SEATTLE – The Louisiana State women’s basketball team may be on the verge of getting to its first Final Four, but the Tigers’ biggest fan isn’t expected to make the 80-mile drive to see them in person.
Sue Gunter, who still holds the title of head coach even though she hasn’t worked a game since January due to a lung condition, is unlikely to go from her Baton Rouge home to New Orleans if LSU makes it to the national semifinals, according to acting head coach Pokey Chatman. The Tigers (26-7) would move on to the Final Four if they beat Georgia tonight at Bank of America Arena.
“Judging from coach Gunter’s ego, and how uncomfortable she is with the spotlight, I would say no,” Chatman said when asked if she expected Gunter to attend the Final Four. “I would have to talk her into it.”
An acute lung condition and bronchitis has kept Gunter, 62, to stop coaching games since January 5. She officially handed over the active coaching duties to Chatman on Feb. 19.
Gunter, who has been the Tigers’ head coach since 1982, stayed in Baton Rouge while LSU competed in the Sweet 16 over the weekend.
“Coach Gunter is still with us,” senior guard Temeka Johnson said after the Tigers’ win in the region semifinal Saturday night. “She’s not here, but she’s with us wherever we go.”
Augustus OK: Tigers fans may have raised an eyebrow when star Seimone Augustus skipped a post-game press conference Saturday night to receive medical attention from a trainer.
But Augustus is fine and will play tonight. She had some neck stiffness after scoring a career-high 29 points in LSU’s 71-55 upset of Texas on Saturday, but felt no pain Sunday.
Conference of power: The fact that LSU and Georgia, two Southeastern Conference teams, are battling for a right to go to the Final Four should come as no surprise.
The SEC has had at least one participant in 20 of the past 22 Final Fours. Either LSU or Georgia will make that 21 of 23 – and Tennessee could also make it to New Orleans.
“There’s just a tremendous competitiveness between the last-place team and the first place team,” Georgia coach Andy Landers said of the SEC. “That’s not every now and then, it’s every time you take the court. There’s tremendous athleticism in our league, tremendous skill, and there’s some excellent coaching.”
The conference rivals faced off once this season, with Georgia recording an 80-74 win at home on Jan. 25.
Tip-ins: Georgia has been to five Final Fours but has never won a national title. LSU is seeking its first Final Four appearance. … Tickets to tonight’s game are still available. They can be purchased at the game, or by calling the box office at 206-543-2200.
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