Evaluation process has begun for Bulldogs

In every facet, 2020-21 was as frustrating as it comes for Mississippi State women's basketball fans, the first year for coach Nikki Mccray-penson and the players.

After Vic Schaefer left State in the middle of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic to become the coach at Texas, MSU hired Mccray-penson from Old Dominion after successfully turning the program around. The coach got the majority of the roster to remain in Starkville and the team came in with high expectations with a top 10 ranking. As the season went along, however, MSU began to struggle and it was further complicated with several game postponements and cancellations with other schools.

It all came to an end last week when the 10-9 Bulldogs missed the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2014 and passed completely on postseason as they turned down the WNIT. Four players have since hit the transfer portal as Jamya Mingo-young, Xaria Wiggins, Sidney Cooks and Yemiyah Morris have all entered the transfer portal.

Mccray-penson spoke to the media recently and detailed her decision to pass on the WNIT, why things went wrong in year one, the transfers and more.

Question: Do you expect Rickea Jackson to be back next year?

Mccray-penson: “I can tell you that I have players that are committed to staying with this program and committed to me and our vision right now. Looking forward to getting through this evaluation period because last year COVID didn't allow us to have a summer. We didn't start until September so now I'm excited to have a full summer to build a base both offensively and defensively that would allow us to play the way I want us to play because that wasn't given to us. Right now, I have players committed and that could change. But right now I do and I'm looking forward to the summer and getting us back to that championship level. Excited to have a summer with this group.”

Q: Roughly how many players do you have committed to coming back?

MP: “I have eight players that are committed.”

Q: Would you say that COVID was the biggest obstacle that you ran into and what was the biggest obstacle that wasn’t COVID related?

MP: “It was a big obstacle not just for me but for every coach. We had to navigate through some things. That, new system and a new staff just added to the challenges. We were not a veteran team that had been together. I think when I took the job my number one priority was to build relationships with our players and had to build that through zoom. That's a challenge when you don't recruit players and players come here and have an idea how they're going to fit in with a style of play based on how they were recruited by the old staff. Those were challenges coming in that we didn't have to mend out with a summer and have a base. Those were some big challenges.”

Q: Do you think you have the resources next year to get this team to where they’re in the NCAA Tournament next year?

MP: “Mississippi State is a championship program. That's the standard. I'm excited about this offseason and really looking forward to getting into the strength and conditioning process to allow us to play a certain way. Just being able to have time with each player is significant. It's huge for them and it's huge for us. It allows us to develop from a relationship stand point and just continue to develop their game and them see themselves and how they can help themselves and help us get to that championship level.

“This program was build on blue collar players. I'm a blue collar player. I did what it took to win; that's my claim to fame. Players that play with a chip on their shoulder, they have a desire to win and play with intensity. We get to build that base this summer and it will help us. Those things will help us get back to that championship level. That's expected and that's what we're known for.”

Q: With players leaving, how has that affected the mindset in the locker room?

MP: “The first step to getting to that championship level is we're in the evaluation stage and meeting with our players. They have a clear understanding of what a championship looks like and they're committed to that. We will have a summer. Our summer is going to be different. I don't know who is going to be here after the summer. I know, moving forward, what we're about. We have a foundation that we have to build. It's not about talking, it's about doing and we'll have a plan of action because we'll be together and have that foundation. In terms of the roster, that's what the transfer portal is. We are going to get players in here that are of high character, blue collar, that can help us win championships.”

Q: How did the players take to your decision about not going to the WNIT?

MP: “It is about us starting right now to get back to that championship level and they want to win. That's where it starts and we're in that process.”

Q: You’ve got some scholarships to play with and have a class coming in, how important will the transfer portal be?

MP: “It's very important and as coaches we all talk. It's a gamet of emotions when it comes to this transfer portal because last year they were awarded the COVID year and this year it's a one-time transfer. You don't know if they're going to be able to play right away but the committee will make that decision here within the next month. We're going to get players that fit our mold that are high character, blue collar and can help us win championships. That's it. There are a lot of players in the portal and we have to have a certain player based on what this program was built on. I have to have a certain player here.”

Q: How did you see players develop this year?

MP: “I thought Myah had a good year on and off the floor. She found her voice. If you look at her numbers across the board they went up in every aspect. Not just for her on the floor, just understanding how to have a voice within our team, she found herself off the court. She's more than a basketball player and the things that she's involved in, I'm really happy for her. She's one player that sticks out but there are so many players that continued to get better in areas that I needed them to get better at.”

Q: Dawn Staley tweeted her support for you. What did that mean to you?

MP: “It just speaks volumes of who she is as a person and what she stands for. We go way back from our Olympic days to sitting side by side. She knows what I'm about each and every day. I wouldn't be in this position if it wasn't for my foundation, where I started out and the people I've been around. I've been around winners that have prepared me for this situation. It just meant a lot to have that support, but that's who she is. I'm really thankful for her and all the people that have supported me and continue to support me. She's not the only person, but that just meant a lot.”

Q: You said it was a decision to skip the WNIT to flip the page and move forward. How specifically does that help?

MP: “It's about us and having conversations with them about where they are physically and mentally. We want to start now in getting back to that championship level. You've got to start having conversations with those players now and that was it. It's a lot that goes into it. It's not just about our coaches it's administration, it's our coaches, it's strength and conditioning, we've got to start now. Mississippi State is a championship program and that is the standard.