Bulldogs can claim a share of SEC title
Tonight has rather quietly become a night that could be of historic proportions for Mississippi State women’s basketball, at least in the Bulldog locker room.
Coach Vic Schaefer and his team won’t publicly mention it and the always-careful head coach probably isn’t saying much about it behind closed doors. All Schaefer knows is his team has another big Southeastern Conference game as it takes on Vanderbilt at 7:30 p.m., but at least a share of the Southeastern Conference championship is on the line for MSU.
The Bulldogs (26-0, 12-0 SEC) are in the middle of the greatest runs in the history of the program and this week can bring them their first SEC title. Even Schaefer has tried to get this bunch to wake up and smell the roses of what’s being accomplished, but all they’ve known for 26 games is business.
“Sometimes I have to throw water on them just to get them excited,” Schaefer said. “They’re so business-like and it really amazes me. I want to see some giddy people, but I think what’s allowed us to be as good as we are is that we’re really grounded.
“I want them to enjoy this season, this ride, and where we are right now. I can coach for 33 more years and never be 26-0. It’s crazy.”
Among the eye-popping things this year’s team has done is have an average margin of victory of 28.1 points a game. The Bulldogs are one of only two teams nationally in the top five in both defensive and offensive categories with No. 1 UConn also accomplishing that feat.
Last year’s Sixth Woman of the Year Teaira McCowan is certainly a 6-foot-7 reason why with her 19 points and 13.3 rebounds a game, but many might consider her last month a bit of a drought.
With increased attention coming her way, McCowan has seen her point total dip in the last six games but still averaged 16 points during that stretch. Her rebounds have actually improved, however, which Schaefer said is a product of her continuing to work hard.
“She just continues to shine like the brightest star in the sky competing in those environments night in and night out,” Schaefer said of McCowan. “The shots she’s missing are the same ones she made the first 20 games of the year. The big thing is that her rebounds have gone up and that’s an energy. She’s obviously playing hard.”
McCowan realized in the second game of the season that she had the opportunity to open up the offense so much more than just her scoring ability.
Drawing constant double and triple teams meant that her teammates were open on the outside.
That’s translated in some big shots being knocked down by guards Blair Schaefer, Roshunda Johnson, Victoria Vivians and Morgan William, so while it gets hard having to battle multiple players, she knows what she’s supposed to do.
“It’s very frustrating, but sometimes when they’re doubling me, it’s leaving shooters open and they’re knocking down shots,” McCowan said. “Slowly, it takes a person off. It gets easy when they’re knocking down shots.”
MSU has become one of the nation’s best offenses with its starting five doing the bulk of the production. Along with McCowan in double figures is Victoria Vivians, who leads the team with 19.7 points and is having the season of her life hitting 84 percent from the free-throw line, 39 percent from 3-point range and 50 percent from the field overall.
Johnson hits a team-best 41 percent from 3 for the year after her five from long range a week ago against Kentucky and has 11.7 points a game and Blair Schaefer leads the team with 68 makes from downtown this year.
Those players will again be relied on heavily to win another road game tonight and get to 27-0. From there, the Bulldogs move on to the next game on Sunday with an outright conference title potentially on the line against Texas A&M.
With 27 games in, it’s still a day-by-day approach by grounded MSU.
“We go out there with the same mindset and playing hard with a sense of urgency,” McCowan said. “(The record) 26-0 is good for us, and we’ve kind of shocked ourselves. We’re always looking for who’s next. We live in the moment, and when it’s done, it’s done.”
Tonight it’s the Commodores, which own records of 6-20 overall and 2-10 in the league.