Mississippi State looks to respond after loss
Coach Vic Schaefer is still processing exactly what went wrong for Mississippi State on Thursday when the fifth-ranked Bulldogs dropped their first Southeastern Conference game in two years against Missouri.
It was a night full of miscues for MSU (22-2, 10-1) that has margin for error shrinking by the day for a conference title to happen. One thing that Schaefer saw quickly that was an issue was a lack of focus and a lack of toughness.
It's something that he mentioned is paramount in sports and in every day life. He and his coaches continue to teach it on a daily basis. They're not giving up any time soon, either.
“It's never too late to do the right thing," Schaefer said. "Our number one job is to get these young ladies ready for the real world. There are ways to develop and build toughness whether it's commanding them to have respect in study hall or letting people know that you appreciate them.
“In practice, it's the way that we do things. When that becomes a way of life for all of us, that's when you have a chance to be real successful. These are great kids and just like any young person, it's our job to provide guidance.”
With the loss to Missouri stunning Bulldog fans everywhere and ending a 32-game home winning streak, MSU is right back to the drawing board. There are still challenges ahead as well for the Bulldogs, who control their own destiny in the SEC but must win out or have help from other conference opponents to win a second-straight crown.
Schaefer is most worried about the next game on the schedule as he is every week. That game is back at a familiar place in No. 18 Texas A&M (19-5, 8-3 SEC) where he won his one and only national championship as an assistant coach. The ring that he won with that team drives him on a daily basis to capture a title as a head coach and he's reminded how close he's come the last two years with losses in the national title game.
While it's a return “home” for Schaefer, no one is more familiar with the current team and the most recent developments of Aggies basketball than MSU senior forward Anriel Howard.
Howard is among the greatest rebounders in Texas A&M school history and just graduated from there during the summer before transferring to Starkville. This week, she's wearing a different maroon and white jersey.
“I'm very appreciative for what A&M did for me the three years that I was there,” Howard said. “I met a lot of great people and relationships that I still have. I'm excited to go back there and play, but once we're on the court there will be no mercy shown.”
A&M'S loss was most certainly MSU'S gain. Howard replaced an All-american in Victoria Vivians, who was among the greatest players in school history. Vivians left as one of only three players in school history to score 2,000 points. She moved to the power forward position as a senior and averaged 19.8 points, 6.1 rebounds and 49 percent shooting from the field.
Howard came in to fill that spot perfectly for State and is giving the Bulldogs more than enough to compete for championships. In her senior year, the Atlanta native is second on the team in points (15.8) and rebounds (7.9) while hitting 53 percent of her shots.
“The production has been very similar,” Schaefer said of Howard replacing Vivians. “It makes everybody on our team better when you have someone like Anriel at that position that can do the things she can do. We were very fortunate to get her. She came
Lineups Mississippi State (22-2, 10-1)
2-Andra Espinoza-hunter, G, 5-11, So. 5-Anriel Howard, F, 5-11, Gr. 10-Jazzmun Holmes, G, 5-8, Sr. 15-Teaira Mccowan, C, 6-7, Sr. 24-Jordan Danberry, G, 5-8, Sr.
Texas A&M (19-5, 8-3)
3-Chennedy Carter, G, 5-7, So. 4-Shambria Washington, G, 5-7, Jr. 11-Kayla Wells, G, 6-0, So. 31-N'dea Jones, G, 6-2, So. 40-Ciera Johnson, C, 6-4, So.