wetlands at a rate of 75 square kilometers per year. Wetlands act as a natural barrier against hurricanes, meaning that as they erode away, negative outcomes following hurricanes increase.

“Like our biomedical sciences, our coastal researchers are working to ensure geography is not destiny,” Tate said. “[Putin] has long desired to see the liberal, rules-based order which emerged after the end of the Cold War and molded by western states and institutions overthrown and remade into a structure in which Russia rightly assumes its prominent place as a major power, rather than the kleptocratic petrostate dominated by a personless authoritarian regime that it has evolved into,”

JULIAN COOPER / The Reveille

Daria Antonovskaya speaks to the crowd March 4 at the for the Ukraine supoort event at the LSU International Cultural Center on Dalrymple Drive in Baton Rouge, Tirone said.

Tirone said that there are no winners in this war and that it is a humanitarian disaster. He said the citizens of Ukraine have been dragged into a horrendous situation which would have been unthinkable just weeks ago.

He also said that Russians will suffer from this as well, including young, conscripted soldiers sent to fight in this war and the everyday

Defense LSU was founded as a military school. Tate argues that the university should tap into that historical connection while keeping an eye on the future by innovating in the cybersecurity field.

“LSU is prepared to leverage our partnerships with the National Guard in the State, the State Po-

PIPER HUTCHINSON/ The Reveille

LSU President William F. Tate leaving the Senate Finance Committee after testifying on March 8. lice, the National Security Agency, including corporate partners to educate and train this generation’s cyber soldiers,” Tate said.

To prepare the next generation of cyber soldiers, Tate is asking for a $30 million investment.

Twenty-two million dollars of that citizens who will bear the brunt of the economic strain brought about by sanctions. Nearly every country has condemned the invasion.

Tirone also said that Putin will lose from this as well, since he underestimated the Ukrainian military and its citizens’ ability to resist the invasion and brought about severe economic strain upon his people.

Political science professor Leonard Ray went over the possible impacts of this war in the European Union.

Ray discussed the history of the European Union, and how it has been formed and molded through successive crisis since the end of World War II. He said that the current crisis the European Union is facing will likely have wide-reaching consequences for it in the years to come, as previous crises have had as well.

He said there have already been major unprecedented changes happening across Europe in response to the war, specifically in Germany, which is cutting off Russian energy and increasing defense spending, something which would previously have been unthinkable for Germany to do.

Ray said he was doubtful that Ukraine will be accepted into the European Union anytime soon, since the process for joining typically takes years. He doesn’t think the European Union will speed up this process for Ukraine.

Ray said that there is a clause in the European Union treaties for EU member states to defend each other, meaning that if Ukraine were to be accepted into the European Union, they would be obligated to defend them.

would fund an artificial intelligence supercomputer. Another $7 million would go toward acquiring cybersecurity talent for two campuses.

“My aim is that LSU would be the number one cyber place in the United States,” Tate said.

Energy With the recent announcement of U.S. sanctions on Russian oil, Tate said now is the time to invest in energy innovations.

“We want to be optimal in how we invest in that as a research enterprise and linking that to the business community in such a way that we actually can sustain and take advantage of where we are in world markets,” Tate said.

The Library After presenting his proposal, Tate went off-script and brought up the LSU library, relating it back to post-Sputnik investments in higher education and pointing out that the National Defense funding not only increased college enrollment and STEM funding, but also the expansion of libraries.

“I would be remiss if I didn’t say we definitely have a library problem,” Tate said. “It’s something that we need to take a close look at if we want to claim to be a flagship of any value in the way that I just described.”

After his testimony, Tate said that his comments about the library were not part of his original remarks, but he decided to add them in at the last minute.

The LSU Library, a sore point on campus, is in need of almost $30 million in repairs and renovation. A new library is part of the LSU Master Plan and would require significant Capital Outlay funds from the state.

The senate committee was temporarily derailed by a concern from the committee chair, Sen. Mack “Bodi” White, a Baton Rouge Republican.

White asked to know how many of LSU’s international students are from Russia and China and how LSU was protecting its intellectual property.

“If we happen to be in dire conflict, and we could be in it, I think there’ll be a lot of pressure on those students to steal our intellectual property,” White said.

“I’m asking you to guard for that.

Let us know how many of those students we have on your campuses, even if it’s medical school.”

Tate said he could provide a report on international students, but said that there are “protocols in place.” Tate said that the committee was not the forum to discuss White’s concerns, but said he’d be “glad to chat.”

“I’m confident we can get to a place where we can continue our research and not worry about issues around illegal tech transfer,” Tate said.

LSU has not yet responded to a request for comment regarding the comments made about LSU’s international students.

CHANGE, from page 3

Zach Bonser is the vice president of the club and believes representation isn’t where it should be. He wants there to be a safe space on campus for people who identify with the LGBTQ+ community within the College of Agriculture.

“You see a lot of people just being blatantly homophobic, not

Animal science and technology sophomore Ash Dalton is president of TCC and is excited about its future and expansion.

After a few tabling sessions for the club in Free Speech Alley, he gathered 67 prospective members.

Expect big things in the future, because we have a lot of things cooking.

ZACH BONSER

Vice President of Tigers for Cultivating Change “With anything LGBT within the state, there’s no advertising for it because of fear, so you can never find anything,” Dalton said.

Dalton says he notices many LGBTQ+ clubs are often advertised on the down-low out of fear of discrimination or homophobia, especially in the South. With the backing of the agriculture department and support from the university, he is confident Tigers for Cultivating Change won’t back down from fear.

All of the club’s officers are completing training from an LSU course that informs participants on how to create a safe space for students in distress and how to properly communicate with and help their peers.

Animal science sophomore

accepting or even disregarding people’s sexuality and not celebrating it,” Bonser said. “We just want to be a place where people can feel seen, hang out and see people like them.”

Bonser feels the South is “not exactly a hub” for those identifying with the queer community, which adds to the significance of the organization and its mission to provide a welcoming community for both those within the community and their allies, he said.

“Expect big things in the future, because we have a lot of things cooking,” Bonser said.

The club’s next event will take place on March 8 at 6 p.m. in the Women’s Center, where participants will engage in flowerpot painting for stress relief.

ENTERTAINMENT

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THIS WEEKEND IN BR Want to see your event in The Reveille?

Email information to editor@lsu.edu.

BY REVEILLE ENTERTAINMENT STAFF @Reveilleent

Exhibition Opening Yes We Cannibal

FRIDAY

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Catch the opening reception for Atlantabased artist Steven L. Anderson’s “Entropy Plan for the Western Farm” art exhibition at 7 p.m. Free drinks will be available as well as live music from KLSU DJ Tentative Power.

Movies on Tap Tin Roof Brewery Join Tin Roof Brewery in ushering St. Patrick’s celebrations with the screening of “Leprechaun 5: In The Hood” at 7 p.m. Southern’s Food Truck will also be in attendance to serve up chicken sandwiches to the audience starting at 5 p.m.

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Kids Makers’ Mart Mid-City Artisans A Night of Monologues Bee Nice Park 225 Theatre Collective encourages you to showcase your favorite monologue from a play, movie or original work at 5 p.m. Material preapproval and a sign-up submission is required for all participants.

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SUNDAY

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SATURDAY

Come out and shop for all kinds of creations made by kids aged 6-17 from 10 a.m.-2 p.m.

Crawfête 2022 Perkins Rowe More than a dozen restaurants will be in attendance, bringing a plethora of boiled and gourmet crawfish dishes to get the crawfish season going in the Capitol City.

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T hu r s d ay , March 10, 2022

page 6 BUSINESS

Students learn and network at Black Business Exposition

BY KATY-ANN MCDONALD @Katyann0 LSU Black Student Union hosted their Black Business Expo event last night to showcase upand-coming student-run businesses and provide networking opportunities.

The expo featured a Blackowned business panel of LSU alumni and Baton Rouge natives, student vendors and booths and a Shark Tank competition.

The event, which took place in the Magnolia Room in the Student Union intended to encourage LSU students with entrepreneurial aspirations and provide exposure for those who are already smallbusiness owners.

The list of panelists included Cam Jackson, Millennial Park CEO, David Facey, entrepreneur and CEO of Dead Poet, ReAzalia Allen, attorney at SouthernBelle and Charles Daniel, owner of Geaux Ride.

Jackson, whose outdoor food court features eateries housed in re-purposed shipping containers, said that the inspiration for Millennial Park developed during one of the most challenging times in his life — the COVID-19 pandemic.

He hopes that sharing his entrepreneurial journey will uplift Black students and inspire them to start and believe in their own

businesses.

“I was a student once, so it’s great to give my knowledge and

LSU student vendors at the event varied in major, classification and hobbies, but they all

Venus Lashes, the 7-monthold lash company owned by LSU animal science junior Nya Lewis

COURTSEY OF MARK LANDRY

insight,” Jackson said. “Being young myself makes it easier to connect with them.”

shared the common goal of becoming successful Black business owners.

grew so much in such a short time that she now wants to expand her business.

“I started doing lashes over the summer and by August, I was already in a shop. This definitely helped my clientele grow,” Lewis said. “I get bored pretty easily, so now I want to try something new – I just launched my lash line two days ago and I’m thinking of starting a lip gloss line.”

Event organizer and BSU secretary Jada Lee said the surge in support for Black-owned businesses, that erupted after the COVID-19 pandemic disproportionately affected them, is what inspired the event.

Between February and April of 2020, Black business ownership declined more than 40%, the largest drop across any racial group, according to a report by the House Committee on Small Business Committee. Black student union, on the other hand, has increased exponentially since the pandemic.

“BSU has grown in the last year from 100 members to over 300, and numbers continue to increase steadily,” Lee said. “Because of this, reaching out to panelists and vendors was much easier.”

The BSU event hosted 22 vendors and booths, and 7 panelists.

“BSU has a wide connection base now, and we can’t wait to continue to grow and put on more events like this where we can positively impact the community,” she said.

FOOD & DRINK

Charlie’s brings familiar tastes to Asian international students

BY GIDEON FORTUNE & VIVI NGUYEN @gidfortune & @vivi_ngyn Many international students arrive at LSU with no mode of transportation, few friends and appetites not accustomed to American foods. For some of these students, Charlie‘s Seafood Kitchen at 228 W Chimes St. provides a slice of home in the form of traditional Chinese and Japanese cuisine.

This quaint, hole-in-the-wall establishment delivers a combination of both basic restaurant fare and Asian cuisine. Menu items available to the public range from the standard chicken tenders and burgers to the more common Southern Louisiana cuisine consisting of seafood platters and overstuffed po’boys.

There is also a hidden menu that the general public is unaware of, which contains authentic culinary selections.

The Asian international student community is not exactly tight-knit, but this spot is the tie that unifies them since it’s connects them to tastes of home.

The owner, nicknamed “Charlie,” who is from Shanghai, China, oversees day-to-day operations. It’s comforting for the students to know that the meal they’re consuming is prepared by a person who also has an understanding of what their food

looks, smells and tastes like.

“It’s very traditional. I can tell it’s better than American food, for me at least,” said landscape architecture sophomore Guao

eration for many of the students that rely on Charlie for meals often. Every day around 6 p.m., they shuffle in already knowing their desired dinner option.

dents who have been here for a while often refer Charlie’s to newer students, such as junior film and television transfer student Aicheng Yao, who was

MATTHEW PERSCHALL / The Reveille

The owner of Charlie’s Seafood Kitchen smiles in front of the restaurant on Mar. 8 at Charlie’s Kitchen on West Chimes Street in Baton Rouge, La. Yue. “I have a Chinese stomach and sometimes I can’t stand American food.”

Daily consumption of fast food dishes is not even a consid-

For those already aware of the secret menu, there is a group chat in which they can all see and discuss the secret menu items. For those unaware, stu-

alerted of a nearby chef from his home country soon after arriving at LSU. “We miss home very much and we want to eat Chinese food

sometimes, but there’s very limited options,” Yao said.

It is apparent that these students are looking for more than the typical lo mein noodles and fried rice that you see at many Chinese restaurants and Charlie’s offers that.

“Almost every week I will come here around 3-4 times.

You can’t find food like this anywhere else.” Yao said. “I would definitely recommend this for others.”

More than a provider of familiar tastes, Charlie supplies a friendly face to all and a common language to the students who do not speak English as a first language, which contributes to his expanding clientele.

The establishment was not as well known a few years ago as it is now according to Yue, though it continues to grow among the general public and also as a goto spot among the Asian international student community craving this niche flavor that Charlie provides so close to where they reside.

Sophomore landscape architecture student Minghan Lin who lives at the Nicholson Gateway apartments thrives on the convivence of the nearby eatery.

“The main reason that we eat in Charlie’s is because is close to campus” Lin said. “Charlie’s food makes me miss my hometown more.”

T hu r s d ay , March 10, 2022

page 7 FASHION

Mick Fleetwood stars in Harry Styles’ brand’s latest campaign

BY MADISON HEYDARI @madison_heydari When you think of Fleetwood Mac, you may think of a retro, magical scene that captures the essence of the free spirit of rock music in the 1970s. This is the same vibe Harry Styles’ cosmetics brand Pleasing emulates in its latest collection, Shroom Bloom, with Fleetwood Mac drummer Mick Fleetwood as the face of their campaign.

Pleasing gave a sneak peek of its second collection Shroom Bloom, which includes an overnight face serum, a hand and nail balm, four new polish colors and three new apparel designs with names that match the magical and groovy feel of the collection.

The preview also revealed the face of the campaign to be Fleetwood.

Fleetwood powerfully embodies the retro, groovy nature of Shroom Bloom. In product photos on the brand’s website, Fleetwood can be found modeling the new apparel and the polish on his nails. However, wearing nail polish is not a new concept for Fleetwood.

In an interview with Vogue, Fleetwood says, “Back in the day in London, I used to wear nail

polish and all sorts of stuff, and the attitude was, ‘So what?’ It didn’t have anything to do with sexuality. It’s not about that. It’s

grew up listening to the band’s music. After Styles entered the music industry, some of his idols became his friends. Styles met

friendships with members of Fleetwood Mac. “Mick is someone who brings me and countless others great

COURTESY OF THE MEDIA EYE

about having fun.”

Styles has expressed his love for Fleetwood Mac on several occasions and has shared that he

Fleetwood in 2014 when Fleetwood brought his daughters to a One Direction concert. Since then, Styles has formed unique

joy,” Styles told Vogue. “I felt there couldn’t be a better embodiment of Pleasing, or a person who could so naturally capture

the wizardry that we love.”

Styles, known for regularly flaunting a colorful manicure, joined the cosmetic industry in November 2021 by launching his cosmetics brand Pleasing. The brand’s first collection, Perfect Pearl (the name being a nod to the string of pearls Styles is often seen wearing), included an illuminating serum, an eye and lip duo pen, two crewnecks and four nail polishes.

While the brand is aesthetically pleasing, the prices may be the opposite for many. Pleasing has put sustainability before affordability, with their ethically made polishes selling for $20 each, coming in the brand’s unique and compostable packaging.

Styles’ friend and stylist Harry Lambert posted a video revealing the colorfully designed packaging that held the latest collection and showed a notecard that can actually be soaked in water and planted to grow wildflowers.

If you’re willing to spend the money, Shroom Bloom is available on the Pleasing website on March 15. If you aren’t willing to spend the money but still feel you’re missing out, listen to Fleetwood Mac’s “Rumors” to feel that same nostalgia Fleetwood radiates in the campaign photos.

MOVIES & TV

‘The Righteous Gemstones’ returns for a second coming

BY CONNOR MCLAUGHLIN @connor_mcla Every Sunday since Jan. 9, my Twitter timeline has been littered with remarks, complaints, fan theories and sparse praise for Sam Levinson’s “Euphoria.” In fact, it’s the most tweeted-about show of all time, and, although I’ve been a fan since the pilot aired on HBO in summer 2019, the discourse over the show has been exhausting. You’d think everyone hated the show with the ungodly number of tweets and memes made about it. However, there is another show for which I have also been a day one fan that has remained a constant of bright light for HBO and Twitter alike.

Created by and starring Danny McBride, “The Righteous Gemstones” revolves around the eponymous, highly-dysfunctional televangelist family that runs a famous and highly-successful megachurch. The series runs in the same vein as “Succession,” another HBO landmark series about a rich, bickering family that uses rudely specific insults in place of love, but the show feels entirely disparate from it as “Righteous Gemstones” is first and foremost a comedy, not a drama. It’s edgy, satirical and surprisingly wholesome at times.

Season one of the series, which premiered in August 2019 and tackled themes of parental misunderstanding and greed, was a terrific time. Like “Eupho-

ria,” I watched the two-episode series premiere the very same night it aired, so you already know I was pressing play on season two right after the season two premiere of “Euphoria.”

This sophomore season finds

great John Goodman. Requiring a hefty seven-figure investment, Jesse doesn’t have the funds, so he approaches his daddy for the money, to which he says no, angering Jesse and putting the father and son at odds. Dealing

trying to keep their personal lives together while learning to cope with the newfound secrets of the Gemstone family.

I’m still unsure if I prefer this season over its first, but all I can say is that I was overly satisfied

COURTESY OF HULU.COM

McBride’s characater Jesse Gemstone and eldest child wanting to invest in a Christian-owned timeshare resort with Lyle Lisson, played by Eric Andre, which is much to the chagrin of his father Eli, played by the ever-

with his own resurfacing past and motorcycle assassins, Eli believes that Jesse needs to find his own path to success and not through a handout. Meanwhile, siblings Judy (Edi Patterson) and Kelvin (Adam DeVine) juggle

from week to week. The great thing about “The Righteous Gemstones” is that, despite its faults, it never failed to make me laugh. Sure, it’s messy just like its characters and may not be the tightest story in HBO’s cali-

ber, but, from Kelvin’s G.O.D.D. Squad to BJ’s baptism episode, I found more enjoyment, cinematic bliss and less to complain about in this show than many of HBO’s other productions.

What I appreciated about this season is how it managed to retrospectively look back into the legacy of the Gemstone family while also clearing a path for its posterity in particular. Lies were told, secrets (and bodies) were buried, and money was made all in the name of Christ and the American Dream.

It makes the viewer think about where the line is drawn when violence paves the way to success, even if the achievements are made into praiseworthy causes. This then brings up the question of who, if anyone, in the family is honorable enough to wear the crown? Jesse and Lyle are also mirrored characters who struggle with their own ambitions in lieu of a more successful father, making for an interesting dichotomy. However, the series proves that the Gemstones are still a family despite their brokenness.

In short, “The Righteous Gemstones” season two is an early highlight in the television sphere of 2022. Composed of nine bite-sized episodes and a plethora of laughs, the second coming of the show proved to be a hilariously praiseworthy time that played out far better than the underwhelming second season of “Euphoria.”

Thursday, March 10, 2022

page 8 CHYNNA MCCLINTON / The Reveille

LSU men’s basketball sophomore guard Eric Gaines (2) focuses intently on the ball Feb. 1, during LSU’s 72-76 loss against Ole Miss in the Pete Maravich Assembly Center on North Stadium Drive in Baton Rouge, La.

Thursday, March 10, 2022

CHYNNA MCCLINTON / The Reveille

THE BEST IS NET TO COME Take a look at a season’s recap through the lens of the women’s and men’s basketball teams.

page 9 LSU women’s basketball graduate student guard Jailin Cherry (1) leaps in the air to catch a pass Jan. 16, during LSU’s 82-64 win against Vanderbilt in the Pete Maravich Assembly Center.

CHYNNA MCCLINTON / The Reveille

LSU men’s basketball sophomore guard Eric Gaines (2) attempts to score over Ohio men’s basketball sophomore forward Sam Towns (11) Dec. 1, during LSU’s 66-51 win against Ohio in the Pete Maravich Assembly Center.

CHYNNA MCCLINTON / The Reveille

CHYNNA MCCLINTON / The Reveille

LSU men’s basketball sophomore forward Mwani Wilkinson (5) helps up senior forward Darius Days (4) and freshman guard Brandon Murray (0) after they fall to the ground Nov. 15, during LSU’s 7458 win against Liberty in the Pete Maravich Assembly Center.

LSU women’s basketball graduate student guard Khayla Pointer (3) does a “too little” gesture after scoring Feb. 24, after LSU’s Senior Night 58-50 win against Alabama in the Pete Maravich Assembly Center.

CHYNNA MCCLINTON / The Reveille

LSU men’s basketball sophomore forward Tari Eason (13) and senior forward Darius Days (4) celebrate after starting the game on a scoring run Dec. 1, during LSU’s 66-51 win against Ohio in the Pete Maravich Assembly Center.

CHYNNA MCCLINTON / The Reveille

LSU women’s basketball graduate student guard Jailin Cherry (1) runs around a screen set by graduate student forward Autumn Newby (0) Feb. 24, during LSU’s Senior Night 58-50 win against Alabama in the Pete Maravich Assembly Center.

CHYNNA MCCLINTON / The Reveille

LSU women’s basketball graduate student center Faustine Aifuwa (24) shoots a shot over Kentucky women’s basketball redshirt junior forward Dre’una Edwards (44) Jan. 30, during LSU’s 78-69 win against Kentucky in the Pete Maravich Assembly Center.

CHYNNA MCCLINTON / The Reveille

LSU men’s basketball senior forward Darius Days (4) smiles as he sprints off the court Nov. 18, after LSU’s 85-46 win against McNeese in the Pete Maravich Assembly Center.

CHYNNA MCCLINTON / The Reveille

LSU women’s basketball senior guard Ryann Payne (10) prepares to release the ball during a shot Jan. 16, during LSU’s 82-64 win against Vanderbilt in the Pete Maravich Assembly Center.

CHYNNA MCCLINTON / The Reveille

LSU women’s basketball fifth year senior guard Alexis Morris (45) points Feb. 24, after LSU’s Senior Night 58-50 win against Alabama in the Pete Maravich Assembly Center.

SPORTS DREAM TEAM

page 10 WOMEN’S BASKETBALL

Mulkey, semifinalist for COY

BY JACOB VERDIN @jacobhverdin

A group of male students train with women’s hoops.

SAVANNA ORGERON / The Reveille

Dream Team Patrick Kilgore defends against LSU women’s basketball fifth-year senior guard Alexis Morris (45) Feb. 9, during the LSU women’s basketball team in the Pete Maravich Assembly Center on N. Stadium Drive in Baton Rouge, La.

BY DYLAN SANDERS @DillySanders What would you do if you just got out of class and Kim Mulkey asked you to guard Khayla Pointer in transition, post up Faustine Aifuwa or even attempt to stop Jailin Cherry’s mid-range shot?

For LSU students Luke LeGoullon and Christian Weaver, it’s their weekly routine.

They are on the “Dream Team,” a group of LSU male students that runs against the LSU women’s basketball team in practice every day of the season, an important piece to the puzzle of

why LSU and Mulkey were able to make their 25-4 run in the regular season.

Back in August 2021, LSU put out interest calls to join the Dream Team on social media. LeGoullon and Weaver went through interest meetings and try-outs.

This all-male practice squad for a women’s collegiate basketball team is something that pretty much every program does. It seems like it would be a pretty big commitment but for any basketball fan it’s easy to see why they got sold on the idea of practicing with the team.

“I heard [Mulkey] was com-

ing here and I’ve always enjoyed watching women’s basketball, so I knew about her,” Weaver said after catching his breath after a practice before the women’s team hosted Georgia. “I played basketball in high school, so being able to get coached under her and playing in the PMAC all the time is awesome. Then hanging out with all of these players who are really cool and really talented, got a lot of cool features about it.”

Just how big is the commitment, though?

“I come here every Wednesday, Friday and Saturday. So pretty much just as my class ends

around 1:20 p.m., I come [to the PMAC] and then change and get right to work,” LeGoullon told the Reveille. “I got the exact same schedule. Actually, every guy has two or three days they’ll come.

We just happen to be the Wednesday, Friday and Saturday guys,” Weaver added.

During practice, the Dream Team plays a major role – they act as a scout team for the upcoming opponents. Through drills and plays, the guys would get addressed by the coaches in the middle of plays by the player’s

see DREAM, page 13

Kim Mulkey has quickly become a fan favorite in Baton Rouge after the success of LSU women’s basketball this season. The Tigers have strung together an impressive regular season record of 25-4 under Coach Mulkey, only losing two out of 16 home games, only losing two out of nine away games and combining for a total win percentage of 83.3%.

In 2021, the Tigers finished 9-13, making the comeback to a 25-4 regular season record the largest turnaround by a first-year coach in SEC history. Mulkey has been recognized as a semifinalist for the Naismith Coach of the Year award.

The Naismith Coach of the Year award was last taken home

by Mulkey in 2012, but she has won the AP College Basketball Coach of the Year twice, the USBWA National Coach of the Year three times, the WBCA National Coach of the Year twice and the

see MULKEY, page 13

MEN’S BASKETBALL

Column: Six players to watch for in the NCAA Tournament

BY JARED BRODTMANN & ADAM BURRUSS @_therealjarbear & @AdamNFLDraft With the NCAA tournament on the horizon and 68 teams to watch, basketball fans will be looking for the best prospects in the upcoming NBA draft to watch. Lucky for you, we’re here to introduce you to a few names to watch, analyze and enjoy if you’re a fan of the game or looking for your NBA team’s next potential star.

1. Auburn’s freshman forward Jabari Smith Jabari Smith, a freshman from Fayetteville, Georgia, was recently named the SEC Freshman of the Year, as well as a member of the All-SEC Freshman Team. He was heavily involved in leading Auburn to a regular season SEC title and looks to take a conference tournament title as well this upcoming weekend. Smith’s strength is his isolation scoring.

His ability to catch the ball at nearly any spot on the floor, size up a defender and shoot over him with his extraordinary length is immensely valuable. It’s the primary reason he is projected by

some draft experts to be the No. 1 overall pick in the next NBA draft. He shot 43.6% from three this year on 163 attempts.

With the offensive skill set similar to Kevin Durant, Jayson Tatum and Brandon Ingram, Smith is also a decent ball han-

dler and defender. If there’s one criticism to be found, it’s his lateral defensive quickness, which can be improved upon when he gets to the league. A quick guard at the top of the key can sometimes get around him or draw a foul. However, his length and ath-

leticism are often enough at this level to recover and defend well.

Watching Smith play in this tournament will be one of the many joys basketball fans experience.

Sit and soak in how talented a scorer he is. The difficulty of his shot-making is absurd.

Six prospects to watch Benedict Mathurin Sophomore guard 6-foot-6 210 pounds Arizona

Johnny Davis Sophomore guard 6-foot-5 194 pounds Wisconsin

Keegan Murray Sophomore forward 6-foot-8 225 pounds Iowa

Tari Eason Sophomore forward 6-foot-8 218 pounds LSU

Jaden Ivey Sophomore guard 6-foot-4 195 pounds Purdue

Jabari Smith Freshman forward 6-foot-10 220 pounds Auburn

2. Purdue’s sophomore guard Jaden Ivey Draft analysts will tell you this year’s draft is a weak one for guards, but that won’t stop Jaden Ivey. The sophomore from South Bend, Indiana was named to the All Big Ten First Team and has Purdue in a great position to compete for a title. Ivey is the most explosive point of attack ball handler in this class. He loves to get to the rim and make plays for himself and his teammates.

His burst is an unteachable ability and something to behold as a basketball fan. Many teams are eyeing him as their offensive initiator, resembling the rising Ja Morant in his ability to explode both past and above defenders.

Ivey is an average shooter, at 45.9% from the field and 37% from the arch. He’s been known to make longer distanced shots in big game situations, but he’s been at his best when getting downhill and collapsing defenses. His quickness aids him in his ability to generate turnovers, averaging a steal per game this year. With all the upside to improve in his court

GRAPHIC BY HANNAH HANKS

see PROSPECT, page 13

Thursday, March 10, 2022

page 11

WOMEN’S BASKETBALL

LSU Women’s Hoops: NCAA Tournament Forecast looks bright

BY TYLER HARDEN @ttjharden8 The LSU women’s basketball team has faced many new experiences throughout this season.

From being a top-10 team in the nation by the end of the regular season, the No. 2 team in the SEC going into the SEC Tournament and a team with a target on its back, this season has been everything Head Coach Kim Mulkey and her Tigers could have asked for and more.

While the team has worked tremendously hard over the past several months, the Tigers’ most difficult challenge is that they are now the hunted, instead of the hunters.

The Tigers do not find out their official NCAA Tournament seeding until Sunday, March 13.

However, in the most recent publishing of the women’s bracketology for the 2022 NCAA Tournament on ESPN, LSU is projected as a two-seed and is projected to host the first two rounds in Baton Rouge. Being a two-seed in the tournament would be the program’s highest tournament seeding since 2008. The bracketology projects that nine teams from the SEC, including LSU, will make the tournament.

CHYNNA MCCLINTON / The Reveille

LSU women’s basketball fifth-year senior guard Alexis Morris (45) celebreates during LSU’s 73-67 win against Georgia in the Pete Maravich Assembly Center.

Coming off an opening game loss to Kentucky in the SEC Tournament, questions arise on how the team will handle the pressures that comes with the

postseason. However, seeing Kentucky beat the three seed, Tennessee, and the No. 1 ranked team in the country, South Carolina, to win the SEC, is comforting. It shows Kentucky was a team that caught fire and that could beat anyone, including the best of the best.

LSU will have about two weeks to prepare for its first round matchup of the NCAA Tournament. This is an obstacle completely foreign to these Tigers, as they haven’t been on this stage since the 2017-18 season. Only three current players played on that team: Khayla Pointer, Faustine Aifuwa and Jailin Cherry. While the team does not have much experience in the NCAA Tournament, the experience it has comes from some important pieces of the team.

If there was a time where LSU should be thankful for Mulkey coming into the program, it would be now. While the team has plenty of senior leadership, it lacks veteran experience.

Mulkey’s post-season knowledge will give the team guidance on how to handle the pressure of being one of the top seeds in the tournament.

While Mulkey was at Baylor, she won three national champi-

CHYNNA MCCLINTON / The Reveille

LSU women’s basketball graduate student guard Khayla Pointer (3) cries as she takes in the moment Feb. 24, after LSU’s Senior Night 58-50 win against Alabama in the Pete Maravich Assembly Center. onships; she is just about as experienced on the biggest stage with the brightest lights as it gets in women’s college basketball.

She has also coached her teams to NCAA Tournament bids every year since 2003.

see FORECAST, page 12

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Thursday, March 10, 2022

page 12 MEN’S BASKETBALL

LSU receives official Notice of Allegations from NCAA IARP

BY REVEILLE SPORTS STAFF LSU received an official Notice of Allegations from the NCAA’s Independent Accountability Review Process on Tuesday, involving both LSU men’s basketball Head Coach Will Wade and violations within the football program, according to sources first reported to Sports Illustrated.

This stems from an investigation into infractions from LSU’s football and men’s basketball programs dating back to 2017. LSU officials said on Wednesday they’re legally unable to comment on the NOA, according to The Athletic.

However, if Wade is charged with a major violation he could be fired with cause, as per a clause in his contract implemented in 2019.

The initial probe into the LSU men’s basketball program began

FORECAST, from page 11 Of the 17 seasons she has coached since then, she has never lost in the first round, and has only lost in the second round twice. Seeing how Mulkey handles the NCAA Tournament, it is comforting that she consistently does well, especially now that she has a team of players that

in Wade’s first year at LSU in 2017, when an FBI investigation delved into corruption within college basketball recruiting tactics.

In 2017, Wade was heard on FBI wiretap talking to sports agent Christian Dawkins about arranging a “strong ass offer” potentially for former LSU guard Javonte Smart. Dawkins was later convicted of federal bribery and conspiracy charges and has recently reported to federal prison. Multiple assistant coaches across college basketball were also arrested during this investigation, but no head coach was ever charged.

Following the initial investigation in 2019, LSU suspended Wade promptly before the start of the NCAA tournament. Months later the school reinstated him after a new contract was agreed upon, involving a clause that allows LSU to

fire him with cause should he be proven to have committed major violations.

LSU will now have several weeks to respond to the NOA before the Complex Case Unit files its response followed by a hearing and ruling. This process will likely take several months, so there is no way of knowing at the moment what exactly will happen to Wade and the LSU men’s basketball program.

The IARP has not proved to be very effective since its formation in 2019, solving just one of six cases it has seen. Louisville, Memphis, Kansas and Arizona, all have cases with the IARP at the moment, but none have been solved or made much progress.

The 21-10 Tigers are slated to compete in Tampa, Florida, on Thursday for the first round of the

LSU basketball coach Will Wade speaks during his introductory press conference on March 22, 2017, in the Student Union.

have not seen the NCAA Tournament much.

One thing that LSU has to look forward to heading into the NCAA Tournament is that Alexis Morris is likely to be back and healthy. Morris went down with an injury against Alabama in the Tigers’ last regular season home game on senior night, which kept her out of the last regular

season game against Tennessee and the SEC Tournament loss to Kentucky.

The senior guard out of Beaumont, Texas has been a staple piece to the LSU offense all season long, as she averaged 15.8 points per game and was named to the All-SEC Second Team.

The challenges that the Tigers have gone through and the

ones that are yet to come might be foreign to the team, but the timeline up until the NCAA Tournament works in their favor. The team has more than enough time to prepare and fix the things that went wrong at the SEC Tournament. They will have everyone healthy and enough time to prepare for how to deal with the unfamiliar pressures of being a true

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postseason contender. But they look forward to having a great crowd turnout for their games in Baton Rouge as they’ve had all season. In the games the Tigers need the fans most, they will be there, and the team will be able to feed off them as they have all year, and start off a great NCAA Tournament run right at home in the PMAC.

Thursday, March 10, 2022 DREAM, from page 10 name they are mimicking. “[The coaches] take the starters on the other team and tell us that we are now going to practice and be this person. They send us clips through the app ‘HUDL’ for us to watch so we can see what we need to emulate,” LeGoullon explained.

This is something professional teams do as well. It’s important to see what is going to run against you in the middle of the games before you actually get put into that position.

MULKEY, from page 10 Big 12 Coach of the Year a whopping seven times.

Mulkey started her coaching career in 1985 as an assistant coach at her alma mater, Louisiana Tech. Mulkey also played point guard for the Bulldogs in all four years of college from 1980 to 1984. After spending 20 total years with the program, Mulkey took her talents to Waco, Texas, home of the Baylor Bears.

Mulkey sharpened her already impressive resumé by leading the Bears to post-season play in each of the 21 seasons she coached. In the 21 years Mulkey led the Bears, they finished No. 1 in their conference for 12 of those seasons, currently on an 11-year streak.

She led Baylor to three national championships in 2005, 2012 and 2019. Mulkey also won two national championships as a player for Louisiana Tech, the AIAW Title

PROSPECT, from page 10 vision and defensive IQ, it is easy to understand why he’s considered the top guard in this class.

3. Wisconsin’s sophomore guard Johnny Davis You may have been wondering if Ivey was so good, how did he not win Big Ten player of the year? Well, Johnny Davis existed, and unfortunately for Ivey, he rightfully deserved it. Ivey’s All-Big Ten First Team backcourt mate, Davis’s 20 PPG, 8.1 RBG and 2.2 APG led Wisconsin to a regular season Big Ten title. He flashed onto the NBA lottery scouts’ radar out of nowhere, averaging just 7 PPG in his freshman season.

Davis’ strength is with the ball in his hands like Ivey, but unlike Ivey, Davis loves to manipulate ball screens at the top of the key to create opportunities for himself and his team. He is an amazingly intelligent defensive analyzer, knowing exactly when to accept or deny the screen, pull up for a jumper if the big won’t hedge him, or fly by with his great speed when the on-ball defender goes over the screen and can’t catch up to him. His ability to score at his level is reminiscent of the way Devin Booker and Demar DeRozan are experts in using good screens to create shots for themselves.

He is only shooting 33.3% from three this year, a mark that

page 13 I watched and listened as Coach Mulkey and her assistants ran through the playbook, then on gameday I saw LSU put up against those same plays and they knew how to stop it.

This of course will put the Dream Team players in precarious situations, with the guys getting smacked around by the aggressive players on LSU’s team.

“It’s pretty fun except they can jump higher and hit us harder than we can do to them,” Weaver said with a laugh. “When you’re forced to block out a player like Faustine Aifuwa, there really isn’t

much that you can do. Try your hardest not to catch an elbow, that’s about it,” Weaver added while he and LeGoullon were still laughing.

“I got like an arm to the throat today, they’re a lot rougher than you think,” LeGoullon said. Then, Weaver showed us his bruises that he had accumulated throughout the practices.

That doesn’t take away from what LeGoullon and Weaver learned about these players and what made this team so special— that they are a fun group and have some special personalities.

“Coach Kaylin [Rice] is awesome. She’s like our leader. Khayla Pointer is hysterical. Alexis Morris scares me,” said Weaver before erupting in laughter.

No one could have seen this 25-4 season coming, but how long did it take the Dream Team and the feeling of this basketball program to notice something special was on the horizon?

“Honestly, day one. I think Coach Kim [Mulkey] is just an outstanding coach. It started out sloppy, but so does every season, you know? But early on you could see how Coach was molding them

in 1981 and the inaugural NCAA Title in 1982. She leads the charge for women empowerment in the sports world through her courageous attitude.

Another impressive jewel in the crown of the Queen of the Bayou is her induction into the Naismith Hall of Fame. Mulkey was inducted by Michael Jordan during the class of 2020 ceremony.

Despite her fiery personality, she is one of the most down-toearth coaches in college basketball. Freshman forward Amani Bartlett has been inspired by her coach due to her desire to impact her players personally.

“She motivates us every day, she’s helped me gain confidence, and makes me believe in getting better every day,” said Bartlett.

Mulkey has always been driven to growing the members of her team as a person rather than just as a player. She has always been

driven to keeping her word with her players and by making sure she is constantly looking out for them.

“As a coach don’t ever forget to take care of your players, and in college don’t forget to graduate those players. You can’t promise them championships, you can’t promise them that they will be drafted, but the one thing you can promise them when you sit in their home is that you can send them home with a degree in their hand,” said Mulkey during her 2020 Hall of Fame speech.

LSU women’s basketball has taken the SEC by storm this season, climbing up to a No. 2 conference ranking to finish the year.

The Tigers are heading to the NCAA Tournament, and LSU is holding a viewing party to witness the tournament seed selection. The viewing party is at 7 p.m. on Sunday, March 13, in the Pete Maravich Assembly Center.

LSU women’s basketball Head Coach Kim Mulkey speaks to the players on the court Jan. 30, during LSU’s 78-69 win against Kentucky in the Pete Maravich Assembly Center on North Stadium Drive in Baton Rouge, La.

is probably keeping him out of the top five, but the right shooting development should raise that statistic when he gets to the league. Hopefully, he’ll be at full health for the tournament, as he suffered a mild knee sprain near the end of Wisconsin’s regular season, but he is expected to be available for the Big Ten Tournament.

4. Iowa’s sophomore forward Keegan Murray Another member of the AllBig Ten First Team, with the last two spots awarded to EJ Liddell of Ohio State and Kofi Cockburn of Illinois, Murray was tremendous for Iowa this season. The Cedar Rapids, Iowa, native will most likely be playing on the lowestseeded team of the players listed, so his value for the Hawkeyes is even more irreplaceable.

Murray is the prototypical modern NBA power forward. He’s athletic and can run in transition but can also get the ball in a post position and power his way to a bucket. He’s a great rebounder, averaging 8.6 per game this season, and he has plus-physicality, especially for being a tad undersized at 6 foot, 8 inches. He even has the ability to drive the ball himself with a decent enough handle to feel comfortable putting the ball on the floor and powering his way to the basket.

Defensively, Murray’s presence and athleticism make him a nightmare for opposing teams

looking for rim pressure. Averaging 2.1 blocks per game, Murray is an eraser for teams thinking it will be easy pickings at the hoop. His primary weakness can be found in some of his pick and roll coverages, but not many players in college have developed that skill to a professional level, so that shouldn’t be held against him.

If you like powerful, ferocious rebounding and brawny finishing at the rim with energy, Murray is the prospect for you.

5. Arizona’s sophomore guard Bennedict Mathurin There’s nothing quite like physically-imposing guards, and Bennedict Mathurin fits that bill.

The only foreign-born player on this list, Mathurin hails from Montreal, Canada. He and his Wildcat teammates are in great position to be a one seed in the upcoming tournament, thanks to an impressive display across Pac12 play at 18-2.

Mathurin has a beautiful stroke from three, averaging 39.2% from behind the line in his two seasons at Arizona. Combined with professional coordination and bounce, he’s a danger to score at all three levels. The athletic mold with the ability to shoot is exactly what NBA scouts are looking for in their wings these days. Plus, with his size, Mathurin could maybe slot it into some lineups as a guard, giving him some versatility upside.

Mathurin’s biggest weakness tends to show on the defensive end of the floor. He can be a bit slow on his rotations, a simple detail sometimes, but one teams care about when scouting. He has all the tools to develop as a quality NBA defender, though, and if he can find some consistency on that end of the floor, I don’t see how a team can let him fall out of the lottery. Most analysts have him projected in the late lottery range, but there’s too much upside for me to let him fall anywhere past 10.

Bonus: LSU’s sophomore forward Tari Eason With LSU’s current success, we figured we ought to give you a quick overview of its highestranked NBA prospect thus far.

Eason, a 20-year-old sophomore, burst onto the scene as a legitimate NBA prospect after transferring to LSU from Cincinnati, which becomes even more impressive when you realize he comes off the bench. The 6-foot8, 218-pound forward earned SEC Sixth Man of the Year as well as All SEC First Team Honors this season.

As for NBA projections, mock drafts typically have him slotted right in the middle of the draft around 15th overall. However, Bleacher Report’s most recent mock draft put Eason at 11th overall to the Grizzlies, which would make him a lottery pick. That seems less likely, but it shows

to be the team that she thought they would be best at. You can see now it’s working. They’re winning games against great teams,” Weaver said.

“Mulkey’s just very passionate.

It makes you want to play for her.

She’ll get on to a player, but then immediately hype her up,” LeGoullon added from his experience with Mulkey.

It’s easy to see after even just sitting in on one practice and talking to the practice squad that LSU has something special going on in the PMAC that will be here for a while.

CHYNNA MCCLINTON / The Reveille

that he is considered a legitimate prospect by the NBA world.

Simply put, Eason already has a high floor and he has not reached his ceiling. He may not be the offensive creator that some of the higher lottery picks are right now, but that does not matter. NBA teams will take Eason because he is a quick, versatile defender who plays aggressively on both sides of the court.

He does a great job at collecting blocks and steals, and he already developed good defensive skills.

Will he ever be a good 3-point shooter?

At 37% shooting this season, I do not see anything like that happening in his college career or to begin his NBA career. However, he is aggressive with going to the rim and scores in most situations where he does not have to make crazy shots. He averages 16.9 points per game as it is, and that mostly comes from him driving to the rim, scoring in transition and being a really good finisher. He has a decent offensive toolset and he knows his limits.

Eason has the skills to become an excellent defender when he steps onto an NBA court, and he possesses the talent to level up his game to be more than that.

He’s a good prospect and should be a massive help to LSU’s postseason ambitions.

Adam Burrus contributed to this column.

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THE Daily Commuter Puzzle ACROSS 1 Be unsuccessful 5 Aristotle’s “K” 10 Slightly open 14 Long car 15 Common expression 16 Theater box 17 Award for Kelsey Grammer 18 Found a product 20 As busy __ bee 21 Lone 22 Gives to a borrower 23 Jeer at 25 Cleaning cloth 26 Artificial 28 Lovers of solitude 31 Deserves 32 Once and again 34 Cook’s directive 36 Skirt opening 37 Actress Rigg 38 Chimney duct 39 Drink served hot or cold 40 Military chaplain 41 Come in second 42 Coat part 44 Elaborate ruses 45 “__ whiz!”

46 Snow jacket 47 “__ John B” 50 Get up 51 Body art, for short 54 Discipline 57 Distance measure 58 Hubbies for Mamie & Tina, once 59 Taper off 60 Bereavement 61 Cozy home 62 Beautician’s workplace 63 Macrame loop DOWN 1 Bitty biter 2 Ambitions 3 Of no importance 4 Actress Myrna 5 Geisha’s gown

by Jacqueline E. Mathews

Created by Jacqueline E. Mathews

6 One who is of age 7 Heap 8 Cauldron 9 Parisian pal 10 Claim without proof 11 Enter, as a club 12 Way past one’s prime 13 Team from Ohio 19 LAX arrival 21 Soapy lather 24 Dad’s sister 25 Almond __; butter toffee 26 Pain in the neck 27 Soupy of old slapsticks 28 Hook, __ and sinker 29 Workaholic’s need 30 Gravy 32 Laundry soap 33 Simple card game 35 Souvenir shirts 37 Actor Annable 38 Back talk

3/10/22

Wednesday’s Puzzle Solved

©2022 Tribune Content Agency, LLC All Rights Reserved.

40 Baby chicken noises 41 Tiny skin opening 43 Boaster 44 Go quickly 46 __ beans 47 Twirl 48 Gospel writer 49 Till drawer stack

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50 Honest-togoodness 52 In addition 53 Student’s ordeal 55 “Rumor __ It…”; 2005 film 56 Advanced business deg.

57 Jan. honoree

OPINION

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QUICK

LSU Library should return to 24/5 operation schedule NEVER A DULL MOMENT NOAH MCKINNEY @itsthatnoah Some of my favorite memories on campus have involved a late-night visit to the LSU Library.

Before the pandemic, when the library still operated 24 hours a day for five days a week, my friends and I would meet at the CC’s Coffee line, grab Mochasippis for the much-needed caffeine and then retreat to the higher floors to quiz each other in preparation for an upcoming test. Other times, when I had a free evening, I would claim a desk by the Quad-facing windows and explore the stacks for titles that interested me.

Students reading this may share similar experiences, or they may use the library for entirely different purposes. The building’s versatility is one of its greatest strengths, as it can be a source of knowledge, a refuge of peace and a quiet place for gathering.

Unfortunately, this cherished availability was yet another casualty of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Rising cases across Louisiana left the administration scrambling to protect its students, and school officials implemented many restrictions that students recall all too well. The mask mandate, online classes and social distancing are only the best known of these—another was the severe

limit placed on library operation hours.

Almost two years have passed since 24/5 library operations.

Visitors were only allowed to stay until 8 p.m. during the 2020-2021 academic year, and now can stay only until midnight. These restricted hours have stripped many students of their greatest academic asset. Night owls and students working afternoon jobs have lost access to the library during their most productive hours.

“I think it would be very beneficial [to return to 24/5 operations] because some people’s best time to study is late at night, or they like to go when it’s kinda empty or quiet,” general business freshman Cameron Wickersham said.

“Not a lot of places are open 24 hours where they could study,” she added.

The loss of late nights at the library is a minor tragedy, but it doesn’t have to be a permanent one. Zoom-based academia is slowly becoming a sour memory, and Tigers are now free to wander the LSU Library without a mask.

Campus events and clubs are returning to the physical world. In short, campus is starting to recover. So, why not include the hours of operation in that recovery?

Biology sophomore Daison Faciane, who works in the afternoons, is one of many students that would benefit from a return to pre-pandemic library opera-

tions.

“I hate going in there at nine or 10 o’clock, when I’ve just been at work,” Faciane said. “And now that I finally have time to study, I only have an hour or two hours in a quiet environment.”

Faciane is not alone in feeling this way. The convenience of 24/5 operations would benefit many students by providing flexibility for different work schedules and study styles.

“It’s like a 24-hour Whataburger,” mass communication sophomore Ella Moll said. “Just the fact that you can go whenever you want is what makes it so convenient.”

Not only would this return to normal provide convenience to students, but it could also help reduce library traffic. Closing at night has helped the custodial staff clean and disinfect the library, but allowing students in during the night could alleviate the crowds of people squeezing inside during the day.

With the university’s most severe pandemic restrictions lifting, now is the perfect time for the LSU Library to reopen through the night. The 24/5 operations provide valuable flexibity to students—and the chance to make those special, late-night library memories.

TAKES

WHAT SHOULD BE LSU’S INFRASTRUCTURE PRIORITY? LSU’s top infrastructure priority should be addressing its near $1 billion deferred maintenance list. As much as I would love a new library, our campus isn’t getting any younger. ... As much as the university needs a new coat of paint, we need to preserve what’s beneath it.

Drake Brignac @drakebrignac

It’s easy to get excited envisioning more parking spaces and new buildings, but I think the university should prioritize the maintenance of existing infrastructure.

Noah McKinney @itsthatnoah

A new library needs to be the central priority of every decision-maker at the university. A research library marks the center of academic knowledge on a college campus and is the outward expression of the creative works produced by the university.

Noah McKinney is a 20-year-old English and history junior from Houston, TX.

Charlie Stephens @CharlieStephns

Parking should be the university’s first infrastructure priority. Several places on campus should be repaved; my tires and I would rejoice at the sight. There is also a need for an increase in the quantity of spaces.

Frank Kidd @FK446852315

I may sound like a broken record, but the campus spot most in need of renovation is the LSU Library. It is one of the most popular spots on campus and used by nearly every LSU student. It is extremely outdated and not up to par with other high-tech buildings on campus.

Lura Stabiler @lstabiler3 THE REVEILLE ARCHIVES

Archer Hill works on a computer on Sept. 17 in the LSU Library on LSU’s campus.

Editorial Policies and Procedures EDITORIAL BOARD Lara Nicholson Enjanae’ Taylor Josh Archote

Editor in Chief Managing Editor News Editor

Bella Dardano

Deputy News Editor

Claire Sullivan

Opinion Editor

The Reveille (USPS 145-800) is written, edited and produced solely by students of Louisiana State University.

The Reveille is an independent entity of the Office of Student Media within the Manship School of Mass Communication. Signed opinions are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the views of the editor, The Reveille or the university. Letters submitted for publication should be sent via e-mail to editor@lsu.edu or delivered to B-39 Hodges Hall. They must be 400 words or less. Letters must provide a contact phone number for verification purposes, which will not be printed. The Reveille reserves the right to edit letters and guest columns for space consideration while preserving the original intent. The Reveille also reserves the right to reject any letter without notification of the author. Writers must include their full names and phone numbers. The Reveille’s editor in chief, hired every semester by the LSU Student Media Board, has final authority on all editorial decisions.

Quote of the Week “How inappropriate to call this planet Earth when it is quite clearly Ocean.”

Arthur C. Clarke English writer 1917 — 2008

Thursday, March 10, 2022

page 16

LSU should welcome more controversial speakers on campus SERIOUSLY KIDDING FRANK KIDD @FK446852315 Evangelical preacher Cindy Smock, better known as “Sister Cindy,” visited Free Speech Plaza late February to criticize women for their perceived promiscuity and slut-shame them for their outfits.

The good sister is often described as crazy just because she comes off as a tad unhinged during her puritanical diatribes.

Her detractors claim that she shouldn’t be allowed to perform on campus, but more refined thinkers understand the value of her speeches.

Students need to engage with ideas that they don’t agree with—that’s the point of Free Speech Plaza. After all, it’s not called “Limited Speech Plaza” or “Speech I Agree With Plaza.”

Students’ negative responses to Smock’s preachings make clear the need for more eccentric speakers on campus.

We deserve to hear the wise words of people like conspiracy theorist Alex Jones. Most students are woefully and entirely ignorant to Jones’ effort to warn the populous about the American government’s plot to turn frogs gay.

Jones’ idea that there are pedophilic vampires that control the world may be dismissed by some as insane, but I have yet to speak to anyone with definitive proof against this theory. There is equal evidence on either side of the discussion, so failing to educate students on both perspectives is doing them a disservice.

The university should also invite Brooklyn Nets point guard

MATTHEW PERSCHALL / The Reveille

Sister Cindy starts her speech on Feb. 21 in Free Speech Plaza on LSU’s Campus in Baton Rouge, La. Kyrie Irving to share his highly scrutinized beliefs. Irving has faced backlash for publicly questioning if the Earth is round.

More recently, he has been criticized for anti-vaccine statements and actions, including liking an Instagram post that suggested

that the COVID-19 vaccine was being used in a satanic plot to microchip Black people and link them to a supercomputer.

Students need the opportunity to challenge their long-held beliefs. How does one truly hold the opinion that the Earth is round without having heard Irving tell them that no real pictures of the moon exist? The American education system seems invested in keeping young minds away from the mere thought that humans are being secretly microchipped, which only creates more speculation.

Are they trying to keep secrets at the behest of powerful players?

Kanye West has been in the news recently for his obsessive attacks on his ex-wife Kim Kardashian and her new boyfriend Pete Davidson. The university should invite West to speak— not about his current bid for the “worst management of a custody battle ever” award, but about some of his controversial statements.

A debate between West and an LSU history professor on the issue of whether slavery was a choice would be perfect for students who are on the fence about the issue. A debate between West and an LSU theology professor on the subject of whether Kanye is a god would be illuminating.

Dismissing people who stray from the beaten path as crazy closes the door on the opportunity to challenge long-held beliefs. Should Copernicus have ignored his discovery that the solar system is heliocentric just because it challenged old ideas?

In the spirit of Copernicus, the university should invite more outspoken personalities to introduce fresh ideas to an otherwise stale campus.

Frank Kidd is a 21-year-old mass communication junior from Springfield.

Devaluation of expertise threatens university’s vision CHARLIE’S ANGLES CHARLIE STEPHENS

@CharlieStephns Shortly after the Russian invasion of Ukraine, a university spokesperson emailed history department chair Christine Kooi, asking for a list of experts on the conflict. Her response was that the university had none.

Why is that?

Part of it has to do with the intense cuts that the university has faced since the Great Recession, but a bigger part of it is the devaluation of expertise from both the state and the public as a whole.

Former university President F. King Alexander told the legislature in 2016 that “LSU has lost about 500 faculty positions in the past decade…while peer institutions are expanding.” As the state bled university funds, the public increasingly questioned the need for the academic experts the university provides. Instead, people

turned to quasi-educational publications, such as Wikipedia articles and YouTube videos.

“Some people think I can find the explanation for the Russian invasion of Ukraine on a YouTube video,” Kooi said.

It’s a phenomenon known as the devaluation of expertise: People turn to Google search results instead of established experts.

The massive and sustained underinvestment in the flagship is just another pillar in the slow death of expertise. Republican legislators refuse to invest in the future of Louisiana, viewing education as an unnecessary expense.

This phenomenon can also be seen in the lack of prioritization of a new library facility for the flagship. The university’s current capital campaign—Fierce for the Future—does not even mention a renovated or updated library facility despite consistent community pressure on the university.

This is not just a Baton Rouge problem, but a national issue that

was further exacerbated by former President Donald Trump.

As writer Tom Nichols argued in The Atlantic, “They have, by attacking sources of authoritative knowledge beyond the president himself, inoculated a huge swath of the American public against ever being informed about anything, providing millions of Americans with a resistance to learning that will long outlive his administration.”

Trump is gone, but this animosity to expertise persists in virtually every facet of public life.

It is not going away, and we are going to have to find a way to combat it as a society. The prevalent distrust and dismissal of expertise in our state and country is cancerous and threatens the university’s “scholarship first” mission.

As Kooi said, “The internet is not going to save us.”

Charlie Stephens is a 21-year-old political communication junior from Baton Rouge.

JULIAN COOPER / The Reveille

Memorial Tower peaks above the building on Feb. 2 at LSU’s campus on Tower Drive in Baton Rouge, La.