Mississippi State looks to restore pride after big loss in ’16

DALLAS — Vic Schaefer doesn’t want his players to forget a humiliating 60-point loss to Connecticut in the 2016 NCAA tournament.

The Mississippi State Bulldogs have had a constant reminder of that defeat all season long, with the number 60 written on the window of the team’s weight room.

“It’s annoying, honestly. It’s annoying to see that 60,” point guard Morgan William said. “Like, dang, we got beat by 60. It’s a pride thing, too. Getting beat by 60, that’s personal.”

The Bulldogs will get a chance at redemption when they play Connecticut Friday night in the national semifinals. It’s Mississippi State’s first appearance in the Final Four, while the Huskies are in it for the 10th consecutive year.

Schaefer recalled how he was invited to speak at the Final Four a year ago about defense, days after his team lost, 98-38, and laughed at the notion.

While Connecticut’s current team is vastly different from that squad — Breanna Stewart, Morgan Tuck and Moriah Jefferson left for the WNBA — Schaefer knows that the Huskies’ system hasn’t changed.

“It was a humbling, embarrassing experience for all of us,” he said. “I think that’s the big thing you learn, is the speed of the game. Let me tell you, this team is no different. I know the names have changed with some of them. The team is no different. Great chemistry. Great defensive team. Great offensive chemistry. Great skill sets. They are fast. ... Speedy.”

Connecticut coach Geno Auriemma doesn’t put much stock into the 2016 game since his team is so different.

“There’s nobody on this team right now that had anything other than ‘I was at that game’ to do with that score,” he said of the win. “If you watch that game, Stewie [Breanna Stewart] looked like an NBA player playing against high school kids. Moriah was so much better than anybody on the floor. And Tuck just dominated long stretches of the game. So the score was like 30-4 at the end of the first quarter. I think Lou (Katie Lou Samuelson) had one bucket. I don’t think Kia [Nurse] had any. The other guys didn’t even play.”

Still, the group he does have has been great this season, going 36-0 and extending Connecticut’s winning streak to 111 consecutive games.