Bulldogs ready for fresh start
There will be those who still ask Morgan William about the shot that gave the Mississippi State Bulldogs a overtime 66-64 win over Connecticut last season.
The first NCAA Final Four in MSU women's basketball history and appearance in the national championship game can not be taken away.
As exciting as those moments were for the Bulldogs, a new season begins soon and they will hit the practice floor for the first time today to start preparation.
MSU head coach Vic Schaefer knows his team will have a new identity after the departure of Ketara Chapel, Dominique Dillingham, Chinwe Okorie and Breanna Richardson.
“Last year is done,” Schaefer said. “You are still going to walk around and people are going to pat you on the back, but that's over and those four seniors aren't here anymore. They are not going to be able to do what they did.”
This year's senior class of Roshunda Johnson, Blair Schaefer, Victoria VIvians and William will do their best to match or even better the feat of the 2017-18 season.
For former Starkville High School player Blair Schaefer, another great run for the Bulldogs won't just happen by showing up at practice and not give an effort.
“We have to understand how hard we worked to get there,” she said. “I think we need to work on our chemistry off the court and it will reflect on the court. Everyone has weaknesses and we're here to build each other up and work on those weaknesses now, so when we get to the season, it will be a strong team and strong performance. Every year it's a different chemistry and feel. We have a new presence. It's been different every year.”
MSU will practice once a day through Thursday and coach Schaefer is anxious to see how the team holds up, especially the newcomers.
There are four freshmen and one junior college transfer on this year's roster and Schaefer said they have already gone through “a shock process” with offseason conditioning.
“The biggest piece for them is the speed of the game,” coach Schaefer said of the newcomers. “They are skilled. There is one thing to watch it, but when you get out here and run with 10 other kids that understand the speed of the game, that's the piece those kids have really struggled with.”
The Bulldogs host Arkansas-Fort Smith in a 6 p.m. exhibition game on Nov. 3, then open the regular season on Nov. 10 at Humphrey Coliseum against Virginia at 8 p.m.