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Kim Mulkey legacy: Paul Finebaum discusses Mulkey’s place among all-time greats following title for LSU
By Paul Harvey
Published:
Kim Mulkey has done it again, delivering a national title to LSU in just her second season leading the Tigers. It goes down as Mulkey’s 4th title as a head coach following 3 national championships during her long tenure leading Baylor.
With her 4th title in hand — and a title at another program — Paul Finebaum was asked Monday morning about Mulkey’s status alongside the all-time greats of Pat Summitt and Geno Auriemma. Those two coaches hold the top spots for most national championships in women’s college basketball with Auriemma winning 11 at UConn and Summitt producing 8 during her legendary Tennessee tenure.
While Finebaum is willing to admit Mulkey is making a case to be on the Mt. Rushmore of women’s college basketball, he still views Summitt and Auriemma as standalone figures for the sport:
“Not yet,” said Finebaum in regard to Mulkey being on the same level as the two all-time greats. “I think Geno and Pat are the two standalone figures in the history of women’s college basketball, but I do think if you’re doing a Mt. Rushmore and you have two spots open, you have to give Kim Mulkey one of them right now, and I think because she did it in an era of Dawn Staley. And let’s not forget, this was going to be one of the long runs in college basketball history (for South Carolina), but I think Geno can tell you how difficult that is.”
Finebaum went on to explain Mulkey deserves a spot on the Mt. Rushmore of women’s coaches due to winning titles at two programs:
“I think (Mulkey) is deserving of that because to do it at one place is impossibly difficult,” Finebaum explained. “But, to go some place in this short of period of time, I think the real story is how she’s been able to cobble together a team real quickly from various places and be patient… I think she is deserving of at least consideration of the next ledge right next to or right behind Geno and Pat.”
Here’s the full clip of Finebaum’s appearance on McElroy and Cubelic In the Morning:
The @SECNetwork‘s Paul @Finebaum joined the guys on @MacandCube to discuss if @LSUwbkb coach Kim Mulkey is now on the same level as coaching legends Pat Summit & Geno Auriemma.
Whole interview: https://t.co/CPmNQdttHB pic.twitter.com/WyFowndsTH
— WJOX 94.5 FM (@WJOX945) April 3, 2023
Paul Harvey lives in Atlanta and covers SEC football.
