State's Wiggins watches, learns ways of defense
Xaria Wiggins has been watching and learning during her first two years on the Mississippi State women's basketball team.
Since arriving from Princess Anne High School in Virginia Beach, Virginia, Wiggins has been around the best defensive players the game has to offer.
Wiggins saw how Jazzmun Holmes went about her business with the Bulldogs last season and continues to pick up tidbits from teammate Jordan Danberry this year.
Improvements on defense has led MSU head coach Vic Schaefer to give Wiggins more responsibility.
“I think I have a pretty broad role on the team as far as not only helping score the ball, but defensively as well,” Wiggins said. “A lot of times coach Schaefer likes to put me on the other team's best offensive player, so I think this year I have taken that role.
“My teammates are encouraging me in practice to stay out there on the floor, keep going out there and keep attacking. If I mess up, they tell me to get back on the court and keep working on it. My teammates definitely help me gain confidence.”
Schaefer said Wiggins “has worked her way into being a big-minute player coming off the bench” for the Bulldogs. She has played in all 17 games this season with one start.
Wiggins has the versatility where Schaefer can play her at the two, three or four positions on the court.
“When she is making shots, it gives her a lot of energy on defense,” Schaefer said. “She is long and athletic, so she can do a lot of things because of her size. In our offense, she can do what Victoria (Vivians) did as long as she doesn't have an issue guarding the other team's four player.”
Schaefer said he can do some maneuvering when Rickea Jackson or Chloe Bibby are on the floor with Wiggins where one player can guard the three and the other can defend the four position of an opponent.
The main message Schaefer delivers to Wiggins is avoid turnovers.
“(That's) my biggest pet peeve with her,” Schaefer said. “Don't try to do something you are not capable of doing. Just go in there and blend in and if it's working, don't break it and if it's broken, try and fix it.”
Wiggins has been gaining momentum with her play since MSU participated in the Duel in the Desert in Las Vegas, Nevada. She averages 4.2 points and 1.5 rebounds per game for the season, but her scoring average stands at 5.7 points per outing in Southeastern Conference games.
If Wiggins continues the progress she has shown in recent weeks, Schaefer has no problem giving her more playing time.
“We need for her to continue to be able to help us and fill a number of different roles,” Schaefer said.
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