The LSU star’s decision-making came under scrutiny by analysts and fans

Angel Reese had a rough first half against Middle Tennessee in the second round of the NCAA TournamentLAPRESSE

During Sunday’sNCAA Tournament matchup, LSU’sAngel Reese found herself under intense scrutiny for her performance against Middle Tennessee State.

Andraya Carter comes down hard on Angel Reese

Despite LSU being favored to win by double digits, the team faced a halftime deficit of 36-32 against the Blue Raiders, causing fans and analysts to question the team’s strategies.

During halftime analysis on ESPN, Andraya Carter highlighted the missed opportunities and questionable decisions made by the LSU offense, particularly singling out Angel Reese’s performance.

Reese’s shot selection and decision-making were called into question, with Carter pointing out instances where Reese failed to capitalize on offensive opportunities, ultimately playing into Middle Tennessee’s hands.

“Angel Reese – 3-of-10 from the field. I know they’re being physical with her, but she’s not making good decisions. She comes down the court, full court, misses the layup. Then, what happens on the next possession? She comes down, and instead of kicking it out, she takes a layup with two defenders around her.”

Rebecca Lobo echoed Carter’s sentiments, emphasizing Middle Tennessee’s poise and decision-making throughout the game.

Despite LSU’s defensive efforts, Middle Tennessee’s ability to control the pace of the game and capitalize on transition opportunities proved to be a challenge for the Tigers.

Angel Reese accused of “cherry-picking”

Fans took to social media to echo the frustrations with the LSU star, with many criticizing Reese’s behavior during the game.

“I love that the commentators just called out Angel Reese for cherry picking! that’s amazing,” a fan said on X.

“I guess Angel Reese don’t believe in defense. She stay cherry picking,” another added.

“Angel Reese so nasty for cherry picking in a TOURNAMENT GAME and then GETTING BLOCKED lmaoooo,” another noted.

However, the second half saw a remarkable turnaround for LSU.

Led by standout performances from Flau’jae Johnson, a focused Angel Reese, and Aneesah Morrow, the Tigers outscored Middle Tennessee 51-15, securing a spot in the Sweet Sixteen of the tournament.

The final score of the game was 56-83 with Reese contributing 20 points and 11 rebounds.

As they prepare to face their next opponent in the Sweet Sixteen (winner between UCLA and Creighton), LSU will undoubtedly look to address the issues highlighted during their matchup against Middle Tennessee and build upon their second-half resurgence.

While Angel Reese faced criticism for her performance in the first half, her contributions in the second half were instrumental in securing LSU’s victory and keeping their hopes for a tournament repeat alive.