| Twice-weekly availabiity reports are a new and welcomed feature of SEC football in 2024. Schools, at least for conference games like Saturday's top-of-the-league showdown between LSU and Texas A&M, are required to indicate players' status for that weekend. The first report comes out on Wednesday, the second shortly before the game. LSU's report showed a positive trend, with four starters mentioned as being available despite some injuries. Reed Darcey parses out the situation here, and we tell you which Texas A&M starting offensive lineman is listed out for the 6:30 p.m. game on ABC. The lack of availability of defensive tackle Jacobian Guillory, he was lost to an Achilles tendon tear week two against Nicholls State, looked like an unsolvable problem for the Tigers. But since his injury, a rather rag tag group of defensive tackles has thrived as LSU's defense makes marked improvement over what it was last year. Reed is back (the young man works hard) with five top SEC topics for this final Saturday in October. Can we really be here already? And speaking of five, he's got five things to watch for the LSU women's basketball team this season, as the Tigers host Xavier of New Orleans at 7 p.m. in the PMAC for their first of two exhibition games. Here's the text of that story: ------------------------- The retooled LSU women’s basketball team hits the floor for the first time at 7 p.m. Thursday, the scheduled tipoff time of its exhibition game against Xavier of New Orleans in the Pete Maravich Assembly Center. In the offseason, LSU lost Angel Reese, Hailey Van Lith and two freshmen it signed to its 2023 recruiting class. But it brought back Aneesah Morrow, Flau’jae Johnson and Mikaylah Williams, three players who will form what some consider to be the most talented trio in the country. But talent can only get a team so far. LSU had lots of it last year, and its season ended short of the Final Four. What will it take this year for the No. 7 Tigers to return to the NCAA Tournament’s largest stage? Use these five questions as a guide before the 2024-25 season officially tips off. 1. Who plays point guard? Van Lith transferred to TCU, leaving LSU with a hole at point guard. Will returning veteran Last-Tear Poa step into that role? Or will coach Kim Mulkey hand the reins to a transfer? Shayeann Day-Wilson, a senior from Miami, has started over twice as many games as the rest of the ballhandlers on the roster combined, but she doesn’t have experience running Mulkey’s system. At Southeastern Conference media day on Oct. 16, Mulkey said she expects her “to be a point guard only” this season. “I think once she becomes comfortable in understanding everything that's required of her as a point guard,” Mulkey said, “she will shine. She can shoot the 3-ball. She's quick as lightning.” LSU also has Arizona transfer Kailyn Gilbert, an off-guard who can create her own shot, and Mississippi State transfer Mjracle Sheppard, a tall, long sophomore who can defend the point of attack. And don’t forget about Jada Richard, a freshman from Lafayette Christian who impressed Mulkey in preseason workouts. They’re all jockeying for a starting role next to the four core returners: Johnson, Williams, Morrow and Sa’Myah Smith. 2. How well will LSU rebound? Over the last two seasons, Reese grabbed 34% of LSU’s offensive rebounds, 27% of its defensive rebounds and 30% of its total rebounds. The 996 boards she corralled was the second-most in the country over that span of games. How will the Tigers replace that production? They’re fortunate to still have Morrow, one of the best rebounders in the country. The senior is on pace to finish her career with the third-most rebounds in NCAA history. But Morrow can’t carry the rebounding load alone. Replacing the work Reese did on the glass will take a group effort led by Smith, sophomore Aalyah Del Rosario and Arkansas transfer Jersey Wolfenbarger. 3. Will LSU play with pace again? Mulkey, Morrow and Johnson sure seem to think so. Last season, LSU played at one of the 10 fastest paces in the country, according to Her Hoop Stats data. Since 2009, no Mulkey-coached team averaged more possessions per 40 minutes than last year’s Tigers. The foundation of that transition-based offense is back. Morrow, Johnson and Williams are all quick, athletic and versatile, three traits that allow each of them to excel on fast-break chances. “We're going to push the ball,” Mulkey said. “Nobody wants to come watch you walk the ball up the floor.” 4. Bench contributors Pencil in reserve roles for Poa and Del Rosario, the 6-foot-6 center who’s now fully recovered from an offseason ankle procedure. That leaves enough minutes for only one or two more players, since Mulkey likes to tighten her rotation once SEC play begins. Wolfenbarger can bring size and versatility to the front court. Gilbert can provide half-court scoring. Sheppard can defend opposing point guards and wings. Richard may be able to space the floor right away, but will Mulkey trust her defensive skills this early in her career? LSU will have about two months to figure it all out before the schedule toughens up. 5. How tough is LSU’s schedule? The SEC portion of the schedule is more difficult than it was last season, but the nonconference segment is not. Seven teams ranked in the preseason AP Poll are on the Tigers’ schedule. Of those seven, just one — No. 9 NC State — is on the nonconference slate. LSU will play Washington (Nov. 25) and Stanford (Dec. 5), but neither team was picked to finish among the five best teams in its conference. Washington missed the NCAA Tournament last season, and Stanford is rebuilding. In the offseason, the Cardinal lost its top two players and its longtime coach, Hall of Famer Tara VanDerveer. ------------------------- Finally, if you haven't yet, check out the video of our Monday podcast with Wilson Alexander, Zach Ewing and the aforementioned Mr. Darcey. Koki Riley and I will be with Zach for Thursday's podcast, so we hope you will check that one out as well. That's all for today, everyone. Thanks for reading, subscribing and for setting such a good example about flossing. Next time will be on Texas time with our game day copy on the Texas A&M game. Until then, Scott Rabalais | 
