The LSU Tigers are set to kick off their NCAA tournament on March 20 in what is expected to be one of the most lopsided matchups in the first round against the No. 15 Jacksonville Dolphins.

Still, anything can happen in the first-round matchup between the teams at the Pete Maravich Assembly Center since it's March Madness.

So, let's take a look at what can be expected going into the game.

David vs Goliath

The Tigers enter the tournament as a fifth overall seed with a dominant 27-5 record backing it up. Under the LSU icon and coach Kim Mulkey, LSU possesses one of the strongest tournament resumes in the country.

Meanwhile, No. 15 Jacksonville enters only its second NCAA tournament after ten years, having qualified after winning the ASUN title earlier. But the Dolphins' overall record of 24-8 suggests that they do not intend to be an immediate pushover.

LSU's Experience on the Big Stage

The Tigers are not exactly newcomers to this competition, having accumulated a 56-29 all-time record with a national championship with the Angel Reese-led side back in 2023. They have also made six Final Fours, 11 Elite Eights, and 17 Sweet Sixteens.

Their experience in coming out of high-pressure situations, if any, will be much on display throughout the course of the game.

Dominance Off the Bench

Heavy rotations are to be expected off the bench, as the Tigers possess the deepest roster out of all Division I teams in the country. Mulkey's squad averaged 39 bench points, the highest out of any team, as she does not even believe in using the word "bench".

“I can only start five, so I have to make that decision. And I don’t really like using the word bench because I remember when I played, I came off the bench. And I never liked that. I’m as good as those out there on the floor. She just has to pick five at a time. And that’s what my approach is.” Mulkey said.

Strength of Schedule

While Jacksonville’s 24–8 record looks competitive on paper, they earned most of their wins in the significantly less competitive ASUN Conference, whereas LSU secured victories against higher-ranked teams in the Southern Conference throughout the season.

The X-Factor

While Jacksonville enters this game as massive underdogs, their resiliency and clutch play this month have proved that should they limit turnovers, hit early perimeter shots, and slow the pace down, they can at least make the Tigers uncomfortable in their home.

Prediction

Everything points toward LSU controlling this game from the opening tip. The talent gap, home environment, and off-the-bench firepower can turn out to be simply too much for Jacksonville to overcome.

Final Verdict: LSU to advance comfortably, although March Madness always keeps one eye on the possibility of chaos.

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Written by

Joy Bassy

Edited by

Souvik Roy