SEC play didn’t start well for Flau’jae Johnson and LSU. First, the Tigers lost a close game to Kentucky, and then they fell to Vanderbilt. Losing two consecutive games to lower-ranked teams was not a good look and put LSU’s potential against good teams into question. For Johnson, the second loss was especially tough. She finished the game with zero points on 0-4 shooting. Since then, the Tigers and Johnson have improved notably—particularly when it comes to rebounding.
LSU’s lack of rebounding was a big issue against Kentucky. The Wildcats grabbed 45 rebounds, including 17 offensive boards, while LSU only got 29 rebounds.
After the game, Kim Mulkey called out Johnson’s lack of rebounding specifically.
“One kid for them outrebounded all four of our post players,” Mulkey said. “So, that tells me that we’re going to have to get more rebounding from our perimeter. Flau’jae had one rebound in almost 38 minutes of play.”
Since that game and Mulkey’s criticism, Johnson has steadily improved as a presence on the boards.
Flau’jae Johnson is focused on rebounding
Ever since the loss to Kentucky, rebounding has been a big emphasis for LSU. Associate Head Coach Bob Starkey even used Angel Reese’s mebounds merch to remind players how important rebounding is. Reese led LSU to a national championship in 2023 while averaging 15.4 rebounds per game.
That emphasis on rebounding has been noticeable in Flau’jae Johnson’s recent performances. Her rebounding numbers have steadily improved since the loss to Kentucky. After grabbing only one rebound against the Wildcats, she got three against Vanderbilt. Then, she got four boards in a much-needed win over the Georgia Lady Bulldogs.
Continuing on the same trajectory, she recorded six rebounds in a statement win against Texas. Last but not least, Johnson secured her second double-double of the season with 23 points and 10 rebounds in a 91-72 victory over the Oklahoma Sooners. It was the second time this season and the fourteenth in her LSU career that Johnson recorded at least ten rebounds.
Getting that many rebounds against Oklahoma wasn’t an easy feat. The Sooners rank first in the country in rebounds per game with 51.1. Raegan Beers and Sahara Williams are a big reason for that success on the boards. They average 11.2 and 8 rebounds per game, respectively. Oklahoma also has a lot of size and rebounding prowess on the perimeter, though. Payton Verhulst is 6’1” and averages 6.1 rebounds per game. Although smaller than Verhulst, Zya Vann and Aaliyah Chavez also average 4.7 and 4 rebounds per game, respectively.
If LSU wants to finish the season strong, Johnson has to remain an impactful contributor all across the board.