MSU fans set to pack home arena for big league battle
Tonight the Humphrey Coliseum will see Mississippi State fans partying like the early 2000’s.
Those were the days for Bulldog fans everywhere when they packed the Hump to see some of the best men’s hoops teams in school history. It was not uncommon for many games during those years to be hard sellouts where students wrapped around the outside concourse waiting to get in hours before tipoff.
This time, it’s the women who are selling the tickets, however.
Tonight’s top 10 matchup with No. 9 South Carolina (18-4, 7-2 Southeastern Conference) has been sold out for a couple of weeks and a crowd of over 10,000 is expected. The student allotment was claimed within 10 minutes last Monday and even some of the most popular Bulldog athletes across the landscape at MSU will be on the outside looking in.
It’s a milestone that has not been reached in State women’s hoops history. Then again, coach Vic Schaefer is accustomed to that sort of thing.
“It should be a great atmosphere for both teams in a meaningful game,” Schaefer said. “It should be a really special night. I think it’s a pretty anticipated matchup. I think it shows how educated our fan base is and they have a tremendous amount of respect for
Coach Schaefer said this game has been on the minds of the national media and ESPN since the summer, so that lets him know that women’s basketball at MSU and South Carolina has arrived..
“For the women’s game in the Southeastern Conference to have two of your teams playing for the national championship, that meant so much,” coach Schaefer said. “I know for Mississippi State fans, this date has been on their calendar for a long time. If there is a women’s basketball game on somebody’s calendar for a long time, then you are doing something right.” College Basketball SEC Women’s Standings
Team…..Conf.…..Overall
Miss. State…..(9-0)…..(23-0)
Georgia…..(8-2)…..(20-3) S. Carolina…..(7-2)…..(18-4) Tennessee…..(7-3)…..(19-4) Texas A&M…..(7-3)…..(18-6) LSU…..(7-3)…..(15-6) Missouri…..(5-4)…..(17-5) Alabama…..(4-6)…..(14-9) Kentucky…..(4-6)…..(12-12) Arkansas…..(3-7)…..(12-11) Florida…..(2-7)…..(10-12) Auburn…..(2-8)…..(11-11) Vanderbilt…..(2-8)…..(6-18) Ole Miss…..(1-9)…..(11-12)
Thursday’s Games Miss. State 57, Missouri 53
Tennessee 82, Texas A&M 67 Kentucky 65, Auburn 48 Vanderbilt 75, Ole Miss 72 UConn 83, S. Carolina 58 LSU 71, Georgia 60
Sunday’s Games
LSU 72, Kentucky 70 Arkansas 74, Alabama 66 Georgia 69, Ole Miss 45 Tennessee 74, Vanderbilt 64 Texas A&M 78, Auburn 59
Today’s Games S. Carolina at Miss. State, 6 p.m.
Florida at Missouri, 6 p.m.
Women’s AP Top 25 Fared Sunday
1. UConn (22-0) beat Cincinnati 10665. Next: at UCF, Wednesday.
2. Mississippi State (23-0) did not play. Next: vs. No. 7 South Carolina, Monday.
3. Baylor (21-1) did not play. Next: vs. Oklahoma, Monday.
4. Louisville (24-1) beat Syracuse 8477. Next: vs. Clemson, Wednesday.
5. Notre Dame (22-2) beat No. 19 Duke 72-54. Next: vs. Georgia Tech, Sunday.
6. Oregon (21-4) lost to No. 24 Stanford 78-65. Next: at Washington, Friday.
7. South Carolina (18-4) did not play. Next: at No. 2 Mississippi State, Monday.
8. Texas (18-4) did not play. Next: at No. 21 West Virginia, Monday.
9. UCLA (18-4) did not play. Next: at Southern Cal, Monday.
10. Florida State (19-4) beat Pittsburgh 66-59. Next: vs. Virginia, Thursday.
11. Maryland (20-3) beat Nebraska 6457. Next: at Michigan State, Thursday.
12. Tennessee (19-4) beat Vanderbilt 74-64. Next: at Arkansas, Thursday.
13. Michigan (19-6) lost to Rutgers 6356. Next: vs. Northwestern, Thursday.
14. Texas A&M (18-6) beat Auburn 7859. Next: vs. Mississippi, Thursday.
15. Missouri (17-5) did not play. Next: vs. Florida, Monday.
16. Oregon State (17-6) beat No. 25 California 68-48. Next: at Washington State, Friday.
17. Georgia (20-3) beat Ole Miss 6945. Next: vs. Vanderbilt, Thursday.
18. Ohio State (19-5) did not play. Next: vs. Rutgers, Thursday.
19. Duke (18-6) lost to No. 5 Notre Dame 72-54. Next: vs. Wake Forest, Wednesday.
20. Green Bay (21-2) did not play. Next: at Milwaukee, Saturday.
21. West Virginia (17-6) did not play. Next: vs. No. 8 Texas, Monday.
22. TCU (16-6) did not play. Next: at No. 3 Baylor, Saturday.
23. Oklahoma State (16-6) did not play. Next: at TCU, Wednesday.
24. Stanford (16-8) beat No. 6 Oregon 78-65. Next: vs. Utah, Friday.
25. California (15-8) lost to No. 16 Oregon State 68-48. Next: vs. Colorado, Friday.
SEC Men’s Standings
Team…..Conf.…..Overall Auburn…..(9-1)…..(21-2) Tennessee…..(7-3)…..(17-5) Kentucky…..(6-4)…..(17-6) Alabama…..(6-4)…..(15-8) Florida…..(6-4)…..(15-8)
Miss. State…..(5-5)…..(17-6)
Missouri…..(5-5)…..(15-8) Arkansas…..(4-6)…..(15-8) Texas A&M…..(4-6)…..(15-8) Georgia…..(4-6)…..(13-9) LSU…..(4-6)…..(13-9) S. Carolina…..(4-6)…..(13-10) Ole Miss…..(4-6)…..(11-12) Vanderbilt…..(2-8)…..(8-15)
Wednesday’s Games Miss. State 81, S. Carolina 76